About

Romany Kayaking

Sam's

Paddling Expeditions

Romany Kayaking

Romany is the name of the first kayak design from Nigel Dennis Kayaks. It comes from the name for the Roma/Romani (formerly called Gypsies), a group of historically nomadic European people.

Romany Kayaking LLC was started in 2020. Following on from Sea Kayak Specialists, a partnership formed in 2006, it is a sole proprietorship that Sam Crowley uses to do sea kayak instruction.

Romany Kayaking has one employee and that is Sam who instructs, answers the phone & emails, does the book keeping, designs & maintains the website and everything else.

Sam Crowley

Sam is the owner of Romany Kayaking. He is an American Canoe Association Level 5 Advanced Open Water Instructor Trainer and a Wilderness Medical Associates First Responder.

Sam started paddling in 1991 in the Apostle Islands through Trek & Trail. He learned over the years from Nigel Dennis, Gale Green, Dave Ide, Steve Lutsch and others. After moving, he learned to surf as well as roll in the surf around Santa Cruz California. After returning to the upper Midwest he became a British Canoe Union Coach and American Canoe Association Instructor in 1996. After several seasons of working as a guide at Northern Waters Adventures in Munising, he changed to focus more on instruction becoming an Instructor Trainer in 1999. Since then he has run 100s of ACA workshops at all levels.

Inspired by expedition paddlers such as Paul Caffyn, Nigel Dennis, Chris Duff, Stan Chladek and others, he took lessons and learned directly from them. In 1998 he started doing longer trips initially at two weeks then three weeks. Continuing to build his skills, knowledge and experience led to a successful solo circumnavigation of Ireland in 2007. Expeditions have continued to places such as Scotland, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Finland and Sweden.

Sea kayaking changed Sam's life. He discovered it while working as a computer engineer. A career as part of a team designing high performance computers made for a rewarding but stressful life. The long hours, working on the technology's cutting edge along with company & project failures left Sam pondering a different life. Paddling on the Pacific coast after moving to work in Silicon Valley allowed Sam to come to a difficult decision. He ended his 10 year computer career and returned to the Upper Midwest to begin the steps towards a new lifestyle.

He also does sports massage out of an office in Downtown Marquette.

Sam's Paddling Expeditions

Sam was encouraged by his early instructors to travel and camp by sea kayak in the Apostle Islands. World class expeditioners like Paul Caffyn, Nigel Dennis and Chris Duff added their inspiration. He learned about places such as Pukaskwa, Skellig Michael, Haida Gwaii and the Hebrides.

Below are photos and stories from over 20 years of Sam's expeditions. (Be patient as it will take some time to bring it all online.)

2019 Scotland's Isle of Skye

A circumnavigation of the Isle of Skye starting in Arisaig where I left off in 2018. Includes visits to the Small Isles, across the Minch to the Outer Isles and the Shiant Isles.

2018 Ireland to Scotland

A long dreamed of trip starting in Dublin, crossing the North Channel to Scotland and heading into the Hebrides. A challenging trip with tidal streams and crossings, it also had highlights including distilleries and visiting Iona.

2016 Outer Passage, British Columbia

One of my top trips. A self supported trip from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy BC in the Great Bear Rain Forest along the outer passage that is hundreds of miles of islands rich in wilderness and wildlife.

2014 Sweden's High Coast

A trip to Sweden to paddle the High Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the shoreline is rising the fastest due to glacial rebound. Including a crossing of the Baltic Sea to Vaasa Finland.

2007 Ireland Circumnavigation

A dream taking years to build skills and experience. A challenge given the worst summer weather in Irish history. 83 days, 1050 miles and stories of helpers, the sea & magic.

2005 Haida Gwaii

First trip to Haida Gwaii (there have been two others!). A 25 day circumnavigation of Moresby Island with going down the west coast and visiting various Haida village sites on the east coast.

2004 Helsinki to Stockholm

First trip to Europe on the Baltic Sea with Finnish friends. Includes paddling through the 80,000 island Aland Archipelago, a 16 mile crossing to Sweden and paddling into the 20,000 island Stockholm Archipelago.

2003 San Juan Islands

Part one of a trip back to salt water with the goal of more time paddling and trip planning in current. First part is a week to the San Juan Islands on Puget Sound.

2003 Clayoquot Sound

Part two of a trip back to salt water with the goal of more time paddling and trip planning in current. Second part is two weeks in Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island.

2001 Thunder Bay to Wawa

This is one of my top trips. First three week long trip. Challenging, it was the first time with such unsettled weather - 6 small craft advisories and 3 gales. Planning enabled a successful conclusion ending on time despite the weather.

2000 Isle Royale Circumnavigation

A follow on trip to the Michipicoten Island Circumnavigation. Two weeks long including a crossing out from the mainland.

1999 Michopicoten Circumnavigation

The first trip longer than a week and the first into a deep wilderness. Other firsts and lessons learned helped to build a foundation for future trips.

Below are expedition galleries being worked on

2015 Three Places

A different trip than the usual. Taking a break from doing a long committed expedition, this is a trip to three of my favorite places on Lake Superior with driving covering the miles in between. Unusual weather added to the great locations.

2013 Haida Gwaii

Circumnavigation of Moresby Island. Went out solo but spent part of the trip paddling with Shayne & Matt, two Vancover Island paddlers. Road trip included a backpacking trip in Glacier National Park.

2012 Maine

A trip to paddle Down East Maine into New Brunswick exploring the big tidal streams and funky currents at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy.

2011 Thunder Bay, Isle Royale to Rossport

Launching out of Thunder Bay and crossing out to Isle Royale. Almost do a circumnavigation before crossing back and heading up to Rossport.

2010 Pukaskwa, Michopicoten Island to Cape Gargantua

The biggest wilderness on Lake Superior, these areas offer a lot of great paddling and incredible views. Nice to be back on fresh water after a bunch of salt water trips.

2009 Haida Gwaii

An attempt to go around Graham Island in Haida Gwaii thwarted by the wind.