>How on Earth do you think to go on a multi week ocean kayaking trip and not take tide tables.
It's the unknown unknown.
He had an expert knowledge of sea kayaking and survival skills in the wilderness and he was not exactly clueless. But because he was from Finland, he missed one critical piece of practical knowledge he didn't know to seek for. We don't have any noticeable tides in our small seas. So even if he knew what the tides are and how big effect they can make, he didn't think he was missing something that is common knowledge and helps with the tides.
ps. Timo Noko is a character. He is ex-Nokia engineer who turned into professional hobo and has kayaked around Alaska and is accustomed to wilderness and survival.
EDIT: I think the only way to discover these unknown unknowns is to explain your plan and show everything you carry to some experienced local and ask "What I am missing". Usually it's some trivial thing that helps a lot.
It's the unknown unknown.
He had an expert knowledge of sea kayaking and survival skills in the wilderness and he was not exactly clueless. But because he was from Finland, he missed one critical piece of practical knowledge he didn't know to seek for. We don't have any noticeable tides in our small seas. So even if he knew what the tides are and how big effect they can make, he didn't think he was missing something that is common knowledge and helps with the tides.
ps. Timo Noko is a character. He is ex-Nokia engineer who turned into professional hobo and has kayaked around Alaska and is accustomed to wilderness and survival.
https://timonoko.github.io/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/timonoko/albums/
EDIT: I think the only way to discover these unknown unknowns is to explain your plan and show everything you carry to some experienced local and ask "What I am missing". Usually it's some trivial thing that helps a lot.