a kayak - Wavelength Paddling Magazine

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Destinations by Nikki Rekman / photos by Mark Klein With this paddle I thee wed This isn’t every girl’s dream honeymoon.But could it start a trend? 8 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE SPRING 2011
The Grand Canyon A paddling honeymoon – I certainly did not have dreams of this as a little girl, I can assure you, but then again there are a few of those dreams that thankfully were never fulfilled. When Mark and I finally decided we were going to take the plunge into matrimony I figured there would be nothing traditional about our wedding. Heck, I was just thankful we were finally getting to this point. But to my delight and surprise this is the story of a paddling adventure that exceeded a little girl’s expectations. On Oct. 9. 2010 Mark and I were married. It was everything I had hoped for and much more – not a huge affair but one that was representative of who Mark and I are, shared of course with the important people in our lives. But Mark had his own idea of how to celebrate our life-long commitment – a paddle down the Grand Canyon for our honeymoon. Here is where the adventure begins. On October 11 we left our home near Vancouver, BC, and headed south to Flagstaff, Arizona, where we were to meet up with the crew from Canyon Explorations/Expeditions for a 15-day paddle down the Colorado. Also on the trip was our friend Lynne from Western Canoeing and Kayaking in Abbotsford, BC. So there we were, the three of us, at the put-in at Lee’s Ferry on the north shore of the Colorado. There was definitely the excitement of exploring a new river. And not just any river, but one that winds its way through the bottom of one of the most remarkable geological features on the planet: the Grand Canyon. Over the course of the first few days it was amazing to me how we lost our inhibitions with the total strangers we had only just met and ultimately became our own little river tribe. Picture the girls going upstream to pee and the boys going downstream – on the Colorado to adequately handle the number of people that visit each year you pee in the river and haul everything else out in sealed ammo boxes (also referred to as “the “groover” for the grooves left in your behind from the boxes before some river guide genius thought of using a toilet seat). I wasn’t sure at first how it would be unwinding all the craziness of the wedding and end-of-season work for me (I’m a sales representative in the paddling industry). It was work – the paddling, the river life, all the people and the weather – but the 225 miles were some of the most amazing paddling days I have ever experienced. I had never been on the water for that many consecutive days and had certainly never planned a trip where you had to take down camp every morning and set it all up again later in the day. However, you get into a routine and it is very much a part of your experience of being on the river. Finding just the right spot to quickly set up your tent for the night (remember we were paddling in October, so the days were shorter) became something to look forward to – a type of nesting, really. Ah, I love it. Evenings were spent cooking, visiting with fellow paddlers, debriefing the day and planning the next. Did I say there was some work involved? I love the river life. Crawling into the tent, feeling certain that your sleeping mat was four inches thick and not 1.5 inches because you could feel the relaxation in every muscle in your body as you lay down. The river is most certainly a good analogy for married life. It winds and meanders and with its mighty flow makes many of the rough spots smooth – over time. Mark is my best friend and our most significant meeting place is the out of doors and particularly paddling. Some might think a paddling honeymoon could be the beginning of the end (we heard from one guide a story of a couple that decided to get divorced on a trip at about the half-way point). Mark and I fared much better. We work stuff out better on the river than we do at home. I think this is mostly because things are simplified on the water. You need to make so many miles, eat, sleep and with those objectives we each know what we have to do to get those things done successfully. We established our roles on paddling trips many years ago. At home we call these departments. Mine, for example, is cooking and his is dishes. u SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 9
Page 1 and 2: WaveLength COAST&KAYAK The magazine
Page 3 and 4: This issue’s features: 8 With thi
Page 5 and 6: SPRING 2011 COAST&KAYAK MAGAZINE 5
Page 7: News One new website address. All t
Page 11 and 12: The Grand Canyon A gentle moment al
Page 13 and 14: Port Hardy The WCVIN section This i
Page 15 and 16: The WCVIN section Paddling is invig
Page 17 and 18: The North Island Welcome to the end
Page 19 and 20: The North Island Nearing Cape Scott
Page 21 and 22: 5 Kwakiutl Pt. 9 9 Side Bay y 9 Law
Page 23 and 24: Brooks/Kyuquot Buy online and save!
Page 25 and 26: ´ y Zeballos y 9 Little Espinosa I
Page 27 and 28: Nootka
Page 29 and 30: Prizes available through this editi
Page 31 and 32: Sydney Inlet Provincial Park Strath
Page 33 and 34: SALES * RENTALS * INSTRUCTION * DAY
Page 35 and 36: Tour/Service Directory Eco Adventur
Page 37 and 38: New Gear KayakPro If you’re like
Page 39 and 40: Kayaks Click here online for a vide
Page 41 and 42: C L O T H I N G • F O O T W E A R
Page 43 and 44: y Chris Ladner and Coast&Kayak Maga
Page 45 and 46: The ancient ibis The sacred ibis, t
Page 47 and 48: Aiming off compass course aimed dir
Page 49 and 50: Nettle Recipes Try a tasty nettle t
Page 51 and 52: Substitute nettle in this Japanese

a kayak - Wavelength Paddling Magazine

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?