Posted by derrick on
March 31, 2006
This is an ordinary love
The kind where I meet you
By sending words into the vacuum
Bounced by cables and by satellites
And it’s an ordinary day
With rain upon the window
And every sound’s an echo
Of the music of your voice
- gwen knighton/three weird sisters
Good morning and happy Friday. I’ve been so busy with life the last week or so I’m surprised I’ve been able to keep up each day.
Daily posts were something I hadn’t really intended, but something that just sort of happened. And there is a certain amount of risk of becoming redundant, boring, irritating and just plain “stale”, by posting daily. Besides, writers make terrible editors. Bloggers. . well, we’re a lost cause. Someone recently said that it was much more classy to post a blog only on occasion, when you had something really important to say, or when you just got that perfect photograph. “No Filler”. I can see their point, but on the other hand I talk to my friends daily. It’s not a particular effort to do so. Sometimes their emails, or calls give me a great opening to my day. Yeah, even the really bad jokes (we won’t mention anyone’s name DS). I take that back. . .not the jokes. . more the joviality behind them. Sure posting so often I’m sure I’ll really lay some eggs now and again. But then if truth be told, some days I don’t bother to comb my hair either. It’s life. But if you’d like, you’re welcome to grab a cup of coffee (or tea, or Jameson) and come sit down for a chat. I’m glad you’re here. Let me crack open a window and let in this nice fresh spring air, and I’ll tell what I’ve been thinking about to day. . .
Posted by derrick on
March 30, 2006
Drain the pressure from the swelling,
The sensations overwhelming,
Give me a kiss goodnight and everything will be alright
Tell me that I won’t feel a thing
So give me Novacaine - green day
So there I was driving to the pool in some David Lynchian set piece where all the world was rolling by in slow-motion, widescreen, technicolor bliss while in my mind a berserker was setting villages alight. That’s what happens in my crazy head. I don’t steam, sulk, stew or pout. I let let vikings rampage in the dark forests of my mind while outwardly I talk about the weather and the price of fuel.
Posted by derrick on
March 29, 2006
Through an interesting set of circumstances I had learned recently of Wendy Killoran’s upcoming circumnavigation of Newfoundland, popularly known as “The Rock”. Now of course, there are some notes out there on the boards as well. But, as is my slow (in internet time anyway) methodical way, I took a bit of time to see what I could find out. With the help of Glenn Mackay I was able to ask Wendy about the trip and I’ll let her tell us the rest. . .
“I intend to paddle the approximately 2700 km from early May until late August, traveling counterclockwise like Ken Campbell did in his circumnavigation and which he wrote about in his book “Around The Rock”. I will visit Glenn MacKay, in Nova Scotia prior to arriving at Channel Port Aux Basques by ferry. Glenn was very helpful in many ways in 2005 when I circumnavigated Prince Edward Island. I also intend to meet Freya Hoffmeister, an accomplished German paddler, in Halifax. Together, we plan to paddle the more remote southern coast together. She will accompany me for about 17 days and bring her 3 piece Explorer.
Posted by derrick on
March 29, 2006
Dawn turned into morning quickly. It was nice to be out in the warhorse again. We slipped out of the small lagoon and raced through the cold morning air out to the ice shelf. There we sat. I listened to the ice crackling like mouth full of pop rocks. I dug around a bit in my gear to get out the video camera. I didn’t want an image, but it was the only way I could record the sound. I’m not sure it’s really something you can capture. As I paddled off again I pushed up my speed. My wake slowly built up a roll in the thinning ice which chased behind me as the popping and cracking increased to a surprisingly loud volume. Near the western shore of the lake I followed a lead for a bit until I realized I would not get around the lake just yet. I had to back peddle and occasionally give myself paddle space by breaking the ice on either side of the boat. Soon I had come back far enough to turn the kayak in about 20 feet of space between Ice and boulders.
I followed the eastern shore as well and again was met with a wall of ice that was just thick enough not to let me pass. Here I took time to hold my little camera down below the surface and for the first time, see what the lake ice looked like from below.
Before heading back into shore, I stopped my boat in amongst some floating ice that reminded me of a giant ice filled soda glass. I put on my 5mm hood and was quickly reminded how un-comfortable they are. Then just as the park ranger was driving down to the landing about 20 yards away, I dropped below the surface. For a moment I just hung there feeling nothing. But soon I could feel a chill in my shoulders as the cold reached through my drysuit. My forehead began to burn. I reached forward and set up my roll, then slowly rose to the surface. Ice water ran over my eyes and down my face as I slipped off the hood. I quickly paddled back through the lagoon and to the Jeep. . . thankfully the heater works!!
Posted by derrick on
March 28, 2006
You wear nothing
but you wear it so well - d. mathews
Have you noticed this yet? There seems to be this new phenomena where hats, gloves, shirts and other pieces of wardrobe are appearing impaled along hiking trails as if suddenly, clothing has raised the ire of Prince Vlad himself. My guess is that when people are losing items of clothing along the trail, a good Samaritan later walks by and decides to put the wayward item where the owner can easily find it again. Mary commented that although we’ve seen all sorts of clothing, no one seems to have lost their underwear out here in the woods yet.
And I was thinking to myself, . . . that’s really too bad.
Posted by derrick on
March 27, 2006
But who in your measly little world
Are you tryin’ to prove to that you’re
Made out of gold and-uh, can’t be sold
So-uh, are you experienced? - hendrix
Of course with the baseball cap and sunglasses you probably wouldn’t notice, but I was waiting for the grimace. It didn’t come. Maybe he was one of those “slow breath” guys. Everyone has some reaction to ice water no matter how much they hide it. Yet, when I saw his second Tiva plop below the surface of the still mostly frozen lake, I did’nt see a lip move. He hid it well.
Posted by derrick on
March 26, 2006
Slow down, you move too fast
You gotta make the morning last
Just kickin’ down the cobblestones
Lookin’ for fun and
Feelin’ groovy - p.simon
Well, I told him! What else could I do now but find a nice rock and wait!?
Yeah, there’s that one little spot in the river where 80% is blocked by old concrete, trees and rocks. You have to get over to the left and run the little funnel. The trick is to follow the flow. After a quick two foot drop you cut left to the bank as the current flows around a big sand bar that sits maybe 3 inches under the surface. As the current comes around the bar it quickly jogs back over to the right bank and then under a bridge. Now if you follow the current you’re just fine. If on the other hand you decide you take a shorter, straighter route, you end up trying to drag your as~ across 15 feet of gravel and sand.
