Archive for the ‘Commentary & Rants’ Category

Because we separate
Like ripples on a blank shore
In rainbows
Because we separate
The ripples on a black shore
– Radiohead

I said on Facebook yesterday that I was feeling like paddle blogging again. Something that for me had lost its charm in the last year or so.  It happens to all of us at one time or another.  A change is as good as a rest as they say, and  I needed a change, a rest… and a shower.  So now that I’ve jumped back in, let’s see where we go, shall we?

One of the reasons I cooled to paddle blogging was business. You see, I’m not in the business.  I’m a coach.  Nothing more. I’m a web guy, photographer and graphic artist actually. I don’t produce paddling products, I don’t own a paddling magazine or offer guided tours.  If anything I’m just some dude who writes about my experiences, with paddle in hand as it were.  That’s it. Read the rest of this entry »

Busy day at Canoecopia.  I’ll have more pictures for you tomorrow.  Foolishly I took all today’s event photos in a format I can’t open on my laptop!  (You can bet I’ve taken care of that now.) Well, with the couple hours I have available until the premiere of Justine Curgenven’s DVD, ” This is Canoeing“  I thought I’d take a moment to ask you to ponder this… Read the rest of this entry »

Pewitt’s Nest – Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Now here’s the thing.  Spring is coming on here in Wisconsin in a mad rush.  I should of course have my heart all a-flutter about spending the next 2 days at Canoecopia, the world’s largest paddle-sports expo. Yet, what I find myself thinking is that I’m going to spend most of my time indoors pining for the rain, the trails, and the rivers outdoors.  What the hell is wrong with me eh? Read the rest of this entry »

Jack, do you never sleep — does the green still run deep in your heart?
Or will these changing times, motorways, powerlines,
keep us apart?
Well, I don’t think so —
I saw some grass growing through the pavements today.
Tull

Today on my Skillet Creek Journal I’m contemplating nature’s end.  Sometimes I when we ride the train we spend so much time involved in looking out the window, complaining about the food, and reading the newspaper that we never actually consider that the ride will soon end.  I think this is why conservation is both a hopeless endeavor, and yet an important act of desperation.  Sea kayakers are lucky in a sense. No matter how many humans we fill the land with there should always be oceans and wind to create waves. Even if all the sea life is long dead.

So today I’m on about a bit of local outdoor/nature related politics.  Where I live we have massive amounts of protected lands.  Most of it is owned by a mix of government and private agencies and is wonderfully open to the public.  Thing is, the local government sees all this land, especially the non-profit owned land, as a curse. Something many of us in the outdoor industry would call short sighted.  Well, after a rescue last fall on land owned by the Nature Conservancy the local town board is now meeting with attorneys to figure out how to send the bill to non-profit land owners that allow public access.  You can see where this is going… Read more here.

Once in Royal David’s City stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her baby.
You’d do well to remember the things He later said.
When you’re stuffing yourselves at the Christmas parties,
you’ll laugh when I tell you to take a running jump.
You’re missing the point I’m sure does not need making;
that Christmas spirit is not what you drink.

So how can you laugh when your own mother’s hungry
and how can you smile when the reasons for smiling are wrong?
And if I messed up your thoughtless pleasures,

remember, if you wish, this is just a Christmas song.
– Tull

Happy Holidays one and all.  Well, at least to all you NICE people.  I mean, I know we’re supposed to wish everyone happy holidays and all that (even the jerks), but I think the jerks can have a darn miserable holiday as far as I’m concerned.  I mean why should we wish a happy holiday to those of us who benefit from the suffering of others? Why should we say “Merry Christmas” to those who use their self-righteous sense of moral superiority as a justification for hatred and violence? Why should I give a care about people have who ignore the poor and the homeless in their own communities?  Why should we love the neighbor who doesn’t bother to tip an under paid waitress?  What about people who toss their trash out the car window, people who are STILL bigoted and racist in every town and every street…You know.. pick one, it goes on and on.  There are a lot of jerks out there. So Happy Holidays to everyone of you good, decent caring people.  You know who you are… ( And you deserve chocolate cake and a foot rub!)  The rest of you can get stuffed!!  

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My love is in league with the freeway
Its passion will ride, as the cities fly by
And the tail-lights dissolve, in the coming of night
And the questions in thousands take flight
– plant

Last weekend we took a little trip to Kentucky to visit Mammoth Cave National Park.  It’s about a 9 hour drive from our home here in Wisconsin.  Well, it may be if you don’t spend 2 hours stuck in Chicago traffic.  I love traveling and in America just hitting the open road is a desire somewhat hardwired into many of us I think.  It used to be that as you drove you were in constant anticipation of each bend in the road, each ridge you climbed and every stop for gas and food.  There was so much diversity. It was in fact, exploring.  Our parents have told us that things have changed since they took off down the highway in their 1950’s family cruisers and they have.  What has changed more than anything, is simply the lack of change.

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