--------------Warning: major nostalgia alert ------------------ When I opened the first copy of ACA's Paddler magazine my new membership brought me, it was a Yogi Berra moment: "It was like deja vue all over again." Glitz, glam, intense bright ads, packaging for its marketing impact, and nobody lookin' gritty or dirty, smelly or sweaty. The same stuff I survived as a long-ago climber and off-trail hiker when boots went from leather to plastic, and sport climbing overtook alpinism. When routefinding became a matter of navigating glue-on holds on a vertical concrete slab instead of traversing chimney systems, counting to find the one that lead summit-ward. I doubt there are more than two or three ads in Paddler that offer stuff I need, although there might be half a dozen with things I "want." And I ditched my Sea Kayaker subscription partly because the yuppie-index had gotten too high? Little did I know. Give me a slow, wet start on a drippy morning, slimy with slug trails over the rain fly, strong, harsh coffee stimulating the first sinus drain of the day, as the loons hoot in the mist and oystercatchers skreek their territorial warning. When the mist and drip slowly lift in the wake of the fourth front in two days, I enjoy the dank feel of three-day-old rubber sliding over torso, and the skanky ordure of a fleece cocoon and paddle jacket exoskeleton. Off to prowl the back sides of reefs and slither behind stacks defending us from the thrash of mother nature's messages from Japan, no one needs neon to understand our insignificance before the watery world which makes a reality the ad-makers would loath. Drips off glasses and wrists wraith widely, making us part of the piniped universe. Eagles chitter overhead, hoping we will surplus a too-small rockfish. Lunch is three pilot biscuits and re-hydrated hummus, cheese a luxury, and half an apple plus chocolate for energy. On to sun-dappled coves and befuddled kelp masses struggling with tide direction, none bright, all muted and earth-toned. The only neon is in the water/kelp contact, from light interference in surficial tissues. As the wind rises and the chop steepens, braces are our needed companions, not wing paddles or Oakleys and mousse. Dinner is a one-pot endeavor made hearty with intense carbohydrates, stewed vegies, and a couple cans of preserved meat, unless another has nailed a big rockfish or two. Camp is behind a large log, under a 10 x 12 tarp, home for four who can stand close company, with sleeping quarters on the small upland up from the wrack, under raven-crusted branches, surrounded by a scatter of urchin skeletons. A kitchen is made from two logs and a scavenged plank, with four rounds for stools, if we are lucky, and knee-to-knee conversation more satisfying than any video. "Did you see that whale?" "Yeah! First Gray inside Benson ever!" "Anybody got some body lotion for my rash?" "Only if you trade out some of that 151." "Apricots and Nutella for dessert, guys." "Again? Man, that's the fourth night in a row! Where are the glamorous yups and four-course dinners? You promised me Pamela Anderson and I got John Malkovich's brain!" Sleep is deep and assisted by wavethrash and wind noise in the treetops, presaging the next front. Unless the ad-makers come by to haunt us with images of gear. Where are those purveyors of flash and dash, out here where the continent meets the deep? Only the god of Visa and the handmaidens of MasterCard know. And the damn ATM in the cedar tree behind the privy is on the blink! In the morning, there'll be granola. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
A breakfast of fried powdered eggs, stale bagels, and peanut butter washed down with coffee with grounds in it! Yeah, I still do that once a year or so. Rice & beans for dinner every night topped off with the catch of the day (Or not....). That's camping! Stinky wet neoprene, mosquito and blackfly bitten legs, showering in frigid waterfalls, paddling for hours to find another suitable campsite. Can't beat it. Now I really can't wait to get to Newfoundland this july! Wayne ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wayne Smith wsmith16_at_snet.net Check out my website! http://pages.cthome.net/wsmith16/home.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
John, We're taking the ferry to Port aux Basques, and headed up towards Gros Morne, and then to Notre Dame Bay and the Bay of Exploits. We may hit the southwest coast for a couple of days as well. Have fun! Wayne > Hi Wayne, Where are you headed in Newfoundland? Two friends and I are > going to paddle the southeast coast (the one profiled in Seakayaker), but > have had very little luck identifying camping sites, so maybe we'll run > into each other? Best, John > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ Wayne Smith wsmith16_at_snet.net Check out my sea kayaking & homebrewing page: http://pages.cthome.net/wsmith16/home.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Saturday, May 17, 2003, at 08:17 AM, wsmith16 wrote: > We're taking the ferry to Port aux Basques, and headed up towards Gros > Morne..... This from this morning's CBC web page, NF local news. Another item for the criteria mix of 'good campsite'! Campers beware! WebPosted May 17 2003 09:30 AM EDT St. John's – Campers on the northern peninsula will have more to watch out for on the Victoria long weekend than a spot of bad weather. A polar bear is reported on the loose near the northern boundary of Gros Morne National Park. The bear has been seen near the landmark called the Arches. The police are warning people around Parsons Pond, Portland Creek, and Daniel's Harbour to take care, and to call the wildlife department if they see the bear. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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