Open canoeing is the last refuge of the elderly overweight kayaker.
Open canoeing is the last refuge of the elderly overweight kayaker.
Some people hear the song in the quiet mist of a cold morning; others hear it in the
middle of a roaring rapids. Sometimes the excitement drowns out the song. The
thrills become all that matter as we seek one rapid after another. Sleeping, eating
and living outdoors become something we do between rapids. But for other people
the song is loudest in the evening when they are sifting in front of the tent, basking
in the camp fire's warmth. This is when I hear it loudest, after I have paddled and
portaged for many miles to some distant, hidden place.” Bill Mason
The Song of the Paddle is a well known book amongst open canoeists. It is written by
Bill Mason and is subtitled “An Illustrated Guide to Wilderness Camping”. So
although it is a book about open canoeing it is also about the exploring of wild places
in your canoe.
But it could equally be about exploring the wild places in your personality
In the UK our wild places are fewer and less wild than Bill had in Canada but even
here, when out in your open canoe you can get to feel more at one with nature and
escape from the ties of modern life. This is as true with a few snatched hours on the
local lake or loch as it is on a multi-day camping adventure.
We live in a world where rules and governance are more and more controlling
our every move. Open canoeists all over the UK escape this modern evil by jumping
into there canoe for the weekend. I have found that aside from Scotland Kayaking is
not such a good way to escape, because the modern short bouts are not for the long
adventurous journeys. It would seem like you are never far from a stressful access
agreement in a kayak today.
God made men to be wild and adventurous.
Ever since life began some men have ventured into the unknown. Today this is a
suppressed emotion for most people. Adventure is a trip to the supermarket or a game
of chance with the speed trap on the M6. For your average open canoeist adventure is
a usually only a short drive away. The coast, a Canal, a river a rapid or a lake.
Open Canoe offers real adventure and is the natural progression for the 40 plus man,
with a Kayaking back ground.
As we men progress towards our prime years of 40+ we demand more out of life and
more quality out of our STUFF. When you reach 40 technique is more valuable than
bravado. This applies to most of the pleasures in life including our paddle sport.
The sense for adventure is something that should never be suppressed in any man, at
any cost.
The canoe is a perfect channel to allow our adventurous side to roam free.
There is nothing wrong with Kayak; it is a great and wonderful sport. But Kayaks
seems to be caught in a super fast evolutionary race to become submarine creatures. If
you don’t get a wet head in the first minute of a Kayak trip you are left feeling like a
real outsider.
Open canoeists are far more social creatures, usually seen in large herds and
communal groups. They can be found on weekends migrating in numbers towards
new and fresh pastures. Often found in twos or threes inspecting a grade two rapid.
Sometimes they can be observed out of the water for longer periods around grade
three’s and fours. Graceful passage of the most technical waters is often observed if
you watch an area carefully. Some times whole herds can be observed on the same
rapid at once. Weekends in the spring sound the arrival of there young. These ride
effortlessly in the centre of the craft or in some cases make there own way in double
canoes. Carefully guided by the elders of the group from danger and trouble. The
sight is a reminder of what life should be like for all of us.
Open canoeing is the last refuge of the elderly overweight kayaker
and I would not have it any other way.
I rest my case.
Some people hear the song in the quiet mist of a cold morning; others hear it in the
middle of a roaring rapids. Sometimes the excitement drowns out the song. The
thrills become all that matter as we seek one rapid after another. Sleeping, eating
and living outdoors become something we do between rapids. But for other people
the song is loudest in the evening when they are sifting in front of the tent, basking
in the camp fire's warmth. This is when I hear it loudest, after I have paddled and
portaged for many miles to some distant, hidden place.” Bill Mason
The Song of the Paddle is a well known book amongst open canoeists. It is written by
Bill Mason and is subtitled “An Illustrated Guide to Wilderness Camping”. So
although it is a book about open canoeing it is also about the exploring of wild places
in your canoe.
But it could equally be about exploring the wild places in your personality
In the UK our wild places are fewer and less wild than Bill had in Canada but even
here, when out in your open canoe you can get to feel more at one with nature and
escape from the ties of modern life. This is as true with a few snatched hours on the
local lake or loch as it is on a multi-day camping adventure.
We live in a world where rules and governance are more and more controlling
our every move. Open canoeists all over the UK escape this modern evil by jumping
into there canoe for the weekend. I have found that aside from Scotland Kayaking is
not such a good way to escape, because the modern short bouts are not for the long
adventurous journeys. It would seem like you are never far from a stressful access
agreement in a kayak today.
God made men to be wild and adventurous.
Ever since life began some men have ventured into the unknown. Today this is a
suppressed emotion for most people. Adventure is a trip to the supermarket or a game
of chance with the speed trap on the M6. For your average open canoeist adventure is
a usually only a short drive away. The coast, a Canal, a river a rapid or a lake.
Open Canoe offers real adventure and is the natural progression for the 40 plus man,
with a Kayaking back ground.
As we men progress towards our prime years of 40+ we demand more out of life and
more quality out of our STUFF. When you reach 40 technique is more valuable than
bravado. This applies to most of the pleasures in life including our paddle sport.
The sense for adventure is something that should never be suppressed in any man, at
any cost.
The canoe is a perfect channel to allow our adventurous side to roam free.
There is nothing wrong with Kayak; it is a great and wonderful sport. But Kayaks
seems to be caught in a super fast evolutionary race to become submarine creatures. If
you don’t get a wet head in the first minute of a Kayak trip you are left feeling like a
real outsider.
Open canoeists are far more social creatures, usually seen in large herds and
communal groups. They can be found on weekends migrating in numbers towards
new and fresh pastures. Often found in twos or threes inspecting a grade two rapid.
Sometimes they can be observed out of the water for longer periods around grade
three’s and fours. Graceful passage of the most technical waters is often observed if
you watch an area carefully. Some times whole herds can be observed on the same
rapid at once. Weekends in the spring sound the arrival of there young. These ride
effortlessly in the centre of the craft or in some cases make there own way in double
canoes. Carefully guided by the elders of the group from danger and trouble. The
sight is a reminder of what life should be like for all of us.
Open canoeing is the last refuge of the elderly overweight kayaker
and I would not have it any other way.
I rest my case.
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