Kayak vid - Outta Africa

As most of you know I happen to love whitewater kayaking and although I don't get many opportunities to do it here in Manitoba when I get the chance I embrace it. Enjoy this video of a sport I hold dear.

Exploring the Costa Rica Chronicles:

So we are back from Costa Rica and once again I was impressed by how travel changes a person. It doesn't take long to realize the strengths and weaknesses of your culture back home and those of the country you are visiting. The people were incredibly warm & friendly, the food simply unbelievable (who knew that rice & beans could be so good?! and the pineapple, mango, other fruits - simply amazing!), the scenery breathtaking - jungle, coffee plantations, volcanoes, whitewater, waterfalls, etc. I don't regret a trip I've ever gone on - each one is unique in what I learned. Highlights for me included: ziplining through the jungle & rappelling down multiple waterfalls, meeting a red-eyed tree frog, spending time with my wonderful wife Wendy, mtn biking through misty jungle trails, reading books not for work, having amazing coffee, see the "Costa Rica Chronicles" at Musings:

Day One: Arrival To Costa Rica
Day Two: Kayaking & Exploring
Day Three: Volcanoes, Mtn Biking, & Hummingbirds
Day Four: Waterfall Rappelling, Jungle Ziplines, & Fun!
Day Five: Celebrating 10 Years, Snakes & Frogs, Whitewater Rafting
Day Six: Caribbean Coast, Surfing, & a Jungle Eco-Hotel
Day Seven: More of the Carib, Snorkeling, Coconuts, & Driving
Days Eight-Ten: Farewells, R& R, Taste of Italy, & Homeward Bound

Day Ten: April 30 - Kayak Nantahala

We awoke to the sounds of rain and thunder. Admittedly, I was somewhat discouraged by it all - hoping this wouldn't prevent me from paddling my favorite river in the area! Thankfully by about 9:30 the rains & storm had let up somewhat turning into a cloudy mist type of drizzle.

After some genius shuttle math (surprisingly due to my normally inept calculations) on my part, we decided to take one van to the put-in and a second van 1/2 way down past some of the more advanced class III sections. After dropping us off at the put-in, Cristin drove our van back to the NOC parking lot and drove with the second group to the halfway mark and did the same for them.

It was great paddling the Nantahala river again, it started out with a bang (as it did last time I was here) but all went well this time. I still remember the carnage six years ago with some LDP paddlers who probably should not have put-in at that point. It was really a beautiful and almost surreal experience running the rapids through the mist and rain. Sometimes, it was so foggy that it was hard to see Micheal in the lead boat.

I managed to get a little surfing in on a wave but I ended up swimming after I was unable to setup my roll - I'll blame it on my sore forearm but in reality I'm simply rusty when it comes to my roll. I used to have a pretty much bombproof roll but I haven't really paddled since last spring. My last summer was spent building a house, prepping for new courses, and of course welcoming Aimee into our lives in August as our second daughter to be born! After my swim - I definitely felt the cold and it clearly affected my paddle. I also felt the affects which I nicknamed Guyabito's Revenge in my stomach which churned a bit like some of the whitewater I was running. All in all though - it was a fun descent but I decided to not run the falls this time around. I had nothing to prove having run it three or four times six years ago. I'll be back with a bombproof roll next time.

Michael, Scott, Eric, Lisa, Tyson, & Bret all successfully ran the falls but most of them ended up having to do a roll. Tyson almost lost it at the top of the falls but managed to get straightened out before plunging into a pretty gnarly but safe hole. Although envious, I was very proud of them all!

Kayaking Mayhem @ Nantahalla

After the fun on the Nantahala we returned to Tsali and I began the arduous task of packing. It was to get cleaned up and enjoy a brief but hot shower as well. Supper was good - Mediterranean Rissoto I believe. I spent some time writing goodbyes in the trip journal and saying goodbyes before leaving with Eric and his Jeep Liberty for the Asheville Airport along with Bret, Tyson & Terry.

My time in the airport was uneventful but it has given me time to reflect, read, and unwind. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to sleep much here but soon I will be home!

Day Nine: April 29 - The Little Tennesse River

A foggy, dreary morning turned into a warm & sunny day of paddling a very basic but fun river. It had it's moments of frivolity and whitewater moments but again a very introductory river meant to once again encourage paddling skills and confidence. It was great getting to know Eric - the MIA LDP who got called back to the Reserves (Air Force) half way through the program. Gradually, I'm getting a really good understanding of the ethos of this year's LDP participants.

We had hoped to also paddle a section of the Nantahala today but we ended up trying to get one of the van's lights to function correctly. We were unable to accomplish that but were treated to a true mexican meal experience courtesy of the generosity of Eric at a local Mexican restaurant called Guayabitos. Bueno good!

I connected well with the group tonight and the study went really well in my estimation. I'm really enjoying getting to know the guys of the group and hope to keep in contact with them following the trip. I chatted with Bret after the study and hopefully encouraged him to continue to live out the passion he has for his future in camp ministry. He's been a great tent mate. Tyson & Terry both have impressed me as well as future leaders in whatever they pursue.

Two more nights and I see my family! The hope is to paddle the Nantahala tomorrow and leave for Asheville sometime after supper. I'll be sleeping in the airport for night and hopefully arrive back home Sunday morning!

Day Seven: April 27 Kayak Tuckaseegee River

Sleep was good at the musty motel in Bryson City - even if my gear smelled of old cigarette smoke. Soundtrack for the day - Jack Johnson's latest - In Between Dreams. We admittedly looked and felt like a band of kayaking gypsies with all our bags, gear, & food strewn across a parking lot and two motel rooms. A futile attempt at drying wet paddling gear was made, a rushed breakfast and quickly packed lunch, a prayer, and then we were off to the mighty but mild Tuckasqeegee (my affectionate nickname).

Outdoor Recreation Gypsies

We found the put-in, unloaded our plastic boats, and started eating our lunches while Michael & Bruce worked out shuttle math. I had a good conversation with a prof from a local outdoors-oriented school - Brevard College who also was helping lead a group of outdoor-ed type students open-boat the Tuck.

After M & B got back (around 11:30) we drifted through the riffles, navigated the submerged rock outcrops, and paddled our way through a maze of available lines through some class one & two moving water. The river admittedly was a tad on the dull side for where I am at now but the highlights included revisiting The Fugitive movie set complete with the train/bus crash site along the river, a short surf or two on a few waves but nothing really epic.

It was however an excellent day to build the confidence of LDP still getting a handle on this whitewater kayaking thing. Most of my time was spent coaching Kelly, Emily & Cristin though the paces of paddling and reading whitewater. There comfort levels increased exponentially every rapid. I used the classing rating scale of comfort to gauge where everyone was at: 1=scary & sucks to 10=it's a beautiful day!

I am missing Wen & the girls much these days and wish I had them down here with me. I am looking forward to future family adventures and getting my daughters into whitewater paddling and mountain biking! I love teaching in the outdoors and it has been cool to see the many God-inspired connections I have made through Medeba's Leadership Development Program over the years. I have made good friends through many of the different LDP years that have happened. Jodi and Mandy have been probably the most frequent in their visits with us, but it has been great to connect with Ben & Reesa, Bean, Becky, Tif, Tania and many others who we have become friends with over the years. I am really impressed with the potential leadership capability of this year's LDP and am guessing I will have more chances to connect with them.

G

Day Six: April 26 - Kayak Green River

It may have been a late start to a day of adventure but by 1:00 pm we were on the Green River, a good introductory whitewater river with mainly class 1 & 2 rapids with perhaps a class 3 descent or two. Michael (the LDP director & good friend) took the lead in his spiffy green Dagger Crazy 88, followed by Mandy in her aqua Dagger Juice & the more advanced paddlers in the LDP. I took the middle group with Scott (a fellow LDP alumnus) and Bruce (Medeba's executive director) took the sweep position at the back.

Temperature wise both the water and air were more comfortable than days past. Unfortunately, the first rapid proved to be a bit technical for Cristen who ended up pinned in what we paddler's refer to as strainers - a partially submerged tree near the shore. I managed to get to her quickly, got out of my boat (a Dagger Medieval) and helped her wet exit. By then Michael, had arrived as well and comforted her on shore. I managed to free her boat from a second strainer and after a short rest - we were back on the river. There were a few more interesting and fun drops but for the most part it was a good introductory river.

I managed to do a few stern squirts and enders while playing but the Medieval is a big slicey boat compared to my ID at home. All in all, it was a great day for surfing - I even managed to do some surfing without a paddle on a really sweet, stationary wave. I was able to carve back and forth using my hands & my body position within my boat. We also found a large inflateable beach-type ball on the shore line near a bamboo forest and played with it down the doldrum sections. I will be bringing it home to my girls for future explorations of play in a pool or beach setting.

Our evening goals were to meet the Pritchard's at their uncle's cabin near the Tuckaseegee area but we managed to get their around 8:30 - over three hours later than we planned. It was good to connect with another former LDP - McKinley Pritchard. We ended up in a hotel room in Bryson City around 11:00 and thanx to the schmoozing of Tyson & Lisa - paid $60 for two rooms to escape having to set up camp in the rain and darkness.

G

Patience

It's tough to be patient isn't it? This whole housebuilding thing hasn't helped with my patience. We're fortunate that we've only been delayed by about a week. I heard of some people's whose houses were supposed to be finished in July and still haven't had their basements dug due to all this wet weather we've been having here.

I believe the dictionary definition of patience equates it to long-suffering. Well - we may be a little stressed & frustrated by delays but we definitely have not been tortured. In fact - we have much to celebrate about. The great thing about a new yard is that there will be no grass to cut this year! Well - I guess there are two sides to that coin to but fortunately we are near the park.

I'm not sure how familiar people are with whitewater kayaking but I'll try a little illustration on for size. I love paddling whitewater and one of my favorite things is surfing a stationary wave. It is similar to surfing on an ocean wave - you need to cut back and forth - and it is all about balance and weight transfer.

Some waves are steep and need to be surfed hard & aggressive. Other waves are so stick you just have to turn your head to do a 360. The biggest challenge of waves usually is not the actual surf but actually getting on the wave to begin with. Many waves you can only hit going downstream, others have guardian waves which you have to paddle through like mad to actually get on to the sweet spot, and you guessed it - it is all about patience.

Once you are on the wave though - it is pure joy! I've sometimes paddled like a madman to get on a wave - gotten on it - and seconds later the wave spits me out because my bow dunked down or something silly. All that work & effort for a few seconds of pleasure.

I'll never forget the first time I got on the biggest wave of my life - it happens to be on the Winnipeg River at a place called Sturgeon Falls. The wave is ironically called Surfers - not maybe the most creative name but it is a monster wave that is probably one of the biggest safe waves to be on. Flat spinning by simply looking left or right! I got spit out once and missed my roll & ended up a 1/2 km down stream because of the massive wave train...

Anyways - yep you guessed it - back to packing & back to long-suffering...

Surfs up!

G