Zwilli?

In just a bit more than two months, I'll give my final exams and then we'll head back to the states. On that trip, we hope to pick up our (used) tandem kayak and load it on the Subaru. Fortunately, the 80 pound craft is under the roof rack's 100 pound limit, as long as we leave grandmother's casket behind.

On March 8, the Thursday evening kayak sessions resume. Eli has already signed up and I hope to do so next week. Will we actually move from 'permanent beginner' status to 'inadequate intermediate'? March or April will tell.

The acquisition of the kayak has me contemplating various day trips and easy overnights on Lake Pend Oreille, but also back in this vicinity. Like back country skiing, there are safety issues addressed by knowledge that only comes with experience, hopefully not via serious mistakes. Certainly choice of route and weather observation are crucial in both activities.

As a youth I took a fair number of canoe trips in Minnesota's boundary waters and into the Quetico. I am comfortable on the water, but appropriately conservative. I realize that wet bodies are more difficult to cremate, even if found.

If I can gather a critical mass of people (maybe 'critical number' would be a better choice of words - kayak cockpits are only so big), I may plan a mid September trip back to this area, using Vancouver Island as our base for prudently chosen day trips. We now know many appropriate routes. I need to get a bit smarter first, however. I'll work on that.

We do need a name for the kayak. It's a Seaward Gemini, so for now I'll call her 'Zwilli'. Eli already rejected "Two Holer".

Richard
2007.02.17

Fog du Jour

Here we are, about a third of the way through the second semester. Our recent week-plus respite from rains is over and the rainy season again holds sway and the morning snowplows clear the bodies of the suicides from the streets. We retain our slim grasp on sanity by getting outdoor exercise, walking hither and yon through the puddles. They can be hard to avoid in the fog.

Eli actually took a ski day last Friday, journeying northward with two recent acquaintances to ski the hardpack at Mt. Washington. Other than that we've stayed close to our temporary 'home'.

We've decided to get a used tandem kayak - we can't afford two fully equipped decent singles. This way we can kayak together or one of us can take a friend/relative. Since we are permanent beginners, the greater stability of the double will be nice. Although not optimal in performance, the tandem can even be paddled by one person, after appropriately weighting the front cockpit. We hope to pick it up in Seattle from the seller on our way home from Canada.

My two courses continue to keep me busy, both requiring new preparation. The students are much like those I taught in the States except that the proportion of international students here is much higher. The bottom line is that this is impinging on my play time.

A bit of a social life has evolved for us - either with people from Eli's hiking group or from my colleagues at work. Perhaps some of these new friendships will last beyond our stay here. This weekend we'll hike with some friends from the college and then visit a pub for supper.

Richard
2007.02.08