Posts filed under "Talking Story"
A Sunday morning in Madronita
We’re staying out near Longbranch, not far from the end of the Key Peninsula, at a house called Madronita. (You can stay here too… in fact, I’d recommend it.) Sipping my morning coffee, looking out across the fog-shrouded passage between Anderson and McNeil Islands, I was thumbing through the Rockwell Kent classic, “Wilderness,” when some lines […]
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Walking through another door
As the Ikkatsu Project continues to evolve, it is taking up more of my time. There is a seminar coming up at the University of Puget Sound, a developing program at a few local high schools, the film that is almost complete and a premiere to plan… and that doesn’t even begin to take next […]
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A Personal fire
There is a certain satisfaction In an evening spent by an old wood stove Reading familiar lines from worn pages while Bathing in the soft, crackling light Of a fire that was placed there by hand Using driftwood that came in on the tide Some six, ten, fourteen months ago Split, dried and stacked Then […]
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Hard news
“There’s a correct way to do things and then there’s the American way.” With those words, Derek Hutchinson began his edging clinic at the West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium back in 1998. As someone who had read his books on paddling technique and heard the story of his fabled North Sea Crossing, I held the […]
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Lockouts
This blog has never been about organized sports. Professional sports. Although I have been known to mention the Green Bay Packers at times, or the Montreal Canadiens, this has never been a place to go to see the latest on who Aaron Rodgers is throwing to these days or why Larry Robinson is the greatest […]
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Follow the spirits and chase those demons
I’m not sure if it was 1997 or 1998. Or 1999 even. But in spite of not remembering the year, I remember the specific symposium when the Tsunami Rangers came to town. The West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium was, back then, the ultimate in kayaking events anywhere and traveling to Port Townsend on the third […]
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More plastic talk
Ten days ago, at the Surfrider summit in Ventura, I attended a presentation by Marcus Eriksen. Dr. Eriksen is the force behind the 5 Gyres Institute, an organization that is involved in understanding and combating plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. He brought with him a section of a Japanese fishing skiff that he and […]
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Red flags on Craigslist
I have a few kayaks I’m trying to sell. One of them, a Kevlar Arluk III, is an especially good deal at $800. I put it on Craigslist, thinking the additional exposure might make a sale happen more quickly and, sure enough, I got a nibble right away. “Is it still available?” James asked. When […]
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Trail update
I saw where the Mount Ellinor Trail in Olympic National Forest reopened the other day after being closed for about three months. Goats were the reason for the closure; more specifically, aggressive goats that have become habituated to human contact and may present a danger to hikers. There are reasons for this: when hikers pee […]
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In search of waves
I’m thinking about going surfing. I’m not saying I’m going, but I am definitely thinking about it. It’s been too long. (That’s Chris Pattillo above, with the late takeoff, but it could be me. Next time it will be, I’m sure.)
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A story of sea kayaking and science on the rugged coast of Alaska. Coming – Spring 2014.
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