Sunrise on the water.

Peddled to and paddled out from Roche Cove in Sooke in the pre-pre-dawn hours. Pulled out at Portage Inlet late this afternoon.

Time on water - 12 hours

Meeting an Inspiration.

I struggle with what Freya Hoffmeister 'is'. She refutes the term inspiration, but I have no other term for what I take from her - and that night, sitting in that chair, listening to her voice falter as she came to a particularily horrifying part of her journey... it felt like I was taking something very precious from her.

Dear lady, I'm fairly certain that I understand the feeling of being truly alone on the ocean, under those cliffs that dark and stormy night... and I know that despite life-changing moments like these, I still appreciate, and desire, the solitude and peace in my life that paddling provides. Possibly this is the draw of expedition paddling for free souls... and the fundamental reason I'm inspired by people like you.

Freya, I'd like to thank-you.

Thank-you,

~daniel~

First date with my girl.

Took Persephone out for a good long spin today at Esquimalt Lagoon and into Esquimalt Harbour.

Time on water - 6 hours

Christening of Persephone

Invited everyone out to partake in the christening and trial run of Persephone.

Time on water - 3 hours

McNeil Bay

Met ~D at McNeil Bay for a greenland paddle session. The goal was to work on forward stroke and stick-handling. I threw some leadership and navigation into the mix to keep things interesting.

Time on water - 2 hours.
Time instructing - 3 hours.

~daniel's~ Movin' On Expedition

No-one truly knows what the human spirit is capable of, and where a dream may shift into a reality, or if a dream is just a dream.

I've been hesitant to post this... as there is always the pressure of how to live down failure. Then I considered the why I'm doing this and for whom.

I've decided to dream the big dreams, imagine them as possible, and set attainable goals that move me in that direction. If I accomplish what I set out to do, fine - if I don't, I've spent a portion of my short time on this earth, learning what I am capable of - and moving in a positive direction that will shape me and change me in ways that I have never thought possible. As I'm only doing this for myself, there is no failure, whether I make it ten feet, or ten thousand miles.

LBSB is my baby, an umbrella organization that exists nowhere other than in cyberspace. I never intend it to be any more than that. Anyone who wishes to be part of it is welcome, and what it becomes is dependant on what YOU need from it. Please consider this an invitation to be an integral part of the development of Longboat Shortboat International Independant Paddlesport Professionals. Post as you see fit.

I needed a sponsor, and LBSB is sponsoring me, for my gear, and my initial expenses. So it's $10,000 to see how far I can go, out of that, Kayaks and equipment will eat about $5,000. I intend to be 100% open about all expenses and incomes as I travel. Let's call it an experiment in social transparency. The $10,000 represents the last of my former life, and is the results of the sale of everything I owned.

Please see the attached photo, it's self-explanatory. I don't intend to do this all in one chunk, but I do intend to keep it alive as a dream, and possibly someday a goal. In the meantime, I'm heading south soon after I get my kayak finished and the sea trials completed to my satisfaction.

First goal - Cape Flattery, Washington, USA

Thank-you,

~daniel~

...excuse me while I hold my breath and push the 'Publish Post' button.



                           

New Year's Day Paddle

Took Gregg out from Beaver Lake for a good long, and lazy, exploration of the shorelines of Elk and Beaver Lakes. Paddled over to watch the Polar Bear swimmers. Taught myself two new forward finishing rolls and accomplished my first hand-roll, although I cheated a bit by holding a tennis ball in my hand.

Time on water - 4 hours
Time guiding - 3 hours
Time instructing - 1 hour