this that
A CEO Philosophizes from Toronto to Ottawa
Rocco Rossi, the CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, spent his summer vaca- tion on a 19-day (June 26 to July 14), 480-kilometre solo paddle from Toronto to Ottawa, rais- ing $150,000 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery. Rossi is an avid kayaker who has paddled on the west coast almost every summer for the past 16 years. His grandfa- ther and mother-in-law both died
of strokes. The blog of his journey is an inspiring meditation on paddling and on life. Herewith, some highlights:
ON WAVES:
“Bob, weave and embrace the motion and you can have a lot of fun and stay upright! Kind of like life, I was thinking as I bobbed out there like a cork. Lots of times I try to control too much and it just leads to prob- lems. Embracing what comes and surfing the wave rather than fighting it is some- thing this trip is reminding me I need to do more of.”
ON SOLITUDE:
“Nietzche got it wrong—God is not dead, but the stillness that allows us to connect with the divine is under considerable attack by the busy, noisy, chaotic world that surrounds us. Embrace your alone time and you can embrace that which is truly special.”
ON FINISHING:
“I remember being told that the West Coast Indians believe that a person shouldn’t travel faster than he can walk or paddle be- cause if he does so, he will leave his spirit behind. As our lives speed up, I think we do lose our bearings sometimes and that could well be a symptom of losing our connection with our spirit, or soul if you will. Nineteen days of a more human pace had allowed me to better integrate mind, spirit and body.” Amen. To read more, and support the cause:
www.heartandstroke.ca/rocco.
events AUG 25–27
Traditional Greenland Paddling Symposium WAWA, ON Naturally Superior Adventures hosts their first annual Greenland event. Handbuilt Greenland-style paddles are provided. Contact:
www.naturally-
superior.com
22 | | ADVENTURE KAYAK fall 2006 SEPT 15–17
West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium PORT TOWNSEND, WA The granddaddy of sea kayak symposiums features 30 manufacturers with hun- dreds of boats to test all in one place, plus instruction and presentations from top paddlers. Contact:
www.wcsks.org
SEPT 29–OCT 1
Superior Surf Fest WAWA, ON The outflow of the mighty Michipicoten River meets the autumn gales of Lake Superior to produce the best surf to be found between B.C. and the Maritimes. Contact:
www.naturallysuperior.com
Rocco Rossi, CEO and kayak seat philosopher.
PHOTO: HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION OF ONTARIO You Otter Publish this Tail
Trina Dreher, a paddler from Melbourne, Australia, experienced an unusual wild- life encounter while paddling in Alaska’s Prince William Sound. “While we were load- ing our kayaks at the beginning of our trip, an audacious sea otter, not exhibiting any of the shyness normally associated with untamed animals, took an avid interest in our boats,” writes Dreher in eye-witness account submitted to Adventure Kayak. The otter made several attempts to climb aboard, then fell into the cockpit when his weight collapsed the cockpit cover. Dre- her continues: “He must have worked up an appetite as after a short rest on deck he dove beneath the wharf, resurfaced to float on his back, a freshly plucked mussel clasped firmly between his front paws, his strong jaws crushing the shell to reveal the succulent flesh. You couldn’t ask for a bet- ter start to a sea kayaking holiday.”
For complete event listings visit
www.rapidmedia.com
PHOTO: TRINA DREHER
PHOTO: TIM SHUFF
and
FLOTSAM AND JETSAM
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