With kayakers, I am sometimes tempted to say, “What? I can’t hear you above your outfit!”
When it comes to visual pollution, however, kayakers are the
worst.A 17-foot fuchsia-decked kayak with yellow trim and hatches over an international-orange hull (for safety!) doesn’t exactly disap- pear into the
bush.And why not slip into a pair of red quick-dry pants and a turquoise paddling jacket? Be sure to wear your flare- orange PFD with the hornet-yellow towline and reflective patches. Royal blue pogies and an eggplant-and-mango-coloured nylon hat set the whole outfit off. Just leave the rest of the kaleidoscopic mess in your gold-and-bright-blue
tent.Now picture eight people on an oth- erwise beautiful beach all committing this fashion suicide! Let’s hope that most of the animals that actually live in these
areas are colour blind. If in fact the unfortunate critters have the ability to see the full colour spectrum, it must seem to them as if these kayaking interlopers have come to their homes for the express purpose of metaphorically pissing in their eyes. If you ever hang out with hunters or fishers, you will find that
their wardrobe is distinctly different. Sure it may be a stealth thing— after all, they want to kill, kill, kill—but it also makes a surprisingly big difference in terms of visual peace and quiet.With kayakers, I am sometimes tempted to say,“What? I can’t hear you above your out- fit!” For folks who are so earnest about every other aspect of pollu-
tion,why are kayakers so visually loud and obnoxious? There’s no excuse for this fashion faux
pas.Visibility on the water often directly relates to safety,but we don’t need to be so visible in camp. In nature, highly venomous critters sport wild, vibrant colours to warn predators, but I doubt if this works against
bears.Are we dressing up in mating plumage, trying to get lucky on our trips? Maybe, but I for one think that there’s no colour sexier than a modest forest green. Flesh tones are better still—flesh is our most natural colour.Tans are what the fashionable Parisians are all wearing on beaches this year. Earth tones are in! Grey is nice
too.Navy blue is handy in case a business meeting breaks out. Isn’t it hypocritical that kayakers strive to stand out so obtrusive-
ly, like some petroleum-based peacock, from the very landscape they profess to embrace? It’s time to try subdued colours for a change. Otherwise, change the CD and crank up the volume,‘cause kum ba yah doesn’t go with the outfit.
Vancouver, B.C. V5W 2E7, Canada Tel.: 604•327•7989
www.galasportpaddles.com •
www.galasport.ca ADVENTUREkayakmag.com 15 E-mail:
sales@galasportpaddles.com
Mike & Rob MICHL 1130 E. 48 Avenue
Fax/Message: 604•327•9989
The best in composite paddles
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