Channel16


We’re pretty sure he’s not thinking about his PFD right now.


BACKCOUNTRY


SERENADE. PHOTO: MIKE MONAGHAN


WATERLINES BY MIKE MONAGHAN Live and Unplugged


LONGTIME CANOEIST FINDS HARMONY WITH TWO BLADES AND A SIX-STRING


Award winning design, made in Canada quality, patented comfort and attention to detail goes into making every Salus PFD. These things are best appreciated on the water, when you are thinking about them the least and enjoying your adventure the most.


SALUS. Live the adventure. salusmarine.com


Several years ago, the desire to paddle big water found me giving my canoe a rest in favor of a kayak. With the new boat and the related equipment ready for Lake Superior, the search was on to find a way to bring my other passion—the guitar—along on my adventure. For over 30 years I’ve been pickin’ the old six-string. I’ve played


in basements and backyards, in cafés and on couches, but there is something about the accompanying hiss and pop of the campfire and the silent glow of the moon that sweetens the hum of wood and steel. Campfires themselves, quiet and contemplative, seem to blend into


one another in the memories of trips past. But a campfire graced with music becomes a milestone, an event that sets that night apart from any other. On some nights the guitar elicits the lending of voices, of harmonies and laughter, while on others it sings alone as faces en- tranced gently sway in time. While a kayak can’t accommodate a full-sized guitar, there are


many options out there for those who feel that playing some music of their own is the perfect ending to a day of paddling. Though guitars come in all shapes and sizes, a true travel guitar


measures about 33 by 13 inches or smaller, with a depth of no more than three inches. At the more affordable end of the spectrum are the Baby Taylor and the similar sized Little Martin. Both are compact, fun to play and will only set you back about $300. They’ll also double as great starter guitars for young kids. For those in search of an even smaller option, the Martin Backpacker guitar, while low on tone, is high on portability. On the higher end are the carbon fiber offerings. Unaffected by hu-


midity, heat or cold, guitars like the Rider by Blackbird or the Cargo by Composite Acoustics are suited to the most demanding pickers and paddlers alike. With one of these sleek little axes in your gear locker, there’s no excuse to go tripping without a guitar again. I know what you’re thinking: “I can barely fit my usual gear into


my kayak, where am I going to put a guitar?” My solution was to place my guitar in a tall SealLine 35L Kodiak


drybag and slip it under the bungees on my stern deck. The setup is waterproof and keeps a low enough profile that it is virtually unaffect- ed by wind or waves. I also had a nylon handle sewn onto the side of the bag to make it convenient to carry around camp or down the beach. My two-week solo trip through Pukaskwa Park on Lake Superior


was a success. I brought my carbon fiber travel guitar. It was great to have on wind- and fog-bound days, not to mention relaxing around the fire at Cascade Falls. Making the transition from canoeing to kay- aking has been exciting, and knowing that I can bring my music with me, I have no regrets. Mike Monaghan is a professional photographer, lifelong paddler and


fingerstyle guitarist living in Waterloo, Ontario. You can check out some of his photographic work at www.mikemonaghan.ca.


14 ADVENTURE KAYAK | SPRING 2012


PHOTO: RICK MATTHEWS


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