At a recent sold-out lecture I attended
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by another mega-tripper, the audience left shaking their heads with both awe and a sense of irrelevance. The average paddler is fully aware they’re unlikely to ever embark on a trip with grueling 40-mile days, con- siderable danger and weeks of separation from their families. To inspire, journeys must be possible for people without type triple-A personalities. Seduced by the extreme, even active pad- dlers can feel like slouches on their local routes instead of enjoying themselves. That’s not the fault of the ambitious ad-
venturers who are just following their muse. However, the voyeuristic Internet tracking of mega-expeditions is the paddlesports equiv- alent of trashy celebrity magazines that line grocery checkout lanes. Just as following the glitz of the rich
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and famous can leave us dissatis- fied with our otherwise fulfilling lives— why aren’t I driving a Ferrari and dat- ing Taylor Swift?—the mega-expedition obsession robs more realistic trips of their own considerable grandeur. Though my paddling résumé lacks ep- ics and even frequent overnighters, I’m not an armchair kayaker. I’ve been out for a paddle six times in the past week. They were all short jaunts near my front door, squeezed between deadlines, meetings and social gatherings. The value of these so-called mundane trips
Petawawa We have it all
isn’t that they’re the longest, fastest or most daring. It’s that they work: They renew our spirit, strengthen friendships and rekindle our love of nights spent under the stars and in wild places. When I do manage longer
trips, I’d
rather camp on a wilderness surf beach for three days than chart an expedition that can be measured on a globe. I cover short distances, take layover days and tell jokes around the campfire. Friends stop following my SPOT updates when they realize I’m not moving much. I may have few- er stories, but I like to think I have more fun. I’m not the only one to feel this way.
A countercurrent to our romantization of the mega-trip is gaining steam. Shawna Franklin and Leon Somme of Body Boat Blade International are promoting the Jellyfish Award for the slowest circum- navigation of Vancouver Island. If compete
I ever for it,
Located where the mighty Petawawa and Ottawa Rivers meet in the Ottawa Valley, the Town of Petawawa beckons you with endless opportunities for four-season outdoor recreation. Discover why Petawawa truly is Dynamic by Nature!
www.petawawa.ca www.guidetooutside.ca Eastern Ontario’s Outdoor Adventure Playground I’ll seek sponsorship
from a hammock company, Penguin Books and Clear Creek Distillery instead of a rac- ing kayak manufacturer. Regular Adventure Kayak contributor Neil
Schulman is currently seeking sponsorship for a solo, unsupported circumnavigation of Ross Island—a four-mile expedition in down- town Portland, Oregon. He won’t be tracking his progress online.
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