We cannot carry on without mentioning those that have helped us get this far! We don't see a lot of people and our interactions are limited at best (probably a little strange through the eyes of others!). But some how we have been blessed, it seems there is always an extended hand and a heart of gold awaiting us.
We haven't figured out yet if we just look like a couple of nice girls... or if we come across as needing all the help we can get... but either way... grin. The far stretches of people's generosity has been bestowed upon us.
Two days after all our fresh fruit and veg was gone... just over a week since Port McNeil, we met 'Fred and Connie' (we have been sworn to secrecy and cannot reveal their real names), two lovely caretakers at a remote fishing lodge. We came looking for water and left with apples, oranges, kiwis, orange juice, a coke (for Angela), potatoes, onions.... oh, and water. Feeling like we had just been adopted and completely taken care of we happily trotted back to camp with our loot like five year-olds on Halloween. Later that night we were invited back and we again met open arms... were drawn into a heated house (how strange!), given more juice, and had a wonderful evening chatting together... We of course didn't leave empty handed... they were sure to fill our pockets with chocolates...
A long day out of Bella Bella, fighting the wind a current, but determined to visit our first lighthouse we arrived on Ivory Island at about 7pm... we hadn't had dinner and we would still have to find somewhere to camp but we filled our pockets with snacks and then walked across the island on the old condemned boardwalk to visit the light house keepers. Greeted by Lise and her husband we were immediately offered juice, which turned into the use of a spare building to watch TV (weird!), have showers, and were even given an entire Casserole to eat all ourselves!!! which we did eat... almost all of, ourselves! On their suggestion we camped back where our boats were... sleeping on the condemned boardwalk, full, warm, clean and happy!
A couple of days before Prince Rupert, almost 2 weeks since our last town we paddled into a sleepy little village on a Sunday... seeming deserted our hopes of chocolate and apples were starting to disintegrate... and then we met Vanessa... Sticking out like sore thumbs (as usual we were wondering around in our bright yellow dry suits) Vanessa was smiling before we even approached her to ask if there was any chance of a store. Learning that we were looking for chocolate she said 'come with me, I will feed you'. Perhaps it is the kindergarten teacher in her... but she thought of our ever need and provided! First she gave us chocolate chip cookies... which we promptly ate (it was only 10:30am). Then she opened up the computer lab so we could check email and make phone calls and when we were finished that... she took us home, made us tea, served us FRESH PINEAPPLE!, offered us showers, and then sent us on our way with apples, oranges and chocolate covered raisins! Feeling like we were leaving a long time friend we hugged her goodbye and again... trotted back to our kayaks feeling like five year olds on Halloween.
But the generosity did not end there... on the Docks we met Chad, a fellow sea going lad that has been traveling up the coast from Seattle in an old converted fishing boat. Chad just happened to have too much salmon... which we assured him we could help him with. First he produced a huge fillet that he had just cooked on his grill... we promptly ate it... all... to everyones disbelief... seeing that get devoured he went back and got another huge fillet, raw for us to take for dinner...
It seems like every where we go we meet people that are compelled to help us, be it problem solving, letting us use school computer labs (the school in Bella Bella also let us use their computers!), searching for needed supplies, giving us discounts, offering us lifts, simply providing.
Not surprisingly the key to our eternal love is food and chocolate... Oh, and internet!
THANK YOU!
The Dream
If there is one thing we can all relate to, it is the notion of a dream. An aspiration that consumes us and leaves us with no choice but to follow through, making that dream a reality. Those of us that share a great love for the outdoors and the wild spaces still left on this planet understand the need to be out there. We understand that sometimes a dream is more than just a desire; sometimes it is a necessity of life.
On a quest to fulfill our need to be out there we have pursued successful careers in the outdoor industry, pouring in the same passion we have for those wild spaces in search of a purpose that will connect us. But we know that lifestyle isn’t enough, something still calls to us and when we can, we answer. This is an answer that has been 15 years in the waiting. This is an expedition that reminds us of how we got here, keeps us going through the dry times and fulfills that empty space within us all labeled ‘purpose’. This is what we live for.
On a quest to fulfill our need to be out there we have pursued successful careers in the outdoor industry, pouring in the same passion we have for those wild spaces in search of a purpose that will connect us. But we know that lifestyle isn’t enough, something still calls to us and when we can, we answer. This is an answer that has been 15 years in the waiting. This is an expedition that reminds us of how we got here, keeps us going through the dry times and fulfills that empty space within us all labeled ‘purpose’. This is what we live for.
On May 4th 2009 we will depart from Galiano Is (BC, Canada) in two single sea kayaks headed north for Glacier Bay (Alaska, US). We are two able, confident and experienced women, seeking to challenge our experience as guides through our own expedition of the entire coast we love and work on.
We aren’t heroes and we aren’t breaking new ground. We are simply two women following our dreams and in turn hoping to inspire a few other people to do the same.
We aren’t heroes and we aren’t breaking new ground. We are simply two women following our dreams and in turn hoping to inspire a few other people to do the same.
This is how we live our lives the way we have always dreamed...
It's about more than an expedition, it's about more than a sport, it's even about more than a lifestyle. This is about dreams, this is about passion, this is about listening to that need to be out there. It's about learning how to 'fly'.
We're calling it 'Crossing Borders'
Friday, June 26, 2009
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