You might remember that we took out a membership at a local Rowing Club nearby to bring kayaking back into our lives after our move to the city. I mention our urban kayaking in this post,where I also talk a bit about the paddling we were able to do at our island waterfront home — with a link back to a post from those paddling days, with photos. . . .
That membership served us very well for a year. Paul used it much more than I did, but we had some satisfying, short outings together. Then last fall, he decided he really wanted to own a kayak again so as to have more control over maintenance — the ones at the club often had rudder cables that weren’t working any longer or seats that failed to adjust — and he sought out, and found, affordable and convenient storage not too far away. He bought a used kayak and spent many happy hours through the fall and winter paddling in False Creek and if there wasn’t too much wind, he’d foray east around Stanley Park and up the inlet a bit, or west along the Vancouver beaches out to Point Grey.
I didn’t in the least begrudge him his many solo expeditions (I tended to stay home and write or sketch or read, so it suits both of us), but we both wanted the option of paddling together again, so he’s been watching for a bigger spot at the marina. One finally came available last month, and within a week, Paul had bought a second used kayak, and the other day he brought home my shiny new paddle. I haven’t been out yet (honestly, I’m waiting for slightly warmer weather . . . ), but I’m hoping to do that soon.
Meanwhile, I was flipping through some of my old journals, looking for some information that might be relevant to our upcoming trip, and I came across the page pictured above — It’s a sketch of our old paddles, resting on the rustic cedar table on our front deck where I often drank my tea in the morning — I wasn’t sketching anywhere near as often then, but this must have seemed like a moment I’d want to remember. July 19, 2012. . . . (and then I wrote about, and included, the sketch in a post the very next day)
Below, I sketched my new paddle on Canson mi-teint paper (using a mix of gouache, Micron pen; for the handwriting, I used a white Gelly Roll) — then cut that sketch and glued it into my journal, being careful to glue just around the margin so that I could use the sketch as an envelope — and in the envelope, I’ve stashed the paddle receipt and warranty. . .
In other news, I have a writing partner/friend coming over shortly, so I need to clear some table space (currently cluttered with journals and stamp pads and ink bottles and a tube of glue and a spill of pens and markers and pencils).
Also need to have some breakfast, which is more complicated these days because it requires removing my Invisalign aligners (fortunately, I’m getting faster at that, but still don’t find it easy) and then a full floss and brush (after every meal or snack! So I don’t snack, which is good, right?) before fitting them back in. They’ve mostly stopped hurting now, though, so I think I’ve got off lightly adjustment-wise. . . .
Weekend plans?
And/or what about this flashback — my 2012/2019 comparison. . . what links might you make with your 7-years-ago self?
Or any response/comment you care to make as I place the mic in your hands. . . .
xo,
f
Kayaking! Wow. You couldn't pay me enough money to do it–or anything else involving water (like swimming). But I admire that you and your husband have this shared activity and that he is so into it.
Going through your old journals must be a lot of fun.
I'm so glad I had swimming lessons in the summer, growing up, so that I do enjoy water — probably helps growing up on the Coast. . .
I would love to kayak regularly, I think. Have done it only ever once:). I like your paddle sketch! And 7 years ago I was working full-time, at a very stressful job, and not yet remarried. So, change.
I love the independence I found in a kayak as opposed to canoeing (although the canoeing played a significant part in our courtship 😉
Amazing, the changes 7 years can bring, for what we see by this stage of our lives, is actually a relatively short span.
I've paddled a bit in the Broken Islands. I would like to do more. Seven years ago, I was studying at the Sorbonne. My father was still alive. There is a lot of change in our lives at this age.
I'd love to paddle in the Broken Islands as well, and for many years I assumed I would — just never found/made the time for it, and now probably it won't happen. . . .
That was so significant — you studying at the Sorbonne, taking that time for yourself in Paris. . .
Your paddle-centric post raised a smile, reminding me of when my daughter worked a couple of summers as a camp counsellor at a summer camp in Ontario (Camp Tawingo). On the counsellors' packing list was 'your canoe paddle' – as if of course everyone had a canoe paddle in the way that they had a toothbrush. It seemed very very Canadian! My husband and children are keen kayakers, and one of the things my husband is looking forward to in moving north to join me is being able to have his own kayak and head off exploring our lochs. Our second car was bought expressly to be a kayak carrier. When you come to Scotland we'll have to get you kayakers together. I'm with Taste of France, firmly on dry land. I'll have the drams opened for your return from the water!
Linda-in-Scotland
That's a cute story! I must say I had a very sweet (wooden) canoe paddle of my own, but only because of my husband, and I suspect some of your daughter's fellow counsellors might have borrowed theirs. . .
And I hope we get to take you up on that offer some day . . .
I love seeing the evolution of your artwork — makes me feel that there is still hope for me to someday improve to the point we're I'm happier with my work! Took my stuff on vacation but felt my sketches were rushed and babyish (UGH!). Oh, and we rented a place in Eleuthera partly because it came with kayaks, but we never got around to taking them out on the crystal-clear water, mostly because it meant carrying them down a steep slope and putting them in rougher water to paddle around the point. We told ourselves "maybe next year, if we come back for 2 weeks" :~).
I have sketches that I think or thought were rushed and babyish as well. Some of the best lessons I've learned have been how to be patient with myself and bit by bit, I've been able to find something to like in a sketch and see how to build on that. It's still tough, and it's so easy to get caught up in comparing, but at the very least, we can focus on how our "looking" is improving. . . I think I'm much more attentive, even if that doesn't always show up on paper.
I admire your sketch-collage-origami technique
I've loved kayaking-although only a couple of times,both at Jarun lake and at the little -long time ago it was freshwater!- lake (where,in the middle of the lake,there is an island with the church-it is magical!) in the centre of beautiful island Mljet
I'll say to today myself-enjoy the moment!
Dottoressa
So many beautiful places to kayak in Croatia. One of these years. . .
My water sports are sailing and rowing (a dinghy, not a skiff). I tried kayaking once and quite enjoyed it. My only problem was the water running down in cold drops along my lifted arms, from my wrists to my armpits. Probably a case of false technique.
My compliments to your husband for finding such smooth solutions to his/your nautic desires.
It has been raining all week and there are more rains and even thunderstorms in the forecast, so I am staying inside and going to keep an appointment with my sewing machine. After producing a series of presents for friends and family, I think today I am going to make a little rucksack for myself out of various scraps, so each patch can tell a story.
There's usually a rubber collar on the paddle and you'd need to play with its placement (they generally slide) which stops the water from streaming toward you. And your stroke might be tracing too much height and/or dipping into the water unnecessarily. I'm sure you'd catch on quickly though.
I love the sound of that rucksack — have fun creating!
Had to think hard about what was going on in 2012 (too lazy to find my journals). One of my sons had just come back from a tour in Afghanistan. We took a trip together to London, Paris and Bruges to celebrate his safe return. Now, these seven years later, he is married with two young children and another due in less than a month. A gift to think about in the midst of our shambolic world.
You must have been so relieved to have your son home safely — what a wonderful trip to take together. And what a demonstration of what seven years can bring — a gift indeed!
I would love to try kayaking.. 7 years ago I had just moved us to ,Knoxville, a city I really didn’t want to live in, because it was best for my dying husband to be near family. And here I am now embarking on new things. To echo Lisa — yes, change
You've made so many changes in the last seven years, Mardel, and made them with so much grace and creativity. And soon you'll be in your beautiful new home, looking forward to whatever seven more bring . . .
love the mi-teinte, huh?
the whole page is so pleasing!
yes! Which I discovered in your studio that day you and I painted those tulips in gouache pastel neutrals. . .