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Friday, July 19, 2013

My Canoe is Sold

Sorry to take so long to report the sale of my previously posted Swift Dumoine.

A most wonderful man has purchased the canoe and he is deeply experienced in all matters out of doors and is pleased with the boat - so I am very happy. It was for sale for about six weeks.

I was very pleased that my detailed description of the canoe attracted a buyer that turned out to have much in common with me - although he had taken each element to higher levels than I

A fine gentleman.

cheers

 

Saturday, March 16, 2013

FOR SALE: My beloved Swift Dumoine River canoe

Dumoine Asymmetrical design for river running, by Swift from Ontario
 
Swift Canoes has a long history in Ontario - Google them for more information

the bow seat is a slider, with knee braces and pads glued in

Stern seat also has knee braces and pads for comfort and control and safety

the Canoe is 16 ft 8 in long - a great size for two. But note the Asymmetrical design makes it also manageable as a solo river runner

Once I took it on an outing on the Chilliwack. I had experienced help! This was a grade 3 run - it was a VERY COLD day!
 

My wife and I took it on a week long camping trip on Murtle Lake west of Blue River. We paddled 22 miles in to the furthest west end; and of course paddled the 22 miles back. This canoe handled very well on the lake. Especially with the load - it did not blow in the wind! We got more scratches from this half hour portage on wheels than all of the river trips combined!

I would recommend this trip to all - but I read that now there are a lot of Pine Beetle killed trees that tend to blow over in wind storms - caution is warranted.
 
I am selling this canoe because I have a second canoe - a Western Canoe made 17 ft Ultra light prospector and I cannot justify two, as much as I would like to! Reality is I have not canoed since one day outing in 2005. I have not used this Dumoine in over 12 years. Since as a couple we don't like to run rivers any more, we have decided to offer this Dumoine for sale. It is in excellent condition and totally fitted for River Paddling. So we are asking $1375.
 
 
 

Saturday, February 16, 2013

I wandered Lonely as a Cloud, Wm Wordsworth

I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud
by William Wordsworth
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed–and gazed–but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.


 
Fall Colours west of Grande Prairie, Alta
Not Daffodils, but the Yellow reminds me the same 
as Wordsworth descibes, especially in the Grande Prairie setting.
 

Friday, February 1, 2013

Stonetown, Zanzibar: Longshoremen head home after work

 
 
in 2009 Sandy and I had 5 weeks in Tanzania - our last 5 nights were in based in Stonetown Zanzibar. Yes it was a wonderfully exotic as it sounds. I almost had tears when we left. We were also flying directly to Amsterdam and ending our fanasy in Tanzania.
 
This is one photo that I made from the beach in front of our hotel. To the west of us was the harbour where these Longsoremen had spent there day hand unloading cargo that had been barged to the beach off of larger vessels such as this one. On the horizon we can see one of the ancient Dhow vessels that will also bring cargo to the harbour of Stoentown. It will hold local goods - nothing from China.
 


Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes to All 2012

Some Snow Scenes from Klemtu
 
looking north in January
 
north from the Lodge

Ice on Trout Bay

my Jeep and my House

My Jeep from my office window

thinking of summer?
 
 
 from my back porch at Midnight a few years ago
 
Best Wishes and Fond thoughts for all my Friends this Christmas 2012

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Sunrise spreading

 
 
Sunrise Spreading
 
as out of a deep
night of somnambulism
and defined darknesses
     a smile
sparkling
as one sudden sunrise
     spreading
across the warming landscapes of
     our breath
replenishing youthful joy
rising as the Phoenix
     in all the universe,
through all the spheres of time
     invigorating
as eternal light,
     energies,
for, and
     of each other
 
 
 
@Brian Wyndham
Dec 16, 2012
 
 
 
 



Thursday, November 15, 2012

LEONARD COHEN CONCERT: SUBLIME

11 months ago Sandy and I purchased tickets to Leonard Cohen's Vancouver appearance of his World Tour. And November 12, despite major major major surgery on Oct 23 I had to attend - and I am so glad I did.

I have loved Leonard Cohen since 1968. I credit his genius with communications with teaching me to connect with and understand my own, previously incoherent emotions. He definitely opened the door for me to get a rythm and personal voice for my own poetry.

This man is priceless. He loves and cherishes all of life - for me he emodies and brings to life the Blake quote that I have on my Blog mast head: "For all that lives is Holy; life delights in life."

When you are in the presence of Leonard and his ZEN worship of all that is sentient, you cannot conceive how humans can be so inhuman to each other: war, torture, rape, theft, and all other forms of ugly cruelties.

All we need is Art.  Thank you Leonard Cohen.