To escape the excesses and craziness of Carnival, I rent a scooter and climb up through coffee plantations from 4000 to 6000 feet across the Boquete Valley from Volcan Baru at over 11,000 feet. I’m bathed by cool air and the heady scents of Jasmine and orange blossoms. Cascading falls of various tributaries succumb to gravity and plunge toward the whitewater at the valley floor feeding various vegetable growing areas to feed the people of Panama. The vistas, mist, smells and rushing waters combine to feed me and clear my head of the tropical fog that often accrues with too much time in the heat and humidity of the Caribbean.
Pacific side air and far away surf are augmented by the fine coffees of Finca Dos Jefes to further clear the head of the barking dogs and insane roosters of midnight. This boutique organic coffee farm nestled in the shadows of Volcan Baru offers interactive coffee tours, where one receives a basic education of coffee growing, roasting and cupping to evaluate quality. Owner Rich Lipner and his wide (the true jefe) have no fear of judgment as their coffees are truly excellent and no one walks away without an armload of freshly roasted beans. The free beer probably didn’t hurt either.
So…mission Panama next heads to the Pearl Islands for the next three days to evaluate for a possible 2012 sea kayak/whale watch trip. That will be a very tall order to beat what I saw of the Golfo de Chiriqui Islands National Park earlier this week. Jim Omer’s Boquete Outdoor Adventures (BOA) has an island site completely dialed in out there with great boat support options, beautiful rocky islands replete with sandy beaches, snorkeling and the shade of Coco Palms. Nice British kayaks, rum drinks and a hammock….sign me up right now!
This really is a great book by Doug Ammons on moving water, philosophy and an outdoor life. Proceeds benefit two different schools in Nepal that are helping kids learn 25 days walk form the nearest road. Doug started this project 15 years ago and now one of his benefactors is at Uni in the capitol. Be inspired at www.dougammons.com
For more inspiration reading and adding to your rescue skills toolbox, check out dear friend’s Alec and Sharon B-P’s T-Rescue variations in the latest issue of SeaKayaker Magazine!
For an on air peek at our new cookbook “Hey, I’d Eat This at Home!”, check out Interlochen Public Radio’s next installment of Michigan Writers:
http://ipr.interlochen.org/michiganwriters
Just confirmed with Midwest Mountaineering…I’ll be presenting five different programs during their 51st annual Fall Expo Nov 19-21. Check it out: http://www.outdooradventureexpo.com/201011/Index.shtml
Still looking for a few more hardy souls that want to do their L 2-4 Coastal I.C.E. this fall…we have an unbeatable venue and the conditions have been way up lately. check out: http://www.uncommonadv.com/instruction/aca.html
I hadn’t visit the Beaver Island Archipelago and quite some time and was amazed at the crowds coming to the island to celebrate homecoming weekend (which homecoming?). While flocks of folks imbibed from the back of pick-ups all over the island, we were quietly camped on nearby Garden around a point from a pair of Eagles trying to teach two juveniles the finer points of flight. We also had a pair of teenagers in our eclectic group including an engineering professor, psych professor, my own web gura and a rather lovely Washington policy writer. Great weather and interesting water conditions gave everyone a break with great variety. Looking forward to coming back.
Paddling next to a gleeful ten year old singing at the top of her lungs over the dancing waters of Georgian Bay has GOT to add years to your life. Gracie led the pack in her loaded little Tsunami SP: at 12 feet long, you’d think it would be slow, but trying keeping up with this kid and you’ll see this boat really rocks. It was truly a privilege to facilitate a family experience for the Groves hearing a little girl exclaim that “this is WAAAY better than a water park!” is music to these ears. Let’s get those kids out there people!
Okay, so I’ve been absent . Seems that writing a book has caused me to run out of words. In any case….spent yesterday beta testing a new Kayaking Wine Tour day trip with a crew from local media, wineries, DNR and guides.
Weather forecast was abysmal and it turned out to be sublime. The group got on well with each other lubricated by great food and and the wine tours after were rockstar quality…check out: http://community.mynorth.com/profiles/blogs/sublime-kayaking-and-dynamite
This whole writing/editing/proofing thing is like a two week root canal. Nigel Foster said it was like trying to tame a many legged animal….and he was spot-on. Or maybe like passing a kidney stone. In any case, I’m sure it’ll feel much better when its over. Get to put some of it to work on a photo shoot for Traverse, The Magazine (anything like Spaceballs, the Movie?) on May 18. Going to be doing a North meets South tribute to all my friends in Charleston by launching a Shrimp n’ Grits recipe with a Northern twist. It will be colored up with fresh local asparagus and with luck, morel mushrooms. It might be a better sell up this way if I call it Polenta, as the Italians have been for centuries. Either way, its fine eats.
Just returned back from marathon presentations and teaching at the Charleston Symposium. Got to see lots of old clients, stay up too late with Nigel Foster and Russell Farrow and my friend Wendy and generally have a great time with my real family. Mood was optimistic and lots of good energy about paddling this season. One thing did not escape notice though…we’re old. C’mon…sea kayaking is way fun…how bout some young blood? I’m throwin’ out the gauntlet here….Hannah B-P is certainly an age exception,but how about she recruit some of her peers into this awesome sport. Hannah, we need you and more like you. : )
Alaska
