In Fine Form

Epilogue

There is always a risk in an exercise that tries to distil an experience into a few poignant observations and insights. That said, there is often some value in being able to see and articulate the patterns of our experiences in ways that can give others a sense of both actual events and the deeper meanings derived from the events.

First, I have always placed a pretty high value on ‘staying power’, and this expedition confirmed the worth of that value. Long, hard, hot days for the first third of the journey were replaced by long, hard, cold and wet days for the last third. After four to five hours of paddling roughly 40 strokes per minute, the real work began in order to hold that pace for another three to four hours. Endurance. Focus on a goal. Maintaining technique throughout for most comfort and best results. For more than three weeks we worked very hard for long hours with good focus while maintaining pretty good humour. Staying power.

A kind of corollary to the endurance is ‘production’. I’ve always wanted to be able to provide a good answer to the question, ‘Yes Wayne, but what have you really done?’ Well, I/we did this!

Second, after only a couple of days and then for the rest of the journey, the staggering dimensions of the land were a consuming presence for me. For some of the straighter reaches of the river, the horizon line simply disappeared into a haze born of sheer distance rather than forest fire smoke! The width and, in places, the speed of the river were the best cues to just how large and powerful this river is that drains fully one fifth of the Canada. Ultimately, at every break and camp site the spreading breadth of the landscape and the sweep of the terrain opened around us and the full arc of the skyline held us in awe. The place made us all feel humbled in its powerful and sometimes sentient presence.

Third, to be one of so very very few people to have seen and felt this magnificent part of our fragile planet while sitting three feet off the water instills a kind of self confidence in me at a very personal level. This was one of the very best, ‘how I spent my summer holiday’ experiences anyone could have. One expects, I believe, that such experiences will bring personal growth. As the tag-line for this blog suggests – an inward journey, an outward exploration – it was all of that and more for me and many of the others on this expedition.

Finally, all of this came together with good planning and was executed so well because we had a great crew on this expedition. Consensus was built, experience levels were respected, egos were set aside, teamwork prevailed, and humour peppered each day’s experiences. That and staying power is what got us to the end of this journey safely and got us there in fine form – cold and wet and tired, but in fine form.

NOTE: I will be putting this together in a book, much as I did with the Columbia River journey three years ago. Stay tuned!
And thank all so much for following along on this epic journey. We loved having you along and encouraging us forward!