On My Watch

Wilderness trips are a lot like life

Wilderness Wander

What a wilderness trip. I learned I am an old young guy in body and heart.

SEASONED

Wilderness canoe expedition #70 for me. The visible part of me made it back to civilization. Reflections from one’s memories shimmer and dissipate quickly unless held onto by my minds pondering hands. I still see the first light stealthily through the thick fog. I replay the invisible swan honks, haunting loons, beaver slaps, eagles chirping,Continue reading “SEASONED”

Winter Wonder Wander

Mesmerized, I watch the millions of snowflakes fall. I hurry as they will soon cover the frost covered, well everything outside. It’s impossible to protect the camera as the wind is swirling. It is barely above zero on the Fahrenheit scale. My numb fingers change out the batteries. The snow lets up as I getContinue reading “Winter Wonder Wander”

Finding Calm

Our little wilderness group found something rare on a huge lake. Calm. Perfectly still water. I have never seen this lake calm. This lake always wants to eat canoes. Usually when navigating these waters we are focused on the next wave, one wave at a time and no time to look around and actually see.Continue reading “Finding Calm”

Shaping the Slow Edge

There’s a place where my zero to 60 lifestyle each day simmers down to almost nil for a week at a time. I personally need an edge and speed doesn’t do it. This is me I’m talking about. Your place to slow down, regroup, recover (or however you say it) and recharge your life isContinue reading “Shaping the Slow Edge”

Old Story Still True

We often know a person (we think) through their writing. Like many, I probably disclose myself in small measured doses through my writing as most of us reveal without even knowing it. I had forgot about this old post. Jack Flacco of https://lookingtogod.org/ pointed me back to a lot of memories from an old postContinue reading “Old Story Still True”

Who Woulda Thunk

The sun came up to a cloudless sky this morning and it started snowing. Totally weird. I thought it was frost coming off the trees. I guess at 20 degrees (Fahrenheit) the moisture in the air began falling out of the sky in the form of snowflakes up to 1 1/2 inches big. I triedContinue reading “Who Woulda Thunk”

Raging Waters Rescue

This can’t be happening I thought She sat above the small cliff on a bold mossy rock weeping over the angry flooded river scene below. Drenched and weak from her own capsized canoe experience she knew the big man in a back eddy current was floating toward the edge and would soon be taken byContinue reading “Raging Waters Rescue”

Unwinding Time

If I could stop the clock and unwind time. If only. My thoughts as I have been converting old photos, slides and negatives to digital. Reliving feelings, adventures, projects,  kids, parents and siblings. Re-feeling hugs, challenges, adrenaline, splashing water. Re-hearing voices now gone, treasured moments and hard times. I thought I would share this ideaContinue reading “Unwinding Time”