The text came in after 10:00pm Thursday night: “Wanna go boatin’ Saturday?” Does a one legged duck swim in a circle?
For December in northern Idaho, the weather was just about perfect: upper 40’s and low 50’s, non-driving rain from time to time, and sunny blue skies as we approached the takeout. We were on the road pre-dawn (I haven’t seen 5:30am in a good long while) and home in time to read stories to the kids before their afternoon naps.
Fantastic day.
When my buddy Tom asked in an email what I’d be doing over the weekend, I told him I had been nursing a nasty cold all week, and as such I’d probably be just hanging out on the couch trying to rest and get better. No sooner had I hit “send” on that email, friend and co-worker [redacted] asked, “Wanna go boatin’ tomorrow?”
I never claimed to be all that bright.
It was a great afternoon of kayaking down northern Idaho’s Clearwater River. I’ve decided that “ideal October Idaho boating conditions” simply means the wind is blowing the icy rain into the back of your helmet (as opposed to your eyes).
Quote of the day (in the context of passing all the surly Steelhead fisherman huddled miserably on their boats): “I would feel less silly if I weren’t dressed like a giant Power Ranger!” True, but we were warmer. And smiling.
Labor Day brought three generations of Maxfield’s together onto a relatively placid portion of the Clearwater River for a fun family float.
Instead of getting the house sorted on Saturday, we opted to run a work-borrowed cataraft down a mellow stretch of the Clearwater River. It was the kids first time on moving water, and I think they had a good time. After hitting a few small (small!) waves, they kept asking for more “wavy parts” over and over. I’ll take that as a good sign of things to come.
A quickly cut edit from yesterday’s SUP adventure (which, I should point out, was my first time on a SUP—so, you know, moving water was just logical). Many thanks to my intrepid co-workers Darren K. and Josh G. for allowing me to be the day’s anchor.
Music: “Line of Flight” by Revolution Void (via Vimeo’s Music Store)
Day off. In January. All as it should be.
This is the mind dump of J Maxfield, a former whitewater river guide, bike shop mechanic, and kayak rental dude that now finds himself making a living in loading photos…
![When my buddy Tom asked in an email what I’d be doing over the weekend, I told him I had been nursing a nasty cold all week, and as such I’d probably be just hanging out on the couch trying to rest and get better. No sooner had I hit “send” on that email, friend and co-worker [redacted] asked, “Wanna go boatin’ tomorrow?”
I never claimed to be all that bright.
It was a great afternoon of kayaking down northern Idaho’s Clearwater River. I’ve decided that “ideal October Idaho boating conditions” simply means the wind is blowing the icy rain into the back of your helmet (as opposed to your eyes).
Quote of the day (in the context of passing all the surly Steelhead fisherman huddled miserably on their boats): “I would feel less silly if I weren’t dressed like a giant Power Ranger!” True, but we were warmer. And smiling.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcmwl5ygKi1qz4uqeo1_1280.jpg)
![When my buddy Tom asked in an email what I’d be doing over the weekend, I told him I had been nursing a nasty cold all week, and as such I’d probably be just hanging out on the couch trying to rest and get better. No sooner had I hit “send” on that email, friend and co-worker [redacted] asked, “Wanna go boatin’ tomorrow?”
I never claimed to be all that bright.
It was a great afternoon of kayaking down northern Idaho’s Clearwater River. I’ve decided that “ideal October Idaho boating conditions” simply means the wind is blowing the icy rain into the back of your helmet (as opposed to your eyes).
Quote of the day (in the context of passing all the surly Steelhead fisherman huddled miserably on their boats): “I would feel less silly if I weren’t dressed like a giant Power Ranger!” True, but we were warmer. And smiling.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcmwl5ygKi1qz4uqeo4_1280.jpg)
![When my buddy Tom asked in an email what I’d be doing over the weekend, I told him I had been nursing a nasty cold all week, and as such I’d probably be just hanging out on the couch trying to rest and get better. No sooner had I hit “send” on that email, friend and co-worker [redacted] asked, “Wanna go boatin’ tomorrow?”
I never claimed to be all that bright.
It was a great afternoon of kayaking down northern Idaho’s Clearwater River. I’ve decided that “ideal October Idaho boating conditions” simply means the wind is blowing the icy rain into the back of your helmet (as opposed to your eyes).
Quote of the day (in the context of passing all the surly Steelhead fisherman huddled miserably on their boats): “I would feel less silly if I weren’t dressed like a giant Power Ranger!” True, but we were warmer. And smiling.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcmwl5ygKi1qz4uqeo3_1280.jpg)
![When my buddy Tom asked in an email what I’d be doing over the weekend, I told him I had been nursing a nasty cold all week, and as such I’d probably be just hanging out on the couch trying to rest and get better. No sooner had I hit “send” on that email, friend and co-worker [redacted] asked, “Wanna go boatin’ tomorrow?”
I never claimed to be all that bright.
It was a great afternoon of kayaking down northern Idaho’s Clearwater River. I’ve decided that “ideal October Idaho boating conditions” simply means the wind is blowing the icy rain into the back of your helmet (as opposed to your eyes).
Quote of the day (in the context of passing all the surly Steelhead fisherman huddled miserably on their boats): “I would feel less silly if I weren’t dressed like a giant Power Ranger!” True, but we were warmer. And smiling.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcmwl5ygKi1qz4uqeo2_1280.jpg)
