Oregon, September, 22, 2008
The water is fading in Colorado but I had one last chance to head to Salida for a little fun.
Happy Paddling!
Christine
Sweden's Hell hole-(pic by Tomas Rundgren)
Being from Alabama, I thought I came from a tight group of paddlers, but it is nothing compared to Sweden. I guess it's because kayaking in Sweden is still relatively young compared to here, but its growing substantially due to company's like Kajaktiv that are offering extremely good instruction on all levels from extremely good kayakers and teachers. Sweden's neighbor Norway gets most of the press for Scandinavian kayaking, but if one is looking for adventure on a different path, Sweden should be considered. It's not just the paddling that makes Sweden a great place to visit, the culture is worth going there alone. I found the people to be very friendly and the towns and villages to be very charming and beautiful. The food and coffee is excellent and there's always festivals going on in the summer, not to mention there is a big lack of American tourist which I liked.
Pic by Tomas Rundgren
For more info on kayaking in Sweden, check out:
http://www.kajaktiv.se/
http://www.forspaddling.com/
http://www.extreme.nu/kajak/
And now it's time to hit the books so I can graduate before I'm 40...
Until next time,
-Charlie Mix
(Ben Earle and Adrian Kiernan)
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Below is an article Tasmanian paddler and close friend James Thorp wrote and photo’s courtesy of Josh Firth.
I first met Ben many years ago at a paddling festival in Tasmania. At the time Ben was drunk, wearing a dress and dancing on the pool table in the Bronte pub. We were both young then; Ben had just started kayaking and rafting. Over the years Ben grew into a great individual. He became a talented kayaker, an extremely professional raft guide, a husband, a father and a close mate. Ben chose not to conform to conventional ideals but instead to live the vagrant existence of a ‘ river gypsy’ moving around the globe chasing summers of kayaking and raft guiding.
I have paddled with both Ben and Adrian on many rivers in many countries and thus can emphatically say that Ben’s death was more a freak accident than a reckless or complacent act. Both Ben and Adrian are very safe, sensible and exceptionally skilled paddlers who would not haphazardly risk their life. In fact the rapid Ben drowned on was only class4 and he scouted it before paddling it, but unfortunately did not see the submerged log. Sometimes accidents just happen and we have to deal with them in their simplistic nature and not play a blame game to try and ease the pain.
In many respects we should not mourn Ben’s death but instead celebrate his life. Ben was an eternal optimist with an infectious enthusiasm and an endless energy that made him very driven and ambitious. Even on the biggest river epics, when everyone else had a grim face Ben would be wearing his cheeky smile, accepting the terms and conditions of the adventure in his trademark positive manner. Ben was always hard to say ‘no’ to and always the first to say ‘yes’.
My heart goes out to Adrian who had to witness his mate drown. No kayaker deserves to have to endure that nightmare. And to Robin who lost a husband and must now raise two children that will never get to know their father.
In many respects Ben was a martyr for kayaking and the ‘river gypsy’ lifestyle. He paid the ultimate price for the love of the river.
We will miss you Benny Earle, but rest easy mate for your spirit will always flow strong in the timeless currents and freedom of the river and in the memories of those who shared your amazing journey.
James Thorpie
