Bellingham,
Washington
August 12,
2001
I've been visiting my friend Dale, a kayaker I met in a parking lot two years ago in Teslin, Yukon Territory. At the time, we were both hauling kayaks atop our SUV's. He's now staying with a friend in Bellingham. Dale's between kayaking trips, having just returned from paddling with a friend down the coastline through the Inside Passage. Tomorrow he leaves for Anchorage to take a floatplane to the Aleutians where he'll take a solo paddle trip for another week.
Dale's an amazing guy. Several years ago a machinery accident severed his right foot. It was reattached, minus the ankle, but the doctors said he'd never walk again. And after quite a few surgeries and a laundry list of required daily medications, it seemed that they were correct. But they weren't. Dale took himself off the drugs and now hikes and kayaks (albeit with pain) all over North America. He's an inspiration to me in a lot of ways.
I had the opportunity to meet up with him again here in Bellingham. Earlier this evening, he took a look at the Pathfinder and how I've arranged all my gear, giving me some excellent suggestions for improving things that have been bothering me. For instance, though I'm only 5' 1" tall, when I sleep in the back my legs can't stretch out completely. He suggested I turn the sleeping mats and Thermarest diagonally. Brilliant and simple. Now I'll have lots of room!
He also pointed out that I should cover the cooler so bears don't recognize it as a source of food, a potential problem I'd heard about but had forgotten.
Dale and his wife Robbie live in Georgia. I'm anxious to meet her and it would be great if the three of us could do some kayaking together off the Carolinas someday.
Tomorrow Dale leaves for Alaska, and I cross the border into Canada on my way to the Arctic Circle. We're equally anxious to begin our journeys.
Dale