The Paddler magazine Issue 58 early Spring 2021 | Page 42

ThePADDLER 42

Quickies …

If you could paddle with anyone in the world , dead or alive , who would it be ? Maggy Hurchalla . She ’ s 80-years-old and still loves to kayak whitewater . The sheer joy she feels on the river is so contagious ; it ’ s impossible not to have the best day ever with her .
Pick two celebrities to be your parents … Oh boy … I don ’ t know … how about Tom Hanks for my dad and Gilda Radner for my mom . Hopefully , it ’ s okay that my celebrity mom isn ’ t alive anymore !
Which famous person would you most like to see play you in a film ? Oprah ! Okay , seriously , this is a tough one too . How about Hannah Gadsby ? She ’ s hilarious and would add some excellent comic relief to my life in a film .
Are you a bathroom / shower singer , and if so , what do you sing ? No , I don ’ t sing in the shower . I do sing while kayaking , though , mainly in my head , not out loud . The harder the section of the river , the slower the song in my mind . I think it helps calm my mind .
Facebook , or Twitter ? Facebook
An ideal night out for you is ? Ha ! I pretty much never go out . My ideal day is to play so hard that I ’ m totally exhausted by nighttime . After skiing or kayaking or biking , I like to have drinks ( bubbly water as I gave up drinking alcohol four years ago ) or dinner with the friends I ’ ve been playing with , but then go home early , read a book for a while and fall into a deep sleep .
What one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island ? A big box of books !
What would I find in your fridge right now ? Blueberries , tofu , carrots , a bottle of hot sauce , flaxseed milk , vegan cheese , all the good stuff !
If we came to your house for dinner , what would you prepare for us ? Burritos ! Fried tofu with crushed red peppers and soy sauce , pinto beans , rice , tomatoes , avocados , bell peppers and , of course , hot sauce .
If you could be a superhero for one day , what superpower would you choose and why ? To be able to fly . What freedom to cruise around up in the air and go wherever your wings could take you .
Favourite film ? How about the favourite book instead ? I ’ m constantly changing my favourite book based on what I ’ ve read most recently , but this week it ’ s The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein . And one that has stuck with me for a long time is Tell Me How Long the Train ’ s Been Gone by James Baldwin .
What three words would you use to describe yourself ? Determined , stubborn , and extremely shy !
Huge thanks , Darcy , for taking the time out for this interview :)
Don and Midge at Lago Acococha , Peru