PADDLER 28
PADDLER 28
Everybody has their idea of paradise . Mine is in the wilderness , feeling the magic of a wooden paddle and the canoe ’ s movement . The paddle seems to be an extension of my body . The calming power of nature is real . The quest for freedom and well-being motivates my desire to be in nature . For me , canoeing provides an incredible feeling of freedom , but it ’ s also about relaxing , dreaming , discovering , exploring , taking my time and admiring the beautiful flora and fauna .
France has shown itself to be a beautiful country , showing us the best of humanity . It gives me hope for a gentler world filled with kindness and delicacy . All the kindness , generosity and hospitality the French people have shown us has warmed my heart . For France , as for all the other countries where I paddled , I deeply desired discovery and encounters . I ’ ll never forget these precious river angels . These people treated us like family members , sometimes leaving us the keys to their house or car when , the day before , we were strangers .
Ephemerality : these hundreds of thousands of paddle strokes have become memories I cherish and shape my identity . Everything went by so quickly , a bit like life after 35 . There are these wild places , these realms of a million stars , and moments of sweetness and freedom where I wish I could have stayed longer . Time passes silently , but all this helps me to appreciate the opportunities that come my way .
I looked over my shoulder one last time , took a deep breath of satisfaction and said goodbye to my beautiful canoe , which will prolong its life on French soil . I know it ’ s in good hands , so the parting was less painful .
TOXICITY VS AN ESSENTIAL TOOL THE MOBILE / CELL PHONE IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS
The internet is developing extremely rapidly , and it ’ s now possible to access it even in remote wilderness areas . When I started canoeing in 1999 , cell phones didn ’ t exist . Then , they gradually found their way onto the list of expedition must-haves .
We had daily access to the internet during our crossing of France . On these types of adventures , the phone can come in very handy as a GPS to access maps , understand distances to cover , locate dangers to avoid , find out about the weather , and make phone calls in case of need / emergency . In short , an encyclopedia is just a click away . Moreover , the latest phones are waterproof and much more resistant to shocks . They allow us to take photos , film videos and bring our ‘ followers ’ with us on expeditions , all live . The ego is very sensitive to success and the number of ‘ likes ’. Finally , the phone offers the opportunity to keep in touch with family . Phone use can facilitate or complement a canoe camping trip , but most purists would disagree .
Unfortunately , during our long crossing of France , we were completely dependent on and addicted to our cell phones . We were glued to our phones when we woke up in the tent during every break in the day , at every meal and in the evening again in the tent . Conversations were few and far between . Joris and I often isolated ourselves rather than enjoying one other ’ s company and the beautiful , soothing nature . We carried power battery packs so we could always recharge our phones and the Garmin InReach ( personal locator beacon ). In France , monthly plans include 120 GB , so we might as well say that data is unlimited .
Isn ’ t the whole point of the outdoors to get back to basics , to be fully in touch with nature and take a break from our screens ? I ’ m caught in a paradox . I ’ m sometimes tech-shaming outdoor enthusiasts , but at the same time , I ’ m using so many devices during my adventures . The Great Canadian North is calling me . But , even in Canada , with its wide-open spaces where there ’ s not a soul to be seen , it ’ s increasingly difficult to find places where you can detox from the technologies that invade us .