Simon and Tom

Going down the River

Not to be considered not British, my father readily agreed to take me for his extreme excursion of that decade. This was going to be the father-son, son who gets to chill with stout friend- trip of the times. It was pretty close…

Me being 14 years old and just got my learners license, I was thrilled to drive on the way up to Rocky Mountain House, east of Edmonton. We arrived five hours late as we got lost. However, when we arrived we  pulled into the camp site just behind a truck with a black canoe trailer. 

Phil sat in the passenger seat with his “in concentration about future plans always look” as they cruised into the site, also five hours late. So I figured that we didn’t really have anything to worry about. And then came the food.

I can say many things about the many trips I have done with Phill. However, out of this large selection of descriptions, I would like to choose “food.” I walked from my tent Phill had lent us to the group site because there was rumours of strawberries and hot chocolate. Dad and I sauntered around the corner to find a feast of fruit, coffee, Bailey’s Irish Cream, cheeses, and many other truly wonderful things.(Click here to view the video 'Break-feast') My well upholstered friend and I ate a lot. (Click here to view the video 'Young Hackers') I also slept in the car that night because my father had the need to pretend he was a chainsaw with his snoring all night. However, I digress.

I was pretty stoked to be on my first real canoe trip- waterproofed from head to toe. The sun shone, the rain came and went, and my dad was a very vocal skipper.

 All  was not well the entire trip. We did face some quiet little rapids on our descent down the river. However there was one in particular that gave big friend’s mother, Monstrous Mom, the need to drain her Drambuei the minute she got out of the water. They tipped. They went over a little rapid, and tipped. Fleshy family was not impressed. Phill's fellow guide hauled down the bank of the river to catch the floating provision kegs. Down, down the stream he went. All totaled my father and I saved one younger member of the trip in possibly the most inefficient way. They tipped as well. Once we say them the skipper made for us to go up stream and be heroes. Well paddling up stream is hard...all told- we were very tired. Once Massive Mom had made a graceful departure to her comfortable home, we continued the trip in peaceful waters, great company and beautiful food.  (Click here to view the video 'Happy Campers')

Spinach salad with fresh bacon, coal roasted chicken legs (Click here to view the video 'Chicken'), a roast of venison, great spinach salads for lunch (Click here to view the video 'Spinach') while floating down the river. It was all good. I’m not sure how many people know how much better food tastes when you are outside.(Click here to view the video 'Very Hot Dog') If everyone knew, everyone would be outside… always. (Click here to view the video 'Hot Dog?) Life was good, people were mingling and the canoeing peaceful. (Click here to view the video 'Singing around the Fire')

And the canoeing?! Peaceful! 

Big friend, myself, big Dad, Phill and his duo of partners all crossed the finish line back in Rotten Monkey House after a blissful five days on the water. Personalized t-shirts were handed out by Phill, hands shaken, hugs giving, thanks taken, we all went our ways. I was late for my grade nine grad. Home, shower, suit, and I’m off.

Fearless Leader?!

From the Rocky Mountains of Canada (Click here to view the video 'When I was Little') to deserted Pacific Coast inlets (Click here to view the video 'Justin Thomas Blue'); from Sonoma county (Click here to view the video 'Flying around Sonoma') to the Mexico's Baja peninsula (Click here to view the video 'Lovely Eve'); and even Guatemala and Belize!

Yes, the food was good on all of them. Say what you may, but all the trust and all the love originated with the food. I highly recommend the venison.