First World Problems……FWP’s – we all have them.  They fill our minds and hearts as being of the most importance.  And other people surely can’t have the depth of trouble we do.  But of course that’s nonsense, and all one need do is cast our eyes to other corners of this planet to realize both our good fortune and our utter arrogance.   I wrestle with that every day when someone worries about whether a boat has a rudder vs a skeg or if a particular colour clashes with their PFD.

Deriving happiness from paddling is pretty simple. I’m convinced you could have the most basic of craft (why even a 2x4 would work if you were light enough) and still embrace the joy and electricity of heading out into fresh air, waves and sunshine.  We ‘GET’ to do these things while so many cannot.  That’s a special entitlement and we need to pay that forward whenever we can.

A few weeks ago our dog Charly insisted that I take him on one last ski out on the Bay.  In case you think I’m a blithering idiot, you should know that on that morning, there was over a metre of clear blue ice out at Red Rock Lighthouse, so ol Tim figured we would be fine heading north in Shawanaga Inlet.  And we were!  The previous night’s snowfall had bonded down with the morning sun, and we were treated to a morning of perfect kick for skate-skiing on sparkling ice – flat and endless to the horizon.  Far out in the inlet, we discovered the track of an otter who had decided to kick and slide a distance of several kilometres right across the inlet.  Why would someone do that, but on a sun-filled, fresh morning, do you really need a reason?  If there is a church for wayward souls, this was it.  

We explored the outer islands and I shared my lunch with Charly on the porch of a Bay cabin in a t-shirt .  Charly took the opportunity to check out every nook and cranny of rock and snow chasing late-winter oak leaves as they skittered across the ice .  A few hours later, we’re heading home tired, happy and glad that there are wild places to explore out our backyard.