This Months Books and Videos
October-November 2004
This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD
by Diana Mumford
Sailing With Vancouverby Sam McKinney TouchWood Editions, 2004 ISBN 1-894898-12-5, 224 pp, bibliography, $17.96 Cdn, In 1792, Captain George Vancouver and the crews aboard the sailing ships Discovery and Chatham, explored the inland waters of present day Washington and BC—from Puget Sound to Queen Charlotte Strait. Two hundred years later, alone in his 25 foot sailboat Kea, American Sam McKinney traced the route of the explorers’ expedition with copies of Vancouver’s journal and chart to lead the way. The result is a well written story that will be of great interest to sailors, paddlers and history buffs. Needing an adventure to foil the effects of aging, McKinney bought Kea as a present for himself on his 70th birthday. His interest in early maritime exploration and a desire to experience the Inland Sea in a purposeful way rather than in “a high-speed run from one marina to another,” led him to follow Vancouver’s route. McKinney experienced many of the same physical conditions of tides, currents, winds and rocks, and the emotional costs of being at sea far from home, as did his predecessors. McKinney’s observations of the coast today and his reflections on the daily activities, personalities and motivations of the early explorers alongside quotes from Vancouver’s journal, make for fascinating reading. |
Kayak Across the Atlanticby Pete Bray Polperro Heritage Press, 2004, ISBN 0-9544233-4-8 176 pp, color photos, £9.95 UK Kayak Across the Atlantic is the story of an indomitable man’s determination to take himself across one of the most inhospitable oceans in the world. This first-ever, single-handed, self propelled crossing of the North Atlantic was first attempted by Pete Bray in 2000 in a 27 foot kayak. That first attempt was soon scuttled by a leaking boat. On his second attempt a year later, the 2000 mile trip from Newfoundland to Ireland was accomplished in 76 days of extreme weather, despite debilitating fatigue and nearly disastrous gear failure. Bray tells his amazing story with self deprecating humor and and humility. The reader, safe and comfortable at home, can only wonder at the resolve that kept Pete Bray paddling towards his goal. |
Wilderness Paddling - 2005 Calendar2nd edition Photos by Gary and Joanie McGuffin Firefly Books, 2004 ISBN 1-55297-208-9 $14.99 Cdn, $13.99 US Not a book, but a great gift idea for someone who loves to paddle. This is a large format wall calendar (14 in. x 24 in. open) with twelve magnificent photographs of fabulous wilderness paddling destinations, mostly in Ontario, but also including Greenland and Baja. The peace and tranquility of wilderness landscapes will follow you throughout the year with these images above your desk! |
Kayaking in South Western BC 28 mins. VHS (DVD—V125HU) $24.95 Cdn (plus $5 shipping) 250-247-9967 This video will interest those thinking of getting into kayaking. Neophytes will learn what they can expect when they sign up for an introductory paddle, with commentary provided by two of BC’s top guides, Peter Marcus and Jim Demler, both of Gabriola Island. Scenic shots demonstrate what it’s like to paddle in the waters around Gabriola, the Broken Islands and Clayoquot Sound with a great soundtrack by Ken Hamm! $5.00 from each copy ordered online will be donated to the Georgia Strait Alliance. |
The Ultimate Guide to Whitewater Kayaking by Ken Whiting and Kevin Varette The Heliconia Presse, 2004 288 pp, b/w photos/illust. $29.95 Cdn $22.95 US ISBN 1-896980-12-0, With the 1997/98 World Freestyle Kayaking Championship and five Canadian Championships under his belt, Ken Whiting is a recognized authority and enthusiastic promoter of whitewater paddling. He and Kevin Varette, one of Canada’s foremost kayak instructors and also a repeat member of Canada’s National Freestyle Team, have collaborated to produce this guide to whitewater kayaking—a valuable addition to the collection of instructional materials available to whitewater kayakers and wannabes. The authors’ combined experience and knowledge provide a wealth of information, presented clearly with accompanying photos and illustrations to appeal to the visual learner. With several contributions by other kayaking experts, the guide speaks authoritatively about every aspect of whitewater kayaking, from choosing equipment and preparing yourself, to rolling and rescues. |
Riversense Produced by Kate Geis The Heliconia Press ISBN 1-896980-15-5 DVD, 78 min., $22.95 US Riversense is an award winning documentary profile of five whitewater paddlers and their lives both on and off the water. With stunning footage of river padding, great music and interviews with people at different ages and stages in their lives, this is an entertaining and revealing glimpse into the lives of people who are passionate about rivers and paddling. Featured are Katie and BJ Johnson, extreme paddlers learning how to fit parenthood into their life; Tryon, a 15-year-old playboater trying to fit into the world of competitive paddling; the late William Nealy, author and cartoonist, reflecting on his life and marriage; and Dunbar Hardy, recovering from a drop over a waterfall that broke his back. Riversense gives us a brief but intimate introduction to extraordinary people who have chosen an exhilarating sport as a focus for their lives. |
Chattooga: Descending into the Myth of Deliverance RiverText and Photography by John Lane The University of Georgia Press, 2004 ISBN 0-8203-2611-9 22 4 pp, hardcover $29.95 US Defying classification as any particular genre, John Lane’s Chattooga is a personal meditation on the river itself, on the movie Deliverance (1972), on the novel that inspired the movie (1970), and on people who have been touched by the river. Fascinated by the Chattooga after seeing the movie and reading the novel, Lane didn’t actually experience it himself until he began whitewater paddling in the early eighties under the influence of psychology professor and paddling enthusiast, John Pilley. Twenty years later, having witnessed the transformation of whitewater paddling from wilderness adventure enjoyed by a few pioneers to a much more mainstream commercial tourism activity, he chronicled his own paddling trips down the Chattooga, remembering conversations with paddling companions and interweaving the strands of his experiences with the images and words of others who have a deep connection with the river. This personal narrative will probably be most enjoyed by those who have seen the movie and/or share Lane’s fascination with the Chattooga, but anyone who has an affinity for rivers will recognize and appreciate this profile. |
The Wild Edge: Clayoquot, Long Beach and Barkley Soundby Jacqueline Windh Harbour Publishing, 2004 ISBN 1-55017-350-2 color photos, 160 pp hardcover, $34.95 Cdn,
Some of Canada’s most spectacular coastline for sea-kayaking—Vancouver Island’s rugged outer shores—are shown in a beautiful new photographic study by Jacqueline Windh, a frequent contributor to WaveLength. She has spent ten years photographing the Clayoquot–Pacific Rim in all its seasons and moods, studying its history and getting to know its people. In The Wild Edge she shares her findings in images and words, supplementing her scenic photographs with a light-hearted but informative text that blends history and science with essential visitor guidance. Jackie writes: “I hope that this book will give you some idea of the complexity and allure of the wild west coast—the savage beauty, its fascinating history, and the people who make their home here. And I hope to inspire you to help protect them so that this ancient and venerable land and its traditional inhabitants will be here for all future generations.” |
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