Looking back through some files, I found a few of my old favourite kayaking-related quotes - always good to keep life in some perspective.“No one paddles to be rescued.”
I think this was Sam Crowley, but he touches on a theme dear to my heart. Kayaking is about self-sufficiency, thus we each have a responsibility for our own personal safety.
And in that vein, no one can beat good ol’ Tassie, Laurie Ford:
“Any misguided fool who goes to sea with the implicit belief that someone will come to their rescue, is a bloody idiot.”
“Any misguided fool who goes to sea with the implicit belief that someone will come to their rescue, is a bloody idiot.”
“No one, in my opinion, should embark on the open ocean, the Antarctic, or any wilderness for that matter, not prepared to get out of trouble by his own efforts. By voluntarily challenging the elements he automatically assumes the responsibility for his own safety. He should not expect anyone to risk life and property on his behalf. The very idea of possible rescue is debilitating to the will; it should be replaced by self reliance.”
David Lewis
Mind you, a few years after he said this, David did set off his EPIRB when sails were shredded and fuel gone, off the coast of NZ, and they accepted fuel to stooge back to the Bay of Islands. Reading his autobiography, Shapes on the Wind, a few weeks ago, I don't think he ever really forgave himself for doing so.
David Lewis
Mind you, a few years after he said this, David did set off his EPIRB when sails were shredded and fuel gone, off the coast of NZ, and they accepted fuel to stooge back to the Bay of Islands. Reading his autobiography, Shapes on the Wind, a few weeks ago, I don't think he ever really forgave himself for doing so.
I have this one on my office wall...
"Never put your body where your mind hasn’t been first.”
Chris Duff
"Never put your body where your mind hasn’t been first.”
Chris Duff
And this one...
”Inspiration without nuts and bolts practicality and bit-by-bit efficiency is futile.”
Audrey Sutherland
“The fact is, in real canoeing, that is, in wild and unknown lands, you find no smooth roads to wheel a boat upon…”
John MacGregor
“Sea kayaking is about journeying. Sea kayaking is about exploring. Sea kayaking is about sharing experiences and memories with others. There is more to sea kayaking than just paddling.”
Pete Dingle
“Paddling efficiently must be every one’s aim.”
Laurie Ford
“If I have learned one thing in my 54 years, it is that it is very good for the character to engage in sports which put your life in danger from time to time. It breeds a saneness in dealing with day to day trivialities which probably cannot be got in any other way, and a habit of quick decisions.”
Nevil Shute
Laurie Ford also thought, in relation to Nevil Shute (his favourite author, and one of mine) and putting your life in danger, that “… if you are not doing so - then you are not being adventurous.”
“Wherever there is a channel for water, there is a road for the canoe.”
Henry David Thoreau
"In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is."
Yogi Berra
"... a skeg is a failed rudder."
Sandy, Qajaq NZ
"I want some adventure."
Kristen, 1990, while sitting on Southbank on the Thames, London, on her way into work.
"I want to go shopping."
Theresa (flatmate, worked in same C&L office), in response.
”Inspiration without nuts and bolts practicality and bit-by-bit efficiency is futile.”
Audrey Sutherland
“The fact is, in real canoeing, that is, in wild and unknown lands, you find no smooth roads to wheel a boat upon…”
John MacGregor
“Sea kayaking is about journeying. Sea kayaking is about exploring. Sea kayaking is about sharing experiences and memories with others. There is more to sea kayaking than just paddling.”
Pete Dingle
“Paddling efficiently must be every one’s aim.”
Laurie Ford
“If I have learned one thing in my 54 years, it is that it is very good for the character to engage in sports which put your life in danger from time to time. It breeds a saneness in dealing with day to day trivialities which probably cannot be got in any other way, and a habit of quick decisions.”
Nevil Shute
Laurie Ford also thought, in relation to Nevil Shute (his favourite author, and one of mine) and putting your life in danger, that “… if you are not doing so - then you are not being adventurous.”
“Wherever there is a channel for water, there is a road for the canoe.”
Henry David Thoreau
"In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is."
Yogi Berra
"... a skeg is a failed rudder."
Sandy, Qajaq NZ
"I want some adventure."
Kristen, 1990, while sitting on Southbank on the Thames, London, on her way into work.
"I want to go shopping."
Theresa (flatmate, worked in same C&L office), in response.
Any of your own?
5 comments:
Is it Hallowe'en again? ;-)
My best paddling quote was, "Anyone seen my tent poles...?" a comment of mine made on day 1 of a 2 week trip. Of your samples, I liked the one that mentioned paddling is much more than getting from place to place.
Cheers!
One of mine; "I'm gonna die", made by myself with a huge smile on my face as I took my first few paddling strokes during my month long expedition on the remote South West coast of Newfoundland.
(after getting rolled / slammed in the surf North Beach HI)
"How am I doing so far"
"Five knots and a double reef"
Request for wind / Sail plan the morning after being slammed by weather and chop leaving chokoloskee 2007 EC. Don't know if I said it first or if it was Lugnut but we filmed ourselves saying it together. :p
I'll add two...
"You are never so alone as your are on a small boat at night at sea, I think, surrounded by everything that ever was and everything that ever will be."
- Angus Phillips, outdoors writer for The Washington Post
"Journey far, but remember your home."
- Jill Fredston, Rowing to Latitude: Journeys Along the Arctic's Edge
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