I have wandered the wilderness for as long as memory serves. It is a place of great mystery and wonderment. This Blog will help me to share some of the many lessons I have learned while wandering and paddling the forests and lakes I call home.
I love wandering the forest in the summer. There is a palpable energy which entwines itself in my soul; calming my mind and restoring my balance.
The only negative thing I can say about wandering the woods is the friendly neighborhood blood suckers; mosquitoes. These insects will plague your walk and force you into flight mode if you can't accept their presence.
If you plan to take a break from walking, plan to stop in a open area where the wind will keep the insects at bay, or carry a shelter with you which can be erected in moments; this will allow you to take a break wherever and whenever you wish.
Way back in August of 2015, my son and I planned a trip which would take us down the Tim River in Algonquin park.
The main purpose of this trip was to do research for my book. I had to gain a first person perspective on the route my protagonist would take on his fateful journey.
We connected with the river via the portage from Queer Lake. Debris dams and beaver dams were brutal for the first two kilometers, this forced us to load and unload our canoe many times before finally reaching navigable water.
The river bends and twists as it flows to Shippagew Lake, so much so, that I swear your compass will get dizzy.
If you decide to tackle the Tim, give yourself at least seven hours, yep, 7 hrs, to make the run from the falls to Shippagew Lake.
This video highlights small portions of the river as it was back in 2015.
Upon the launch of my book, "A Long Paddle Home", I reached out to Canoe FM in Haliburton Ontario to determine if they would entertain doing and interview with me to promote the Book.
I was elated when I received a call from Mike Jaycock who is a host at the station. He suggested I send him a copy of the book for his approval.
This video contains a short clip of the interview. I have coupled the interview with videos of the area which is the book's stage.
This book is more than a work of fiction. My editor had no idea how to "peg" it. Fiction, love story, mystical, spiritual and a host of other genres crossed her mind. We settled on fiction simply because the names and some of the events have been altered.
I have divulged some deep secrets about our natural world within the text, hence my reluctance to promote the book too much. These secrets will be seen as a mere flight of fancy or ridiculous. I counter those arguments by asking, "Why are you afraid of the woods?"
This book is a deep dive into the heart of the wilderness, it will take you on a journey where you will meet something which has always been, yet never seen.
My wish is to open peoples eyes to the possibility that there are things which simply can't be explained by logic and social engineering.
More snips of the interview will follow.
If you have read this book, and have questions or comments, please feel free to ask.
To Mike Jaycock and all the people at Canoe FM, Thank you.
After a long day of paddling, I settled in for the night and spent several hours ruminating on some ideas I had for my book "A Long Paddle Home." As the fire pushed the dampness from my clothes, the steam mingled with the smoke and rose into the darkening sky. I envisioned Lisa sitting by a similar fire and wondered how she would feel as the darkness slowly stole her sight.
Hunted and confused, She has inadvertently wandered into a new reality from where there is no return.
Excerpt from "A Long Paddle Home."
"Lisa’s mind drifted to the present and she looked toward the
tent where Steven slept. She relived the moment when he had taken
his shirt off and she felt the sexual tension rise within her."
"A Long Paddle Home" is available at the following stores:
Blue Heron Books in Uxbridge, Ontario.
Robinsons General Store, Dorset, Ontario.
Algonquin Outfitters, Opeongo Lake, Algonquin Park, Ontario.
