tgneal
Voyageur
Little Falls - St. Croix River , NB
Posts: 229
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Post by tgneal on Dec 17, 2007 19:00:47 GMT -5
I found this book by David S. Cook called; Above the Gravel Bar The Native Canoe Routes of Maine www.polarbearandco.com/books/above_the_gravel_bar/index.htmIt's a great read that describes all the old native canoe routes that criss-crossed Maine. It mentions the Maliseet Trail and some N.B. rivers such as the St. Croix, Meduxnekeag, St. John and the Aroostook. It's a nice glimpse into the time before the white man. I highly recommend it. Maybe someone will write a similiar book about N.B. someday Merry Christmas, Tom
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Post by mitchell on Dec 18, 2007 14:09:30 GMT -5
You read my mind Tom. I am planning to pick that book up in the coming weeks. I've been reading some good books lately as well. The Maine Woods by Henry David Thoreau is a very good read. I would like to try that trip from Moosehead Lake to Chamberlain to Matagamon and down the east branch penobscot sometime....if I can ever get that much time off. I also just finished Alone in the Maine Wilderness....that has some nice stories about a couple rivers in Maine. Back in the summer I picked up Rivers of Yesterday as well. It has some great trips about fishing New Brunswick rivers in the late 1800's.
Anyone else have any book recommendations?
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Post by Ken Corbett on Dec 18, 2007 17:04:45 GMT -5
I said I wouldn't do this, but since you asked ....
You can have a copy of my book for $20, no tax, autographed. Just e-mail me.
I promise I won't mention it again ... unless you ask!!!
Ken
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tgneal
Voyageur
Little Falls - St. Croix River , NB
Posts: 229
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Post by tgneal on Dec 18, 2007 17:29:13 GMT -5
I said I wouldn't do this, but since you asked .... You can have a copy of my book for $20, no tax, autographed. Just e-mail me. I promise I won't mention it again ... unless you ask!!! Ken Great offer Ken, but I already have your book. I enjoyed it very much. Unless you have another book that I don't know about. Take it easy, Tom
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tgneal
Voyageur
Little Falls - St. Croix River , NB
Posts: 229
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Post by tgneal on Dec 18, 2007 17:33:02 GMT -5
You read my mind Tom. I am planning to pick that book up in the coming weeks. I've been reading some good books lately as well. The Maine Woods by Henry David Thoreau is a very good read. I would like to try that trip from Moosehead Lake to Chamberlain to Matagamon and down the east branch penobscot sometime....if I can ever get that much time off. I also just finished Alone in the Maine Wilderness....that has some nice stories about a couple rivers in Maine. Back in the summer I picked up Rivers of Yesterday as well. It has some great trips about fishing New Brunswick rivers in the late 1800's. Anyone else have any book recommendations? Sounds like a cool trip. I've always wanted to try the Mattawamkeag from it's source right down to the Penobscot. I also wouldn't mind trying the Maliseet Trail and the Eastern Maine Canoe Trail.
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Post by Ken Corbett on Dec 21, 2007 15:47:52 GMT -5
Tom, You should get in touch with paddlinhal, a member of this Board. paddlinhal@yahoo.comHe is a veteran paddler who made the Maliseet Trail run in 2006. He is the "Hal" in "Scooter and Hal." He also knows Maine's rivers upstream and down. Ken
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tgneal
Voyageur
Little Falls - St. Croix River , NB
Posts: 229
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Post by tgneal on Dec 22, 2007 16:59:34 GMT -5
Thanks Ken, I have read some of paddlinhal's trip reports such as the "Flight from Quebec". I've also read about the 2005 Maliseet Trail crossing on the dedicated website. I will definately talk to him before I plan any trip on the Trail. My parent's house is on Oak Mountain and overlooks the area just above Benton on the Eel River so every time I visit them I get to look at the Maliseet Trail. Merry Christmas, Tom
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tgneal
Voyageur
Little Falls - St. Croix River , NB
Posts: 229
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Post by tgneal on Jan 3, 2008 12:57:16 GMT -5
I said I wouldn't do this, but since you asked .... You can have a copy of my book for $20, no tax, autographed. Just e-mail me. I promise I won't mention it again ... unless you ask!!! Ken So when is the third edition due to be released?
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Post by beevar on Apr 8, 2008 13:33:01 GMT -5
"Paddle to the Amazon" is written by a guy from Winnipeg who paddled from Manitoba clear to South America and down the Amazon. took him a whole year and it is an awesome story! very hard core paddler, can't think of his name at the moment. Excellent read.
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tgneal
Voyageur
Little Falls - St. Croix River , NB
Posts: 229
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Post by tgneal on Apr 8, 2008 13:41:34 GMT -5
Hey Beevar,
I've read that book and enjoyed it very much. The author's name is Don Starkell.
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Post by Ken Corbett on Apr 9, 2008 7:13:08 GMT -5
My bro bought me that book and it's autographed. Yes, it's worth reading over again, it's that good.
Starkell went on an Arctic trip later on and got crippling frostbite, I understand.
Ken
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Bones
Lily dipper
Posts: 35
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Post by Bones on Apr 9, 2008 12:07:22 GMT -5
Read Paddle to the Amazon a while ago - a fantastic book!
The Arctic book is: Paddle to the Arctic by Don Starkwell
I remember reading the review about it, but have yet to read it. When the book came out they also recommended the book:
Kabloona in the Yellow Kayak: One Woman's Journey Through the North West Passage by Vicotria Jason
Apparently Don and Vicotria started out together but they had different personalities: "Unlike her short-time paddling companion, Don Starkell, who seemed to approach the trip as a task--as he against the elements--she embraces the elements and forms a synergy."
From what I remember Don Starkewell made it to 70 km from his destination and then had to be rescued (after a journey of more than several thousand kms).
Thanks for the reminder. I just ordered both books off Amazon - can't wait till they arrive!!!
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Post by beevar on Apr 9, 2008 12:52:54 GMT -5
Thanks for the info and update on Don Starkell guys. I wondered what became of him.
First book on paddling I ever read; "Paddle to the Sea" (grade 4) It is a fictional story and they actually made a short film out of it for school kids. (remember those film strips in elementary school, boomers?) That book first really captured my fancy for paddling and exploring rivers. If you have young kids I recommend you get ahold of that one for them. B
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Bones
Lily dipper
Posts: 35
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Post by Bones on Jul 7, 2008 15:48:00 GMT -5
Finally finished both books: "Paddle to the Arctic" by Don Starkell and "Kabloona in the Yellow Kayak" by Victoria Jason
Both are amazing books, and very interesting to read each person's version - I ended up reading paddle to the Arctic first, and then reading it again alongside of Kabloona in the Yello Kayak.
Having read both of them I really get the impression that Don Stakell is reckless, unsafe, overbearing, unwilling to listen to his paddling partner- in short someone I would never want to paddle with.
This is a hard admission for me to make as he has been one of my heroes for a long time - ever since I read his book "Paddle to the Amazon" in early 1990s. By far he is more driven, stronger, and able to force his body a lot, lot more than I could ever do. After the two of them split up he kept going - pulling his kayak on an inuit wooden sled (400 lbs +) over the frozen ocean for 330 miles!! The ice was melting under him - so there would be ice and then 2 or 3 feet of water on top of the ice that was melting and draining through holes in the ice (on top of the ocean!!). He would have to find parts of the ocean that were frozen solid enough and dry enough for him to pitch his tent each night. When there were wide leads in the ice (open water) he would straddle them with the sled, crawl accross stretches of 10 feet plus of water, and the keep dragging the kayak - sometimes over ice hills, cracks - you name it.
Afterwards he paddled his kayak on the Arctic Ocean to within 38 miles of Tuktoyaktuk before having to be rescued when the ocean froze up on him. On some days he was paddling more than 45 miles a day - but taking risks and crossing big bays of water.
So why reckless and unsafe? - well for one he never bothered taking a spare paddle on a trip of several thousand miles because it would be extra weight!!
quote from his book: "For the third year, I am refusing to carry a radio for rescue purposes. Just don't want to carry the weight and the worries of protecting it and depending on it. A radio would make me careless, knowing that I could ask for rescue at any time. It would give me the security to take more risks, risks which I can't afford to take"
Who in their right mind would paddle in the Arctic Ocean and not have a means of calling for help!!!
At one point he sees a polar bear on the shore - so keeps on paddling closer to it to get a photo of it until he's 50 metres from it. He's yelling at the bear to try and make it stand up for a better shot ... at which point he realizes he's only in 1 foot of water! The bear charged him and only turned away when Victoria surprised it by also yelling. Oh - he didn't carry a gun then because it would be extra weight!
He got lost, headed South instead of North for 2 days (the sun rising on the wrong side of the ocean would be a pretty big indicator). I could see making the mistake, but according to Victoria (and Don's book as well) he was completely unwilling to listen to her when she had figured out where they were. As result comming close to costing both of them their lives.
The big difference between Don and Victoria was that Victoria enjoyed the sights & trip a lot more - connected with all the locals, and really was able to embrace the elements. Don, it appears, rubbed a lot of the people he met the wrong way because all he could focus on was the trip and doing it "his way" (now this is from Victoria's book so take it with a grain of salt.
The big quote that really struck me was from Victoria Jason's book when she was looking around as they were dragging their Kayaks over the ice, enjoying the beauty of the Arctic North.
Victora asked Don "Don't you enjoy any of this trip" he replied "No, the only part I enjoy is when I am safe in my sleeping bag"
Don was so driven - it was only about accomplishing the trip - not about enjoying it. His diary entries were - "10 miles, lousy day" or "GREAT DAY!!! Paddled 45 miles"
Interestingly, I read an interview with Don after the trip (he lost parts of all fingers, thumbs, and toes to frostbite). He said he had finally found peace - before the trip he was driven, driven to always try and find his limit. He finally found it, "38 miles short of Tuktoyaktuk"
Ok, that's a long write up. I would highly, highly recommend buying both books and reading them.
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Bones
Lily dipper
Posts: 35
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Post by Bones on Jul 7, 2008 15:58:20 GMT -5
Here's and interview with Don Starkell, including his take on Victoria Jason's impression of him: www.canoe.ca/che-mun/interview.htmlLike I said - read BOTH books! The interview does seem to catch his personalilty.
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