A Guest Post For Biolite: Kayaking the Columbia
Biolite is a cool company: they make campstoves that charge USB devices, rechargeable battery-powered lights, and other interesting, quirky camp-devices. I like their products and their strong commitment to philanthropy, so I was thrilled when they offered to sponsor our recent trip on the Columbia River.
As thanks for their gift of gear, I recently wrote a guest blog post for Biolite’s website. It’s a quick recap of our Columbia River trip, and some thoughts about small-scale adventure, too. Here’s an excerpt:
[…] We had planned to end our journey at Fort Clatsop, which was the winter encampment for the Corps of Discovery from December 1805 to March 1806, but due to logistics we pulled our kayaks out of the water in Astoria (four miles inland from the Pacific coast). We saw eagles and salmon and sea lions, and we met some delightful strangers who are now friends. Most of all, we reminded ourselves that adventure can be found anywhere—even in our own backyard.
Lesser-known urban adventures are easy to underestimate, especially when a quick glance through social media shows friends exploring every continent. Wanderlust is contagious, and I’m always tempted to cash in my frequent flier miles and head to whatever beach is featured on the newest magazine covers. But when I take the time to slow down, look carefully at what’s around me, and really breathe in each moment, I’m always rewarded—even when I’m less than 200 miles from home.
