Ho ho hoot

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A MERRY ho Ho HO HOOT to You and Yer Kith and Kin 

Squall Weather Report

Thanks so much everyone for writing in about the big chess move Kathy and I made in October. Your support, memories and kind words have been overwhelming – to the point that it was only today I caught up on responding to all of your messages. For those scratching their heads and wondering what the heck is Tim is talking about – we have decided to put the ‘Closed’ sign up for good at the Paddling Centre. BUT – and there is always a ‘but’ – we will be keeping the Squall Town Shop going. And we’ve kept back some boats and gear for special projects, so you’re not clear of us quite yet 🙂 The best way to keep in touch with what we are up to is through this newsletter. And if you don’t mind – please tell others who may want to sign up – as I hope to keep this HOOT hooting for a long time – at least til the Pulitzer Prize people decide it’s time to shut me up.

So What Carries On?

Well…Town Shop Full Blast – Squall Nights in Winter – Snowshoe Hikes & Rentals – Paddling Film Fest in Spring-Wilderness First Aid Courses – Franklin Challenge – Outer Island Project –  AND – we will still special order in boats, plus have a mess of them to sell, so don’t be shy. All we ask is you call instead of just showing up – cause we’re trying to carve out some privacy on the shores of mighty Cole Lake. After 35 years it’s a novel concept. We’ll also cook up special projects, courses & trips as the snow melts and we get bored…

Boat and Gear Clearout

Here is a list of stuff, new and used on sale: HERE If any tickles your fancy, you can call in to 705-746-4936 where Squall operators are sitting – oops, standing by. Or you can fire me an e-mail, ‘cause that’s what I do :). And here is a list of remaining boats and boards: https://www.whitesquall.com/kayak-canoe-sup/

Tim’s Tip – Let It Breathe

Staying warm outside in cold and rain is not easy. This transition in fall where the temperature drops but it’s not full on winter can be a challenge. When Kathy and I were out west, our logging and farming friends would live in grey stanfield wool shirts, sometimes two or three depending on the cold. Unlike the old days and old stinky woodsmen, they did wash it when needed and grey was the accepted attire even in the pub. The hardware store in town would sell tons of the stuff, proudly displayed in the front window. Living in the back valley north of Pemberton, we were often outside, usually in the BC rain and cold. I wondered what they knew that we didn’t. Cause there I was in synthetics and goretex – sticking out like a useless eastern twit in this rough, tough country. So what was their secret? Quite simply, their sweat was able to breathe away with the thermal layer keeping them warm even in rain. Not perfect, so in a downpour they would throw on cheap yellow raincoats – entirely not breathable, but who cared. That stopped the rain onslaught and by keeping active, their body’s motor hummed along just fine. Soon as they could, they would take off the outer coat and steam would pour off them. Then my mind wandered to my own English ancestors who clearly managed a life in the miserable British weather wearing wool tweed jackets. The tweed would provide a tight knit to shed rain, but allowed moisture to wick away. Holy cow, those sheep folk wandering the moors knew tons about layering and waterproof breathables. Our western friends were simply adding their own take to a long tradition. They weren’t stupid about it. When the wind roared and the rain poured, their rain slickers went on for sure. 

So where am I going with this? Not sure, except to say that staying warm was figured out way before these days of $400 shells. It takes stuff that wicks, a barrier shell for when it’s silly wet, and the smarts to keep moving. The old saying in winter is that sweat kills – but sweat kills only if you are stupid enough to keep over-active and sweating with no way out for the moisture. So next time you are outside don’t let light rain or cold slow you down – wear stuff that wicks and keep on trucking’. It works!

Had enough of smelly underwear stories? Just hit reply and put “gotcha” in the subject line and we will ‘getcha’ off the list.

If you found any puns play on words in this rant, don’t let anyone pull the wool over your eyes. Give us your best ‘stay warm’ trick and we’ll put your name in a draw for wool socks, tough as nails and cozy warm even when wet! Which is a hole other story. Or if you are a chronically cold person – share with us (without googling) the origin of kith and kin. Thanks everyone – tim

hint – there is no such thing as a ‘kithing cousin’, sad as that may be