We hope everyone is weathering these initial stages of the Covid 19 pandemic as well as can be expected. Unfortunately, as of today, it’s only going to get worse, before it gets better. The course of the disease will need to apex before the curve will flatten. That means many more sick and, unfortunately, many more dead. But then it WILL get better!
Although it seems frivolous to have paddling, camping, canoes and kayaks on the brain as the world, literally, burns with fever, I have found myself retreating, more and more, into maps. Maps to help me dream and plan the next big family adventure. Planning a paddle camping trip with hope and love for all my girls; my wife Sarah and our twin 6-year-old girls O & P. Maybe even our dog; Goby (also female: There’s a lot of estrogen in my house!).
We were thinking about paddling sea kayaks for 12 days in the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area in Ontario, but then news came that the US and Canada had agreed to close the border to non-essential travel. Don’t Federal authorities know how essential connecting with wilderness is? Perhaps we will have to look at a circumnavigation of Isle Royale National Park. If the ferries are running this summer.
As a child, it was always calming yet invigorating to pore over the maps from my Grandpa Urban’s National Geographic Magazine’s, looking at the far off places I would go.
Now, as I home-school O & P because schools are closed indefinitely, I find myself ignoring the lesson plans sent by their teachers and instead breaking out colorful maps to teach them about dreams (broken, achieved & unfulfilled), geography, navigation, water, land & sky. It is hard, but necessary given the threat from Corona Virus, to be home with them.
We can stay safe and healthy, by following sound science and not an idiot who might sacrifice 1.7 million Americans in an effort to “Get the economy going by Easter.” Most of us will come out on the other end of this pandemic with our health and loved ones intact as long as science, pragmatism and facts guide us. Great paddling trips still await, I have no doubt.
Today, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers ordered “Safer at Home,” Wisconsin’s version of “Stay at Home” orders. All non-essential business and travel is prohibited from tomorrow until at least April 23, 2020.
However, the Wisconsin law specifically defines Outdoor Activity as an “Essential Activity”. Under Subsection C of Section 11, people may leave their homes, “To engage in outdoor activity, including visiting public and state parks, provided individuals comply with Social Distancing Requirements as defined below.”
So getting out and paddling is just fine in Wisconsin, even during the pandemic! Sounds good to me Tony!
Furthermore, Umingmaq is exempted as an essential business under the Transportation section of the law as a, “boat supply, repair, and sales,” business. Thanks again Tony.
So, Umingmaq Paddle Touring Center CAN remain open, but we’re going to be cautious. I want to get out on that next big paddling trip with my girls.
We are open online and by phone to start. If you have a paddling itch to scratch, give us a call, we’ll get creative together to find some light in the midst of the darkness, perhaps we can meet by appointment.
We send compassionate thoughts that you’ll be safer at home and out on the water until we defeat Covid 19! Be safe and paddle well my friends.