On the road with Leslie Kolovich
World paddle
Planet
for the
Day
I
had just quit my 9-5 uniform-wearing, clockpunching, rules-and-regulations, numbersgame job, working as an Activities Director at a nursing home! Interestingly, it was the sweet residents there who were encouraging me to fly out that big white door, and live my life with passion! I will cherish their wisdom forever. They are the angels who guided me to Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, to cover an event, which would change my life. The mountains of the Okanagan sent a vibration to my heart from the moment I first spoke to Bob Purdy who had been paddling everyday since January 2011, to draw attention to his cause, “To change the way we live on the planet.” When Bob asked me to join him for World Paddle for the Planet Day, I was honoured, but I had no idea this edition of ‘On the road with Leslie’ would touch the depths of my soul. I know the planet is struggling, but it is easy to look at pictures and see only the splendour. At 1:30 a.m. on Friday, June 16, 2012, we packed into the van in the light rain and headed out to Penticton, our starting point for World Paddle for the Planet. Bob’s plan was to paddle the entire length of Okanagan Lake, roughly 80 miles, in one day. Rayburns Marine World provided the support boat and two captains, one for each half of the event. The rest of the crew
consisted of only the photographer, Joan Vienot, and Chief Support John Anderson. Bob’s wife, Sharon, would join us at mile 40. The morning was still dark when we launched our paddleboards. Knowing I had not trained or ever paddled more than seven miles, so that was my goal. Bob and Stefan Idzan, (Bob’s friend and training partner) went on ahead, their pace being much faster than mine.
Here’s where it gets personal
I was alone in the middle of the lake. The dark of the night began to lighten, as the sun was about to make a morning appearance. My senses were in an acute state. I could hear individual raindrops falling on my jacket, hitting the water, and I noticed the sound the blade of my paddle made as it sliced into the water. Surreal. I also heard my heart beating, not because of exertion, because I was ‘in the moment’ and I knew it. I always talk about how stand up paddling is the sport that truly puts you ‘in the moment’ -- well, this experience nailed that statement completely solid!
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