Kate Monahan

Whitewater Canoeing with Wild Women Expeditions (Part Two)

It has taken me some time – two and a half months to be exact – to write this post and for the longest time I couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t working for me. As I started to outline in a previous post, I had a lovely weekend paddling with Wild Women Expeditions back inContinue reading “Whitewater Canoeing with Wild Women Expeditions (Part Two)”

Whitewater Canoeing with Wild Women Expeditions (Part One)

Before Wild Women Expeditions’ whitewater canoe clinic in June, I’d spent eight whole days in a canoe. Granted they were intensive: – In the middle of November 2012 (which included my wedding anniversary and my 35th birthday), I learned how to canoe properly and instruct canoeing at the same time. Thank you, Jill Baxter. –Continue reading “Whitewater Canoeing with Wild Women Expeditions (Part One)”

Review: Overlordtour

OVERLORDTOUR PHOTO Church at Angoville au Plain “Do you know what this is?” Our guide, Stephane Kraus of Overlordtour, gestured for me to step over “this” ahead of him as we exit the church grounds at Angoville au Plain, our first stop on a ten-hour Normandy / D-Day / Band of Brothers tour. “This three-footContinue reading “Review: Overlordtour”

Past travel experiences: Amboise

I have learned to say “Canadian” when asked what nationality my husband and I are while traveling. I feel I’m only telling half a lie and really, these days, no one wants to hear “American.” So it beats me why I felt the need to explain the whole truth to the older couple sitting oneContinue reading “Past travel experiences: Amboise”

Favorite Childhood Nature Spots

At the back of Shelter Valley Mobile Home Park in Newfield, New York sits single-wide trailer number 541 on the South Way. Growing up I knew it as 55 Shelter Valley Road. I haven’t been back there in years, but as a child it had to have been the best lot in the park.

Highland Backpacking Trail

Here are a few shots from my 3-day backpacking trip in Algonquin Park on the Highland Backpacking Trail. I took them via a pretty terrible point-and-shoot as this trip was for a course with Algonquin College. I didn’t feel I could afford to spend the time fussing with my DSLR. We started with 30 degreeContinue reading “Highland Backpacking Trail”

Search and Rescue

We spent most of a Thursday reviewing map and compass skills as well as discussing in big broad strokes the search and rescue function primarily as it stands in the province of Ontario. By 2:30 we were itching for a scenario. We broke ourselves into search and rescue teams of three, a first aid team,Continue reading “Search and Rescue”

Maps, Compasses, and GPS

I used to hang the map inserts from our National Geographic subscription for decoration on my walls. I’ve received 2 globes in my life as gifts: once from my parents for my kindergarten graduation and a much needed update many years later from another family member. I’d spin it and spend hours imagining what lifeContinue reading “Maps, Compasses, and GPS”

Rock Wall, Challenge and High Ropes Courses

I stepped gingerly into two circles of black nylon webbing, cinched them around my quads and double-backed their tails through the buckles so that they appeared (c)losed rather than (o)pen.

River Touring: Sea Kayaking

Day One: Thursday started off chilly, close to the freezing mark but with warmer temperatures on the way. We sat shivering in our stinky, damp borrowed wetsuits in the amphitheater at WT, listening to Greg introduce his co-instructors Steve and Eric and watching a few short videos on ocean kayaking to give us some perspective.Continue reading “River Touring: Sea Kayaking”