GOOD TIMES!
My guest for this year's trip to the Squirtogether in Japan was John Bell! This would be his 4th trip to Japan. He's one of the top 'zombies' in the world so he was the perfect person to bring along. Zombies are squirt boaters who mostly do "Mystery Moves" where they...
ALL IN GOOD TIME….
This trip was punctuated by me coughing- SO awkward in airports and on the plane. But I don't think I was contagious. About a week before I went on the trip, I was at the very beginning of a mystery move- where you suck in that last sweet breath- and a huge glob of...
A Rose in any other country- is still a Rose
When I remember our trip to Japan this year I think of incredible meals, iconic views, steadfast friends and a few typhoons. There was a lot of excitement this year as my Guest of Honor was the new Women’s World Champion squirt boater- Rose Wall. In Sort Spain earlier...
Sink or Swim Japan 2018
Our trip to the Squirtogether mystery move competition in Japan this year was hallmarked by some dramatic moments- some welcome- others not. First- a typhoon hit Japan about a week before our flights. Japanese mystery spots often change with floods from typhoons. And there was a significant earthquake near the home of one of our hosts and friend- Taiki Sugawara. He only had to deal with no electricity for a few days. But still- a typhoon and an earthquake make for a pretty dramatic beginning.
Seams Like a Dream—Adventures in a Japanese Underland
A mystery move is a convergence of currents and intent- and in our case- cultures. At the core of it, it all comes together. Our trip to Japan this year was an example of everything coming together beautifully. I had enjoyed the previous meetings I have...
Stalking the Red Bull
Japan has SO much to offer the casual tourist- perfect Tonkatsu (deep fried pork filets), Udon and Ramen soups, even earthquakes, volcanoes, and typhoons! What would we sample this year?? Just past the island is where is all comes together. “Casual” does not really...
Sled Shed
The original sled was built from ethafoam in 1980 and was my first squirt design- named the “Slake”. I used it to do the first eddyline mystery move at Lost Paddle rapid on the Upper Gauley of Sept. of 1981. I called it an “Under” because I was actually going for an...
Love runs deep….
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Albert Einstein, What I Believe (1930) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oh boy! Another trip to Japan to share in the 20th annual Squirtogether- and...
My wood selection process
Rivr Styx Ash Selection Process Stalker, Pennsylvania~ Keith Backlund’s home place~ late 90’s Crunch crunch CRUNCH! The collapse of the ice crusted snow punctuates our every step in the otherwise-silent forested hillside on a bright...
The Spice of Life…. (Japan~ 2014)
Our trip to Japan was centered around the "Squirtogether" event scheduled for the first weekend in October, but there were distractions.... The first was that a volcano near our destination, Mt. Ontake, decided to erupt ~unfortunately killing dozens of people. That...
Jim’s Japan Trip 2013
Our trip to Japan this year was a few weeks later than usual- the end of September and beginning of October. It was a bit after the rainy season and the rivers ran low and clean. My guest of honor this year was Joshua Tracy from Charolettesville, Virginia. Josh is an...