Last week I was chased by an elk and a sea lion within a period of just a couple of days. Although it may seem strange, this makes me smile because, in a way, these moments symbolize to me the start of a very exciting summer season.

Highlights in June so far have included leaving my “day job” for the season and a visit from Mark Tozer. We had time to go sight seeing, walking in the redwoods and playing in Humboldt Bay, Trinidad and Stone Lagoon, as well as visiting Kokatat who Mark is a UK Ambassador for.

A walk through Fern Canyon.

Trinidad.

Wild Elk.

We also headed to Redding, California to conduct three rolling clinics for the kayaking Club, Just Kayak More. This was the second year that I’ve instructed for this enthusiastic Club, and it was great to see how much they’d progressed throughout the last year.

A little tandem rolling.

Last Thursday added another piece of summer when I headed up to Washington for the South Sound Traditional Inuit Kayak Symposium (SSTIKS). SSTIKS is a special event for me, because it is where I was first introduced to the wonderful world of traditional kayaking. This is a family friendly kayaking event filled with instruction in traditional skills (including rolling and harpoons), games, races, presentations and all around fun.

Harpoons anyone?

Rolling class.

After SSTIKS I hopped on a plane to Denmark, and now I am in Sweden, on a month long teaching tour throughout Europe. Classes start this afternoon, and I’m looking forward to an exciting month and more highlights!

Sweden!

Photos by Helen Wilson, Mark Tozer and Michael Morris.