Summer Wrap-Up, July, August, & Outdoor Retailer

August 16, 2006

By Devon Barker

I just finished a busy but wonderful summer in Idaho
on the mighty Salmon and Snake Rivers. I guided
kayakers, paddle rafts, and oar boats this summer. My
kid’s kayak camps on Payette Lake were great with lots
of kids getting their first experience paddling. The
roll clinics at Backwoods Adventures were a big hit
this year thanks to Eric Jackson’s Rolling and Bracing
DVD. In one women’s clinic I had five of the women
rolling in the first 30 minutes! We all had smiles!

The end of July I had a five days women’s trip for
company Barker River Trips. It was awesome. We
enjoyed yoga, meditation, inflatable kayak games
(Sucky Ducky Championships), and lots of laughter with
our mothers and our new and old friends. We had so
much fun that we are planning a Mother/Daughter trip
next year.

I did sneak away to the surf wave, “Gold Hole” for two
days this summer with Rob Lesser. The eddy is more
challenging than the wave, which is saying a lot, as
the wave is huge. I surfed in my Jackson Kayak Star
and he in his 4 Fun. Had we been anywhere but Idaho
there would have been 20 people with us. We camped
and he showed me footage of all his trips to Alaska.
I was in awe as he is the kayaker who has been there
and done it all!

I worked a day trip on the 10th of August, caught the
shuttle rig to Lewiston, I still do not have a running
vehicle, and flew the morning of the 11th to Outdoor
Retailer. It was wonderful to see everyone and all
the new gear coming out on the market. It is an
exciting time to be in paddle sports. I still had one
kayak instruction trip left on the Salmon River but it
launched before I could get back from OR. The morning
of the 13th I said good-bye to the NRS crew and
Kristine and EJ and then I flew from Salt Lake City,
Utah to Lewiston, Idaho. The shuttle driver picked me
up at the airport and drove me, and Cy Wert to the
river. Cy built my awesome kayak rack on the back of
my truck. He just got a Super Star and was willing to
paddle 16 miles in to catch the group with me.

We made it just in time for dinner J I had six
paddlers in the water. Christian and Sara where from
Germany and had so much fun in the All Star and Star
that they are headed today to Alpenglow in Boise to
buy JK Star before heading back to Germany.

I had my new pink hydrosilk rash guard for the trip
that I just got at OR. I ended up wearing it the
whole trip as when I got to camp the first night I
realized that I only packed a fleece and a raincoat in
my overnight bag. The guests asked me if this was my
first rodeo. J

I leave today for a month and a half of competitions
on the East Coast. I have my clothes.

Thank you for all your love and support of my dreams.
Paddle in Peace,
devo