River Journeys, Inc.

As winter captures us rather sliding down the road in our vehicles, or huddled around a warm fire, winter tends to keep us indoors and the cabin fever that results.  I have cabin fever officially.  I declare it to be so.  

 Part of the frustration is that I have to trudge through incredible snow right now to get anything done.  I have a hard time imagining getting out in it.  It seems a tremendous amount of work.

Don't misunderstand, I am an enthusiastic winter camper.  It just right now, seems so much work.  Thus cabin fever is known and made manifest.  A brief thaw, a bit of warmth we hope for to break the fever and get us out with less challenge. Yet that break seems elusive this last week, the fever grows.

 Got to take heart, the days are beginning to lengthen.  Mid-January brings noticeable change.

So, I am going to putz with some gear, start planning the season, and hope to spend more time in the woods.  I imagine a warm Manistee breeze and the sounds of water moving, birds singing, and the whisp of a dragonfly as it buzzes past my boat.  I think of the warmth from the sun, especially morning sun and the smell of morning dew as it begins to evaporate.  

 Those small pleasures seem to loom so large right now.  Yet it is so easy to not give them their due as we bask in their glory.  Warm sun, the sounds and smell of summer seem glorious right now. 

I hope to share those moments with as many folks as would enjoy it. . . .  

Tags: David Ball | manistee river | canoeing | Michigan | canoe camping | blog

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I received a phone call from someone considering doing something similar to what I do only she wants to provide trips exclusively for women.  She was captured by the impression she described as "something more" when she viewed this website.  After a long conversation describing my beginnings working with delinquent youth and the evolution of the business to corporate groups, families, father son, father daughter, churches and other groups, I did realize that there was "something more."

I continue to be drawn to doing this because the something more is a connection of the "natural world" to people who otherwise have very limited experience out of doors.  Sure we all go for a walk, or perhaps a few hours during the day are spent in the garden, etc.  How often do we spend days on end out of doors with no option for seeking "shelter"?  The reality is that spending time in the woods is a form of shelter from the lives we lead during the rest of the year.  There is respite, retreat, reinvigoration and renewal available to us on the river.  Connecting people with that is why I do what I do.  In addition, I have that beneft for myself as well. 

I am always looking for reasons to spend more time outdoors.  While I love my other profession, I am driven by something very different there.  My life's dream is to retire from my other profession and spend time with others on the river, doing all those things that lead to that renewal.  Join me, join us, as we develop community not only with each other for a few days, but with the planet.  I truly am a tree hugger.  I can't wait to get out again to embrace a couple of my favorites.  Renewed, refreshed, I will find "shelter" in the world of the river. 

Tags: mission | purpose | value statement

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Part of the fun of spending time outdoors for me is not only the simplicity of it, I also enjoy the gadgetry.  New toys provide an opportunity for creative thinking, problem solving and exploration into "better" ways of doing things.

I have over the last year or so given up sleeping on the ground in a tent and now sleep in a hammock.  Now I work at sewing my own gear, talk of underquilts and overquilts, R-factors, angles of sag, tensile strength of webbing, figure 9 fasteners, tarp tensioners, the list goes on and on. 

Most importantly though is the fact that I sleep better in a hammock than I do in my bed.  Gone are the days of waking up a little stiff from the hard ground and restless slumber.  So, when you see me on the river or join us on a trip, talk hammock with me.  I love to share the joyous comfort I have found as a hanger and how I don't believe I will ever go back to being a ground dweller. 

If you have interest, check out http://www.hammockforums.net

This has been a great on-line resource for me and has increased my learning curve considerably.  Not to mention, I have made some good friends along the way. 

We may be working the opportunity to hang into the riverjourneys experience.  I now own one extra hammock and may be making more.  Look forward to seeing you out of doors, perhaps hanging happily with no snooze button to worry about.

Tags: hammock camping

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I am sleeping in a hammock, and learning to make my own gear.  Here is a rain fly I recently completed with tensioners that will provide full coverage.  It is 10X12 ft. and with my hammock hanging inside, will be cozy.  Thanks to Cara, I am learning to sew (make gear) and how to use a sewing machine (thread injector).  The parenthetically highlighted words are real men camping terms for sewing and sewing machine. 

I have learned to greatly appreciate those who have talent and can stitch a straight line.  It was a real learning experience, requiring a great deal of focus and partience. 

Speaking of thread injection.  Here are some pics of my effort.

Tags: making gear

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I am making a real effort to communicate to you some of the joy and wonder I find as I spend time on the river each year.  I have written in a journal, however; I have not been real deliberate about documenting and making an effort to formally communicate my experience.  As those close to me will attest, for me, the trips on the river are not just on the river.  I get excited as soon as I have one "on the books."  In fact, I am pretty discontent in my life if I do not have river time scheduled.  I intentionally schedule the next trip as soon as one is complete so I anticipate.

The first of May is my next event, Cara and I will be traveling and looking for mushrooms on the Manistee.  We should have great fun.  Then I am off to Wisconsin for a Memorial Day trip with the Canoebie brothers, a group of men I attended college with and this year will be our 32nd. annual trip together; a tradition steeped in fun and friendship including many different rivers and states.

Then we move on to our summer solstice trip which still has openings.  It is a great time to see wildflowers and in particular the numerous wild irises in bloom on the Manistee.  A great opportunity for photographers.

Celebrate the fourth of July with us as we paddle on the third through the fifth then I will take a group of Boy Scouts from South Bend on a five day trip the week following the fourth of July.

The first week of August, I am taking a group of men from the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Elkhart for a three day trip and some time in August Cara is scheduled to take a women's trip.  There is still room available.

Perhaps our favorite time of year is Labor Day weekend as there are few bugs with warm days and cool nights.  We have openings for that weekend as well.  I will follow that in a few weeks with the Osceola United Methodist Men's group and this year will be their 6th annual adventure.  

Finally, mid-October brings us to fall colors and for those who can brave the cool nights, and thrill to the beauty of foliage ablaze, this is a great time.  Again, no bugs!  It is a nice way to close the season as we once again prepare for winter.

That sums up our season.  I hope to use this venue to share ideas, experiences, recipes, camp lore and all kinds of goodies that hopefully will encourage you to join us or at least spend some time out doors.  That is what is most important.  That is what brings me joy, that is why I do this year after year.  Sharing the natural world with others inspires me, it gives me hope, it is another way I think I can make a difference in the lives of individuals, groups and the world. 

 Keep your eye on the horizon and your coals hot.

David 

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Welcome to the all new River Journeys Blog!

Expect more here as time goes on!

Tags: Intro | New

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