Many cultures have some kind of traditional 'rites of passage' as it were. Time spent in the bush alone looking for answers, visions and trying to find themselves. The tradition from the local people here is known as a 'Vision Quest' and I found myself imagining Bridget Jones on an assignment to report on her personal vision quest. ( Dad, you may have to watch the movie to get the most out of this posting...) Anyway, I hope you enjoy my short story and as for the inspiration ? Well, lets just say its loosely based on a true experience, question is - how many of you know me well enough to separate fact from fiction ?
Bridget Jones Vision Quest
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Day 1
11am.
At last, setting off on great adventure to search for Wilderness Canoe Goddess in me. ( WCG for short) Of course Vision Quests are supposed to be 4 days long and mine was planned for 2. Well actually originally 3 but the rain yesterday was so awful that would surely have blocked ability to connect with nature and self. So two days and one night it is. More like a 'Vis' Quest. Yes thats it, Vision Quest for the modern woman - after all who really can spare 4 days out of a busy life to sit in the woods thinking. Of course Vision Questers are supposed to fast. However, health&safety procedures ruled this out due to risk of passing out alone in wilderness. Anyway, surely WCG would have blazing campfire thus creating right setting for vision to appear.
2pm.
Finally have arrive at chosen lake after paddling down creek & lugging canoe and gear { all by myself ! } over 3 portages. Wind is at my back ( glad I'm not having to paddle against it ), sun is shining. Yes, yes, I can feel the WCG in me starting to stir as I leave the hustle and bustle of daily life & all its inconveniences far behind.
2.10pm
Checked mobile phone again. Definitely no signal.
3pm
Positively flew down the lake with the wind blowing in my hair to arrive at beautiful campsite on Island. No-one else on the island but rather noisy neighbours on opposite shore. Hope they won't interfere with vision ability.
3.30pm
Tent up and ready to go, wood collected for raging fire and ready for the grand lighting. Will have boiling water and a cup of tea on the go in no time.
4.30pm
Despite dryness of rocks seem unable to light any of my matches. Didn't think I'd need one of those thingys that you get on the box of matches to light them and to save weight had transferred out of box into waterproof bag. First thought was 'what a pain, i'll have to use the stove' ( brought stove just in case was unable to start fire ) followed closely by 2nd thought 'oh s***t. Considering options ;
1. Sit tight, eat chocolate, raw peppers & cereal bars for supper & tell no-on of slight glitch in vision quest.
2. Take most treasured possession and paddled to nearest campsite in order to trade for matches which work.
4.35pm
On way to nearest campsite ( with earlier mentioned noisy occupants ) armed with bar of dairy milk chocolate. On approaching campsite am alarmed to see all occupants run from beach and hide behind trees near tents. Surely a single female in canoe couldn't cause such alarm. 'Coo-ee ! Hello there, terribly sorry to bother you, wondering if you could help me out ? ' [ Best English accent obviously as to not alarm natives any further - the more you sound like the queen the more they trust you ] A pow wow took place between the - seemingly all female occupants - and the bravest girl was sent down to deal with the impostor. 'Hi, this is awfully embarrassing but I seem to have brought safety matches with me and am unable to light them - could I interested you in a trade for a bar of chocolate ?''Errr' came the reply ' we weren't given many and our lighter is supposed to be for emergencies only'. Oh God, the embarrassment grows, I am seeking help from an outward bound group of teenage girls on their first solo trip. 'Have you tried striking them on a rock ?' the chief asks me and 'are they wet ?' Yes and No I replied to both - she clearly thinks I am an idiot and doesn't yet recognise me as WCG. The chief retreated to camp for another pow wow and returned with 8 matches which I traded for my most treasured dairy milk.
4.45pm
Paddling back to camp wondering if my situation has improved or not. Have more matches, with still no actual 'thingy' to light them on if rocks don't work and have given away chocolate. I could have made things worse...
( being kicked out of library so will have to wait for part 2 ! )
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Hi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteDad has seen Bridget Jones' films on the flights to Houston so he knows what she is like. In fact he thinks you are more like her than she is.
You are having such a great adventure that I am surprised that Mark has not complained that you are still 'playing Swallows and Amazons'. We will make sure that he stays awake when you re-call all of your tales again at Christmas.