Working Hard to Safeguard Paddling Assets for All Canadians

All about Whitewater

All about Whitewater
A Blog about River Preservation and the need to protect our free flowing whitewater resources

Friday, August 10, 2018

Poetry continued

No,no,no
I wish that I could find the words so I could tell you what its like being downtown in the city watching all the people on the street
And she don't care - no she's not thinking of me She doesn't know that - I'm alive She don't care - 'sides maybe there's another that's she's in love with - What chance have I?
Well I head out on the street until I can get some sleep I know someday soon we'll meet Until that moment ...
So I head out on the street hoping somewhere soon we'll meet and until then - baby please Keep looking for me
I promise not to be annoying But can you try to understand? I can't keep on the way I'm going cause after all,I'm - just a man
No, no, no, don't freak out or say you hate me Just because I've lost my nerve Yes, Yes, Yes - For sure, I'll always love you And I will give you what you deserve
Well I head out on the street until I can get some sleep I know someday soon we'll meet Until that moment ...
So I head out on the street hoping somewhere soon we'll meet and until then - baby please Keep looking for me
kayaky
Back to the top
Render unto Caesar
The price of love is paid these days in blood and sweat and tears
where nothing in this world is free and our pleasures cause us fear
No wishes made for peace and harmony within this universe or hope for true love is delivered
as love through us alone is cursed unless Caesar has approved it
A simple smile, or glance between us shall raise the wrath of God
and summer storms of sixth degree that all should fail their cause
and leave us shattered on the street and wounded by the laws
but kings and queens show deference to their subject's supplication
and pass their judgement more cautiously to the weak's humiliation
Or better still the mangey few who understood at once their need -
and kept them happy where they slept
dreaming we all are the fools in glass and stone they seek
but who actually throw them biscuits, floral wrapped
so the mighty once placated may suffer us the love we share
or less likely confiscate it
For no Caesar could command that force, -our love cannot be earned
or gained in battle to the death such love would just be spurned
Its fused in spirit not the flesh
no way to change the heart
Only battered souls coincident
at least this much we've learned
kayaky
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Friendship, love and lust

So what's the way you feel with me? he asked his fair companion the 'what' you guessed- while still feeling fine, she answered in this fashion the friendship, love, and lust I've felt it comes at different times and I've no shame to feel that way when your're with me - oh love of my mine
but then the way we were today... we walked and ran and played We've never needed words for fill and time just slipped away I love the satisfaction of days glowing to their end and never have I felt - as fine since I could count you friend
but now I find the days are long when you're not by my side I reach for someone who's not there and that's helped me to decide my dear our friendship's simply not enough the sun's setting casts me doubts when you're not close its then I fear to see my setting suns without or arise when you're not near
and in the darkest moments of the night I awaken with my soul forsaken and lonely in my lonely bed wishing that empty spot was taken by a friend who is my lover who conjurs lust from love reshapened whose heat is fired by passion creating bliss that has me shaken though today my love is taken tomorrow I will be yours and yours for evermore.
kayaky
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The Fall of Couples

The harvest moon stands witness to constancy of life that finds relief from constancy by changing hearts and strife
A chilling change in seasons decay's smelt in the grass rising mist from warmer waters Not frozen yet like glass
For yesterday was summer no leaves were on the ground and couples loved each other while warmth was all around
But temperatures have fallen cold, nothing grows at night and distant howls are calling desperate prayers by candle light
"Will we last the winter with wind borne snow and ice or will we fade to blackness because we chose to fight?"
A better change of season to harvest what we sow No need for better reasons as fallen fruit may grow
Something deep inside us was planted in the sun that flourishes with snow melt and blooms in everyone
kayaky
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Impressionless

I was taken by the shadow of the moving bus in the sunlit artifacts of morning,
leaving impressions, however fleeting, of our presence,
first there, then gone, oh how could that be?
A beautiful voice caught my ear In the lazy evening,
tickling my Interest as it wafted by with sweet tones of love in words
that faded into the night
I knew they had been but was I dreaming?,
just like that they were gone
like I'd come and gone
watched my shadow move impressing sunlit entities
and then within a flickering instant
things had passed swept by the waves on seashore
sand washed with shells and life
Washed footsteps, where my feet had been,
where we had been
but were no more
kayaky
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Death by Email

too weak to type
too steeped in sadness.
all this just because retribution was swift
pin point accurate
like a smart neutron bomb
with buildings standing but their humanity gone
for without your breath could they breathe?
for without your light could they see
without you could they live?
nourished child left to starve
through Mornful afternoon and night
when left alone allowed thought and flight from real words
that now won't come
not the way soul mates would have done i
nstead death, all is death and black as the night
without your air without your light without you
until I was finished
but I am finished dying I am finished
extinguished my love by love
I am done
j'expiré
kayaky
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Hollowness

In a world that doesn't owe us anything or anyone
I had found my one true love
but today she's not beside me memories won't be good enough
Its a hollow heart that's in me she's not running at my side
and I've had enough of lonely hollowness is deep inside
Letting go would be surrender
Holding on in pain is rough but I'd bear that pain and sorrow
for the memory of her love I know our time is short here
fewer seconds left than past
and I wonder if the seconds left without her
could be traded if I asked
I would trade the time without her
for another day in love with the woman who once loved
me just one day would be enough
kayaky

Two Pines

The white pine sapling, barely four feet tall, was planted in the fall of 1865 with the cataclymic collapse of its parent. Felled by a lightning strike, that majestic tree came crashing down to earth, embedding seeds and pine cones into the improbable gravel and rock that would give birth to new life.
The great hulk of wood lay across the nearby stream bed serving up a causeway for all, hikers and animals. Over time it had been worn smooth with branches left strategically to offer handholds to those that needed them.
Time passes slowly for trees, they don't move much unless the wind blows but there are the movements of animals and humans, sometimes stopping for quick relief, othertimes, snapping off a piece of bark or simply holding them selves up for a good scratch.
Across the creek another sapling white pine had stemmed from that same crash. The two of them became aware of each other through the transit of pine nuts and chatter between the squirrels that had adopted them as haunts. The forest chatter boxes could climb then and screech at the neighborhood. A neighborhood, which in general, could care less about screeching and more about the peace and quiet that had settled in since the great storm of '65.
But with the passage of years, change took place. That convenient transit point was replaced by humans and their small bridge since the trail that had been used so casually became much busier. The new traffic left the pines alone. The human folk had grown accustomed to the saplings and they'd grown so that in 1917 as the early vehicles started plying the roads, many would stop and admire them while crossing.
The two pines had become trees. They'd sway gracefully in the breeze, only vaguely aware of each other, peaceful, graceful, growing imperceptably, oblivious to the traffic while broadening their expanse with the passing of each summer, growing higher, and stronger, roots finding new grabholds, nooks and crannies to hold the earth ever more tightly.
Then one day, there arose spirit within them. The hearts of those trees had grown so large that the spirit of the spring could flow into them and remain. Each tree was given its own spirit and the life force within them grew to sustain itself in an awesome presence. No longer were they simply trees but living things with their own righteous place in the universe.
At that moment the two, which had been saplings were capable of creating their own pine cones. They wanted to be together but meters and water separated them. So they remained passively, as trees do, patient and reserved as the years passed them by until one spring morning they sensed their outer branches had touched.
At that moment a transfer of life force took place between them, a passing of energy and spirit, they had become joined in a most unique way. All that passed their way were moved to stop and admire the now great white pines that reached over the bridge and mingled their branches in an arching canopy. The full reach of those magnificent pines was an inspiration to all that saw them as they had somehow survived the years, and the press of civilization to become forever entwined as one.
kayaky
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The Cold Town

Grim northern town is stirring
the sun, too cold, won't rise
past frigid trees and frozen lakes
all lined by ice blue skies
The cold, cold, ground lies silent
for there is no comfort under snow
that's hard and snaps with footsteps
cursing engines that won't go
Ice fog hangs low on dwellings
smoke eeks up then shivers down
along the barren streetscapes
where dark creatures can be found
cold haunts their doors and windows
for the heat that hides inside
for any spark of warmth that lives
with no fire - no life would thrive
That hardy life in coats and boots
which peeks from touques and smiles
with wooden gestured stiffened breath
and dreams of southern climes

kayaky 

snowflakes

snowflakes
alight in the pale light
some held aloft
dance playfully
among the tree boughs
its christmas time and
love is coming down
moonbeams muffled by moondogs
warm the wintry sky
making my path clear
and bright on this
most wonderful
winter night

kayaky



Merry Christmas



We love snow for christmas

it lets us go and play

In drifts of powdery whiteness

not work our lives away



The luxury of the holidays

Let's sleep past bright sunrise

In goose down cosey sleigh beds

to clear those baggy eyes



And sinful treats that meet us

are chocolat sweet and good

for once a year, this season comes

to eat, its understood



Just give one gift that's frivolous

not practical or plain

a gift that one-  might like to get

not ties, or socks that day



And do something for someone else

but never let them know

its coming from one's inner self

where only goodness flows



Praise the lord or pray you must

This christmas time so white

a prayer from us to change our world

Merry Christmas for all - good night



kayaky
*********Have a Nice Day**********

No comments:

Canadian Rivers

Canadian Rivers
I speak for river users too!

The Queen is not amused!

The Queen is not amused!
http://www.ispeakforcanadianrivers.ca/

The Damned Dam - 2005 -

The Damned Dam - 2005 -
22nd Annual Kipaw Rally has modest turnout. - 23rd does better

The Ashlu river: it could happen to you

The Ashlu river: it could happen to you

Whitewater Ontario

Whitewater Ontario
Working Hard to Protect Canada's Paddling Resources

Whitewater Ontario - Mission Statement

It is Whitewater Ontario’s mission to support the whitewater paddling community through the promotion, development and growth of the sport in its various disciplines. We accomplish this through the development of events, resources, clubs, and programs for personal and athletic development, regardless of skill level or focus, to ensure a high standard of safety and competency; We advocate safe and environmentally responsible access and use of Ontario’s rivers. Whitewater Ontario is the sport governing body in the province, and represents provincial interests within the national body Whitewater Canada and the Canadian Canoe Association http://www.whitewaterontario.ca/page/mission.asp

Kipawa, Tabaret, and Opemican

Kipawa, Tabaret, and Opemican
If Hydro Quebec is not actively pursuing Tabaret what is that bite out of Opemican for?

Kipawa Dam: After

Kipawa Dam: After
Laniel Dam at 2006 Rally

Where is the Kipawa

Where is the Kipawa
Kipawa flows into lake Temiskamingue, running from Kipawa Lake, under hwy 101 in Quebec

Kipawa Dam

Kipawa Dam
laniel dam at 2004 River Rally

Tabaret is a Bad Idea

About the Kipawa



The best thing paddlers can do to help the cause of the Kipawa:

1. attend the rally and bring others including non paddlers to attend and buy beer and have fun

2. write your MP /MNA and raise the issue and post your objections -1 letter = 200 who didn't write

3. Write Thierry Vandal the CEO of Hydro Quebec strongly opposing the 132 MW standard decrying the use of "diversion" as the most environmentally inappropriate method of power production

4. Write Jean Charest, Premier of Quebec protesting that either the algonquin or the tabaret project will eliminate all other values on the Kipawa River by turning it into a dry gulch.

5. See if you can get other allied groups interested by showing your own interest, ie the Sierra Defense Fund, Earthwild, MEC, and so on.

6. Demand further consultation

7. Currently we are at the point where we need to sway public opinion and raise awareness.

However, if all else fails, don't get mad, simply disrupt, foment, and protest . The Monkey Wrench Gang.

Have you read Edward Abbey?

Important Addresses
CEO,Hydro Québec, 75 boul René Levesque, Montreal, P.Q., H2Z 1A4Caille.andre@hydro.qc.ca



Tabaret is a Bad Idea (Part Two)

Les Amis de la Riviere Kipawa is poised to use an application to the Federal Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus to ensure the Minster does what he is supposed to do, protect the public's right to navigate the water control structure at Laniel, Quebec using the Navigable Waters Protection Act. (see http://www.kipawariver.ca/)

In the now gutted Navigable Waters Protection Act lay the means by which the Minister of Transport could keep the public right of passage down our great Canadian Heritage, our rivers and streams which are threatened especially by resource corporations and power brokers such as Hydro Quebec.

These powerful entities continue to petition that 'this' river or 'that' stream is not navigable and therefore not protectable.
I don't say that dams and bridges should not be built, only that if they are, historical navigation rights should be considered and preserved by making reasonable accommodations for recreational boaters.

It is the Minister of Transport, in exercising the right to allow or disallow work on or over a navigable waterway is what keeps boats and recreational boaters plying our waterways.

To many recent cases launched in the Federal Court concerning the Navigable Waters Protection Act, most recently the case of the Humber Environment Group of Cornerbrook Newfoundland versus the Cornerbrook Pulp and Paper Company indicates that the important oversight is not being faithfully performed. Have we really come to the point now where we must say "such and such a stream is one foot deep, possessing so many cubic feet per second flow and so on?" The answer to this is... YES!

The honourable Mr. Justice John A. O'Keefe, ruled that it had not been shown that the river was navigable. How convenient was that to the Minister? But either the Minister of Transport acts to protect our rivers and streams as a public right or he does not and that means rivers and streams currently enjoyed by kayakers and canoists.

Enough of the cheating, and double-talk. Canadians! our rivers and streams are our own, lets urge the Minister of Transport and the our government to protect them.

Peter Karwacki

Tabaret is a Bad Idea (Part Three)

10 Reasons WhyTabaret is a Bad Idea1) Tabaret is too big. The station is designed to useevery drop of water available in the Kipawawatershed, but will run at only 44 percent capacity.We believe the Tabaret station is designed to usewater diverted from the Dumoine River into theKipawa watershed in the future. 2) The Tabaret project will eliminate the aquaticecosystem of the Kipawa River.The Tabaret project plan involves the diversion of a16-km section of the Kipawa River from its naturalstreambed into a new man-made outflow from LakeKipawa. 3) Tabaret will leave a large industrial footprint on thelandscape that will impact existing tourismoperations and eliminate future tourism potential. 4) The Tabaret project is an aggressive single-purposedevelopment, designed to maximize powergeneration at the expense of all other uses. 5) River-diversion, such as the Tabaret project, takinglarge amounts of water out of a river’s naturalstreambed and moving it to another place, is verydestructive to the natural environment. 6) The Kipawa River has been designated a protectedgreenspace in the region with severe limitations ondevelopment. This designation recognizes theecological, historical and natural heritage value ofthe river and the importance of protecting it.Tabaret will eliminate that value. 7) If necessary, there are other, smarter and morereasonable options for producing hydro power onthe Kipawa watershed. It is possible to build a lowimpactgenerating station on the Kipawa river, andmanage it as a “run-of-the-river” station, makinguse of natural flows while maintaining other values,with minimal impact on the environment. 8) The Kipawa watershed is a rich natural resource forthe Temiscaming Region, resonably close to largeurban areas, with huge untapped potential fortourism and recreation development in the future.Tabaret will severely reduce this potential. 9) Tabaret provides zero long-term economic benefitfor the region through employment. The plan is forthe station to be completely automated andremotely operated. 10) The Kipawa River is 12,000 years old. The riverwas here thousands of years before any peoplecame to the region. The Tabaret project will change all that.

Problems on a local River?

  • There is more to do as well but you have to do your research and above all, don't give up.
  • IN the meantime prepared a document itemizing the history of navigation of this spot and its recreational value. Use the Kipawa river history of navigation as a guide: see www.kipawariver.ca
  • Under the Ministry of Environment guidelines you have a set period of time to petition the change under the environmental bill of rights, you may have limited time to take this action. But it involves going to court for a judicial review of the decision.
  • 4. contact the ministry of natural resources officials and do the same thing.
  • 3. contact the ministry of the environment and determine if they approved the project
  • 2. determine if the dam was a legal dam, approved under the navigable waters protection act.
  • 1. research the decision and timing of it to determine if an environmental assessment was done.

Minden Ontario

Minden Ontario
Gull River Water control at Horseshoe lake

A History of Navigation on the Kipawa River

Prior to the environmental assessment there was no signage at the Laniel Dam

T-Shirts Area: These are available now!

T-Shirts Area: These are available now!
Send $25 and a stamped self addressed envelop for the Tshirt, and for the bumper sticker, a stamped and self addressed envelope with $5.00 for the bumper sticker to Les Amis de la rivière Kipawa, 80 Ontario St., Ottawa, Ontario, K1K 1K9 or click the link To purchase a Les Amis "T" contact Doug with the following information: Number of shirts:Sizes: Ship to Address: Method of Payment: cash, cheque and paypal, Shipto address:

Bumper Stickers Now Available

Bumper Stickers Now Available
Get your bumper sticker and show your support for the Kipawa Legal Fund ! - send $5.00 in a Stamped, self addressed envelope to: Peter Karwacki Box 39111, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1H 7X0