North Shore

Most people spend the Fourth of July weekend doing quintessentially American things: parades, carnivals, bbq's, ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the local fireworks, running from a lit fuse on fountains, tanks and flowers in your driveway... You know. You have your own special Fourth of July tradition.

A few years ago, Travis and I started our own holiday tradition: leaving town. For the last two years, we'd gone backpacking. This year, we drove up to McCall, Idaho on the shores of Payette Lake. With a charming but small downtown and some kick-ass Mexican food, McCall is a great little place. And oh, the lake, with it's white sandy beaches and pines right down to the water... it was beautiful! The choppy blue waters of the lake entertained those hungry for speed and power, while the North Shore -- or the wide, meandering and glassy North Fork of the Payette River -- kept kayakers and canoers extremely happy. We paddled for almost four hours up and down and all around the river's bends. It was an excellent weekend and a superb way to spend the America's birthday. I highly recommend the place.

Here are two kayaking shots both made with my Holga and Fuji NPH 400. I should have used a slower film but the 400 was already loaded (well, that and I ran out of 100).