by Jade Wiki

Created on: October 23, 2007

A few years back I was introduced to the sport of "Geocaching". It is a high tech treasure hunt using GPS receivers. I started off slow finding the caches in urban locations. As I became more involved in the sport and found myself hiking in treacherous areas and putting myself in danger of slipping off cliffs or down mountainsides. I remember one hike up a mountainside that was a quick return downwards on my butt tearing open my pants and my leg! It was at that point I realized it may save me future pain if I had a walking stick. I set off in search of the perfect walking stick.

I searched the hiking stores and swap meets, second hand stores, all to no avail. They were either puny or tacky. There was metal canes but they are for the elderly or so I told myself. That was it after a month search I set off to make my own.

I am fortunate to live on an island surrounded by wonderful beaches. I started to comb the beaches and found three large sticks that were made of hard wood of some sort. I took them up to the street and tried them out. The first one was too small and snapped under my weight. The next one was too short and I tossed it aside. The third stick was perfect, well as close to perfect as nature could make a stick. It was hard as rock and sturdy. It also had a nice curve appeal too it. It felt right. It talked to me, told me he would be my guide for many years to come. I think the right stick just feels right in your hand. Like a warm glove on a winters night.

I went camping the next week and spent the whole time with my pocket knife taking all the bark off the stick. Over the whole camping season I worked on the stick. After removing the bark I bought a cheap woodworking set and used it to work a hand grove around in the perfect spot so that the stick was the perfect size to grab a hold of. I bought some sandpaper and spent hours lovingly sanding down the stick and making it mine. Once the stick felt right I took it home and drilled a hole through it at the top and attached a leather strap for me to be able to hang on in times of need. The wood was so hard that the drill was smoking but I made it through.

I then got out my acrylic craft paints and added my own drawings and dated it. Once that was dry I put on 3 coats of varnish. I keep meaning to put a rubber stopper on the bottom so it doesn't wear out, but it is so hard I think it will outlast me and my hiking.

This for me was not only a craft project but a work of love. Every time I take it out for a walk or hike or even see it laying around it reminds me of a great period in my life and a great camping season. I could have bought a store bought stick but it would never have the same meaning to me or the memories. My stick, my friend.

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