Monday, July 04, 2016

Finally a Gumboot Girl

http://www.amazon.com/Gumboot-Girls-Adventure-Survival-Columbias-ebook/dp/B00MOPMJPS/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=I read a great book about the brave young women who came to Coastal BC in the 60s and 70s to live a simple lifestyle, mostly off the grid. They farmed, homesteaded, fished and worked alongside equally brave and daring young men. The ones who settled on Haida Gwaii (then known as the Queen Charlotte Islands) and in Prince Rupert on the mainland called themselves the Gumboot Girls.

The book Gumboot Girls: Adventure, Love and Survival on British Columbia’s North Coast, a collection of thirty-four of their memoirs, was compiled by Jane Wilde and edited by Lou Allison (Caitlan Press, 2014).

My story starts much later. I guess I'm more brave now than I was as a young woman, but at least my time has come. We started living off the grid part-time in our float cabin in 2001 and then full-time in 2008 when we became Canadian permanent residents.

Out at Sandy Beach gathering sand and dirt for my garden.

Wayne had a deciding moment in the process of changing from his city-folk past. It was when he got a chainsaw and started cutting our firewood. My moment came this summer. I bought my first pair of gumboots. Now I wonder what took so long.

Gumboots are rubber boots, but they're much more than rain galoshes. They are heavy and meant for keeping feet dry in damp weather or working conditions. We get lots of those at all times of year here in BC.

Virgin gumboots.

Here are my gumboots. They are embarrassing clean and unblemished, but I know pretty soon they'll take on the patina of my off-the-grid lifestyle. Finally I can say I'm a Gumboot Girl too (even at 67). -- Margy

25 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Living nearby it was a great read for me. - Margy

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  2. Good on you!! But - in my humble opinion - there's only one thing better than gumboots and that's bare feet - at least in my lovely sub-tropical climate!!

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    1. Got lots of boots, but none were gumboots. I agree. This time of year barefoot is great except on the rocky beaches. - Margy

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  3. Hello, what an amazing life. Living off the grid on your houseboat, great story. Enjoy your day and the new week ahead!

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    1. Thanks Eileen. Weather has gone from sunny to rainy. Guess we need the rain, but love the sun. - Margy

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  4. That looks like a great book to read. Bet those gumboots will get lots of wear and soon be worn in.

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    1. Nice for getting out of the boat and keeping feet dry. - Margy

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  5. This is great, thank you so much for sharing. The book looks very good.

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    1. Wish I had their courage then. - Margy

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  6. Another good book to look into - and great gumboots - I'm sure you'll have the broken in in no time. Enjoy!

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    1. Sounds like work ahead, but that's okay in this place. - Margy

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  7. I didn't know about these girls! Nice boots too.

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    1. Guess there were girls and young women all around the world who took such brave steps. - Margy

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  8. I have a friend, Michelle. She was a nurse in those days. They would accompany people home to ensure they were recovered, and get them settled in. She's in LTC, though, with spinal stenosis.

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    1. Time catches up with all of us. I hope she is doing okay there. - Margy

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  9. I love my gumboots too. For some reason as soon as I put them on I start to feel very capable.

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    1. If I click the heels together maybe I will too. - Margy

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  10. Replies
    1. I'm cheap. Kept looking for a good sale. - Margy

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  11. Here's to all you gumboot girls!

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  12. It looks beautiful there!

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    1. Thanks, that's part of the reason we picked to move here. The other reason was all the friendly people. - Margy

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  13. That was such a good book although it made me sad because that was me and I didn't follow through. But I married and had my little hippie babies all on dry land.
    I am glad you are following through
    MB

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We welcome your comments and questions. - Wayne and Margy