Portraits of Kayakers
I Got You, Babe
If there is an unofficial first couple of sea kayaking in the Pacific Northwest, it has to be Leon Sommé and Shawna Franklin. While many couples make kayaking together look like a vile episode of the Jerry Springer Show, Leon and Shawna share a spark known only by those who have found their soul mate.
In 2003 they joined renowned expeditioner Chris Duff on a circumnavigation of Iceland, a committing 1,700-mile odyssey that took just 81 days. Seven years ago, the couple made an even bigger commitment when Franklin, the first American woman to earn a British Canoe Union 5-Star award, moved into Sommé's home-a diminutive cabin he built with recycled materials on Washington's Orcas Island. Their rustic domicile is devoid of amenities such as running water and electricity.
"We call it the tech-free zone," said Sommé, also a 5-Star instructor. "It enables us to live really simply. We've learned how to do that on our trips."
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