By  Patricia Anne McGoldrick  »  Have you ever been walking through the old-growth forest in British Columbia, visiting  Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland, whale-watching off the coast of Nova Scotia, or even exploring your own neighbourhood community? 

Suddenly, the words of a poem form in your mind, an idea for a blog post surfaces but you are paperless or the weather is too cold or wet to write on that scrap of paper in your pocket. 

It is a predicament that I have experienced one time too many. 

Yes, I have written a poem on the proverbial paper napkin of Baker’s Cove restaurant, even outlined a story on a paper towel but there is a solution for writers. I have found something much better, all-weather products that are portable and moderately priced.

Prices vary according to size and format but for less than five dollars, you can purchase a Rite in the Rain All-Weather Notebook. After reading about one of these U.S. products in an American magazine, I discovered that these products are sold in Canada as well at Universal Field Supplies. On their site, you will find contact information plus a downloadable catalogue of predominantly field-related products for forestry-related professionals; However, on a few pages, you will see the all-weather paper, pen and pencil options.  

For my writing, I have tried out a pocket-sized Notebook No.135. The size of a typical memo pad with a flip up cover, it withstands moisture and provides a substantial, lined, writing surface for those creative thoughts you want to record.

There is also a Rite in the Rain All-Weather No.37 black ink pen. This ball-point pen writes smoothly on wet paper without blurring and smudging on the damp surface.

The pen functions at all angles, even when slanted upside down. This is good news for anyone who has tried to write in the latter direction with a once-popular brand of pen.

Both Rite in the Rain All-Weather products work well despite inclement conditions of moisture and cold. On the pen packaging, the parent company in the U.S. backs up the quality of their writing instruments with a guarantee.

There is quite a range of all-weather writing paper and pens available from Rite in the Rain. 

Knowing that these products are used by people working in outdoor settings, provides quite an assurance of quality, it seems to me, as a writer. 

It is reassuring to know that I can write in all kinds of weather with Rite in the Rain paper and writing tools. Looking forward to taking these pocket sized items with me in the new year! 

• Patricia Anne McGoldrick is a Kitchener, Ontario writer whose poetry and reviews have been published in the Christian Science Monitor, The WM Review Connection and, of late, at Chapter and Verse.ca, a review of the award-winning Plain Kate. Patricia is a member of The Ontario Poetry Society and the League of Canadian Poets. For more information, visit her website or her blog.