Paddling Planet

Sea kayaking with SeaKayakPhoto.com: Basking sharks and castles of Loch Breachacha, Coll

noreply@blogger.com (Douglas Wilcox) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:03:14 +0000

At the mouth of Loch Breachacha two magnificent 6m basking sharks cruised past our stationary kayaks.The water was full of plankton and after cruising past each of us in turn, the sharks resumed their feeding.At the head of Loch Breachacha there are two castles. The new one was built in 1750 as a more comfortable mansion house for the MacLean chieftain. In 1773 Boswell and Johnson were guests of

Seakayak-Porthsele: South West Sea Kayak Meet - Day 1 12/06/2009

noreply@blogger.com (Richard) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:02:05 +0000

Leaving Cardiff on a sunny Friday morning Eurion and myself had high hopes for our weekend in South Devon organised by Mark following the success of last year's launch of his South West Sea Kayaking book.The further we drove south though the worse the weather got and on arrival at the campsite at East Prawle visibility was down to about 100 yards and it was raining, marvellous!After sitting in

Havskajak: Kvälls- och prova på paddling

noreply@blogger.com (lars kristian) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:02:00 +0000

Igår var det prova på paddling och ikväll kvällspaddling.

Kvällssol, varmt (vissa ville nog kalla det kvalmigt), massor av folk på vattnet (segelbåtar, motobåtar, vattenskotrar, bråttompaddlare, kanadensarepaddlare och paddlare i havskajak).

Ända negativa man kan komma på är myggen, Uppsala har invaderats av myggor, nere vid kanothuset är det ett rent h......, men även innne i stan dyker finns de i mängder.

Paddlade Skim igår, alla kallar den för getingen, och Streamliner idag. Att ligga på vågen bakom motorbåtar med Streamlinern är kul, bra respons i Smarttrackrodret gör att man kan hålla sig kvar.

"Kayaking Dreamin": Jeffrey Cove"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:40:59 +0000

By Newfounland cove naming standards it is indeed a tame name....Alison and Tony enjoying everything kayaking and sun......

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Maggoty Cove"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:35:25 +0000

Peter and Tony entering MAggoty Cove...

One can only wonder......about the name that is...

"Kayaking Dreamin": "What A Day"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:21:21 +0000

Tony effortlessly gliding down the side of Sound Island.

SimonWillis.net: Kayak to Faroes - 5 pm coversation

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:02:28 +0000

Just recorded phone call with Mick and Patrick.They estimate 45 nm to go but their progress is down to 2kn due to unforecast wind. As we spoke they were inside their sleep system, sheltering from a F5-6 wind which was making them rather wet.Both sound very tired to me. Patrick reckons the muscles ache a bit but he's prone to understatement! I've told them how many people around the world are

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Garden Cove"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:32:20 +0000

July 1st Canada Day paddle put-in. I actually think this should be a KNL annual event for sure.

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Stern Ender"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:30:27 +0000

Crossing from Garden Cove to Sound Island an over the shoulder shot, ya never know who may be lurking behind.lol

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Leaving Garden Cove"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:28:07 +0000

The beginning of our July 1st Canda celebration of paddling life with Peter, Tony and Alison. What a day, what a paddle....what a life......as you all who paddle well know!

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Sound Island Bound"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:23:26 +0000

Alison up to full speed with North Shore in the distance.

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Alison and A Stack"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:14:25 +0000

Well she made me pose for one so I thought she'd return the favor....she did.lol

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Back Cove Cabin"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:12:10 +0000

A Typical summer day. Just happens to be in Newfoundland for a change. lol This Spring has been spectacular. If this was all summer had to offer thus far I would be grateful.

"Kayaking Dreamin": "What A Day For A Swim"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:09:53 +0000

Alison said the water was cool but refreshing. I'll take your word on that! Tony said his dip was cool as well, I deleted that picture Tony..lol

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Back Cove, Newfoundland"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:07:55 +0000

Back Cove was our lucnh break on our Canda Day sojourn. What a soft landing. Not use to this on many of our outings. Woody Island is a resettled Island there use to be about five thousand or so soles living here during the robust fishing days but I'm not going to spin that spun out tale. People move on and now the Island offers many a get-a-way from the mainstream life on the mainland. Intersting cabins and homes on the Island as well.

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Just Because....."

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:02:49 +0000

I'll just take this Little Island.......

This nice little kayak here.....

and be on my way.......

"Kayaking Dreamin": "I Dunno...."

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:58:22 +0000

Playing with the sun.

SimonWillis.net: Kayak to Faroes 3pm update

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:50:48 +0000

Murdo Campbell makes then 28 nautical miles to destination.

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Dido Tony!"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:46:32 +0000

Back at ya. lol

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Sound Island"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:44:47 +0000

Not a noisey Island at all. In fact we were probably the gist of the noise on this day as we did not share the water with any humans at least. Lots of wildlife though which I will post about tomorrow.

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Resting"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:41:47 +0000

Peter taking a small break with Sugarloaf Islet in the background looking south out Placentia Bay at the south west corner of Woody Island.

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Woody Island West"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:37:40 +0000

Rounding Woody Island on July 1st, 2009.

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Temporary Take-out"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:36:33 +0000

Rattling Brook.

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Rain Forest In Newfoundland?"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:35:33 +0000

To answer that often asked question, Does Newfoundland have a rain forest? We have a forest and we have rain, except for today! Our boats are resting in our rainless forest under our treed canopy. Oh glory days at Rattling Brook.

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Rattling Brook Pool"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:14:29 +0000

Upper Rattling Brook Pool a nice warm dip on July 1st.

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Happy Canada Day"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:09:34 +0000

It might look like Peter is in a birthday suit but not really. I know one thing for sure......this picture tells the whole story of what our whole paddle was pretty much like today. Rattling Brook north of Pearce Head providing a welcomed cooling oppotunity from the days long and hot paddle. We basked and swam in the sun here for about 40 mins enjoying the freedom and solitude of a warm NEwfoundland summer's day with Woody Island in the distance.

Sea Paddler

noreply@blogger.com (seapaddler) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:06:31 +0000

Classic Nordkapp

Although the Nordkapp HM has lost some of its popularity over the years, as a wider range of sea kayaks have come onto the market, it still has a band of enthusiastic followers and it has to be said that its design is still one of the most beautiful which is available.

The design made its first appearance in the early to mid 1970's and was used on the 1975 Nordkapp expedition, which involved paddlers such as Colin Mortlock and Sam Cook. For many sea kayakers the HM version was the ultimate paddling machine. HM stands for "Hatches and Modified Hull". Fast through the water it holds a straight line but is a real challenge to turn. If there are any waves then it can turn into quite a wet ride, the "Nordkapp plunging bow" is a recognised phenomena. The restricted buoyancy at the front of the kayak means that it frequently plunges into waves which are being met head on. In addition numerous sea kayakers have lost their dignity over the years as they have struggled in and out of the ocean cockpit and I don't think that it is just old age which is encouraging paddlers into kayaks with larger cockpits.

A rather grainy scanned photograph of my Nordkapp going around Nordkapp on a beautifully calm day in August 1986.

Two Nordkapp HM's at St Brelades. The red one is the same craft that was pictured 23 years earlier off northern Norway.

What is certain about the Nordkapp HM is that it will always a be a sea kayak that attracts admiring looks from both experienced kayakers and non paddlers.

SimonWillis.net: Kayak to Faroes - 50 nautical miles to go

noreply@blogger.com (Simon) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:05:29 +0000

I've not heard from Mick and Patrick, but I have heard from Murdo Campbell, cox of the Stormoway RNLI lifeboat.Based on their Spot transmitter, he plots their position as 45-50 nautical miles off Sumba, as of 11am.That's still a heck of a way to go, especially at their most tired and as the tide becomes most difficult. However, the weather forecasts look in their favour.They expected the

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Rainbow Sorrier"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:52:47 +0000

Well this ribbed remnant of a small fishing boat sits grounded on the shores of Plancentia Bay which during this paddle, up this small stream, felt more like being on a lake than a salt water bay. Sorry looking now, however I am sure this vessel was pride to someone in it's hay day.

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Ray Absorption"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:43:03 +0000

Kind of hard not to soak in the sun's rays as Alsion and Peter exit Bob Sprier's Cove.

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Hugging Big Head Newfoundland"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:39:26 +0000

The Big Head Hug, nothing like a long hug on a hot summmer's day, especially on Canada Day. Happy Birthday Canada!

Kayak de mer : Le kayak blog d'oli: Forum kayak de mer Kersaliou 2009 : La vidéo

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:39:26 +0000

On l’attendait avec impatience et la voilà, toute fraiche sortie du studio de Gruuz Production, la vidéo récapitulative du forum de kayak de mer de Kersaliou organisé par kayakdemer.eu qui s’est tenu à coté de Saint-Pol-de-Léon début juin 2009.
Philippe a travaillé dur en collectant les images de différentes sources et a réalisé cette compilation très très sympathique.
J’y ai découvert des choses car on ne peut pas être partout à la foi. Je vois aussi que le foulard sur la tête ne me va pas si mal, je ne trouvais plus mon chapeau …

Merci à Philippe pour cette vidéo

"Kayaking Dreamin": "Canon Hills"

stanmac@nl.rogers.com (Stan Mac Kenzie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:36:56 +0000

Crossing the Tickle from main land NFLD at Big Head overt to Bloody Point on Sound Island and then on to our take out at Garden Cove. What a day to be alive and be paddling. One of the best Canada Days' for me in a long while. Thanks again Peter for organizing and of course Alison, Tony and Peter for the superb company.

KayakQuixotica.com: across the tracks

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:09:28 +0000

The folks on the northwest coast always warn you that when the sky is dark and gray for days you simply have to get out and stay active. So yesterday under the pressured, claustrophobic squeeze of heavy clouds I drug everyone along to explore another section of the 400 Trail. Of course the problem with me and clouds is my perspective get's a big ah, filtered...

QajaqUnderground: Day 162-166, Sunday-Thursday, 28.06.-02.07.2009

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:01:03 +0000

The new kayak and I are ready to go! The boat is customized to my needs and sealed, the gear is cleaned and repacked and my skin is healed (well enough) to get going again on the long haul down to Perth. I'm launching tomorrow from the same spot where I landed before my break. ...

kajaknördar: Agfa DC600UW - vattentät kamera

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:25:02 +0000

Agfaphoto DC600uw heter en ny vattentät kamera, denna gången är det Agfa som ligger bakom. Jag trodde faktiskt att Agfa var nedlagt och igenbommat sen länge, men på nåt vis finns märket kvar i alla fall.

Agfa har lyckats hålla sig lite när det gäller antalet pixlar och inte ryckts med i den allmänna pixelhysterin, kameran har 6 megapixels. Den har heller inget zoomobjektiv vilket skulle kunnat ge ett skarpt och i övrigt bra objektiv eftersom det är lättare att göra ett objektiv med fast brännvidd än en zoom. Tyvärr har den inte autofokus utan bara fixfokus vilket känns så där skojigt. Nu är det förvisso väldigt stort skärpedjup eftersom det är liten bildsensor och därmed kort brännvidd, men ändå…

Objektivets bildvinkel motsvarar 36mm på småbildsformatet.

Måtten är 87×161x225mm och den väger 131 gram. Materialet är enligt Agfa “high-end plastic” så det så.

Kamerans baksida är relativt ren, med inte alltför många knappar. En stor röd knapp är i alla fall för att snabbt och enkelt komma in i undervattensläget. Känns som en väldigt enkel digitalkompakt som dock är vattentät ner till 10 meters djup. Den lär säkert ge bildkvalitet som är “bra nog” för väldigt många.

www.agfaphoto.com

Liknande:

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Pentax W80 ny vattentät kamera [caption id="attachment_5660" align="aligncenter" width="800" caption="Pentax Optio W80 finns i tre...
Tre vattentäta kameror [caption id="attachment_5185" align="aligncenter" width="800" caption="Panasonic exponerar bra i de flesta...

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North-west Atlantic: Seaward Quest for Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:15:26 +0000

Its the Seaward Quest. The same exact kayak on the cover of these two mags. The kayak was owned by Richard Alexander(Pres of Paddle Canada) at the time these covers were shot. Colours are the same with blue and blue/green trim, white hull. The kayak has rudder, pro neoprene spray deck, built-in on-deck marine compass, a kevlar keel/bow guard and an internal footpump. Price $1900.

KiwiBird's Adventures: Spare me...

noreply@blogger.com (Kristen) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:11:07 +0000

Entirely unrelated to kayaking, but somewhat with the great outdoors and everything "Kiwi-like", I can't resist revealing this fabulous air safety video from Air New Zealand cabin crew.

Thanks to Dana for bringing it to my attention.

KayaKey: El ataque de los clones

DoctorKey@gmail.com (Key) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:29:03 +0000

Aun sin poder haber estrenado mi nuevo juguete, he estado investigando las leyendas urbanas acerca de si tal marca es fabricada por tal otra y tal y cual. En concreto, la que decía que las Nishiki son fabricadas por Dahon. Lo mejor es ver unas fotos.

Mi Nishiki. En la foto no se aprecia, pero en la web dice que lleva cambio interno de 5 velocidades y la mia lleva 7.

Y dos versiones de la Dahon Impulse D7, con cambio externo.

¿Quién fabrica el cuadro? ¿Es la bici el cuadro? ¿Y los acabados?

Si las ruedas son las que quieras.

Los cambios, frenos, etc vienen todos de 2 marcas mayoritariamente.

Y la persona viene aparte.

¿Dónde está el valor añadido de una bici?

Kajakklúbburinn Kaj: Hringfarar

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:47:44 +0000

Gaman að segja frá því að Gísli Friðgeirsson er nú á Húsavík og hefur verið mjög heppinn með veður á ferð sinni umhverfis Ísland og því gengið mjög vel. Margaret frá New York fór fyrir þremur dögum frá Ísafirði og ætti því að vera við Strandir núna. SPOT staðsetningartækið er mikið öryggistæki og hefur sýnt sig að er að virka vel, á myndinni má sjá síðasta legg hjá Gísla, frá Eyjafirði á Húsavík.

silbs says

noreply@blogger.com (Silbs) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:19:36 +0000

Sometimes I sits and Thinks...

...Sometimes I just thinks. It's about knowing when to slow down, when to "drop out" and smell the roses. It's about taking time to take inventory and actually see, really see, with your soul the world around you and all its blessings. Okay, the feel-good cliche festival ends, but I remain in a mellow mood.

After two nights of bad insomnia (cause unknown), I got 12 hours of sleep last night before waking to the wonderful sounds that only a 2+month-old grand daughter can make. My grandson and his mother are due into Milwaukee in a few hours. Sun in law #2 is due tomorrow. My house, like my life, will be full of wonderful gifts. Suddenly, I feel great, relaxed, in the flow, bliss...okay, a few more cliches. Life is good. Kayaking is wonderful and there is so much more.

So, I sits and take it all in and feel gratitude. I don't know who wrote it, but it must have been a wise person: A poor life this when full of care I have no time to sit and stare.

Paddle safe...
DS

KayakQuixotica.com: Twitter Digest – 2009-07-01

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Kayak Skill of the Week…The Petrussen Maneuver – http://tinyurl.com/mt84hu 07:06:09

CASKA: Chicago Area Sea Kayakers Association: PADDLING DADS SUCCUMB TO CRIB-O-MANIA ON CHICAGO LAKESHORE PADDLE

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:56:23 +0000

At 6:30 a.m. on Father''s Day (and the Solstice day) four dads--Bill Burton, Richard Stiers, Haris Subacius and I--assembled on 63d Street Beach. Were we there to spend Father's Day on the beach with our loving families? Of course not. We were all gripped by Crib-O-Mania. It was a day for paddling

63d Street Beach at Launch

I hold noted local paddler Jim Tibensky largely responsible for Crib-O-Mania. There are four large water intake cribs dotted between two and four miles off the shore of Chicago's lakefront. Local paddlers like to paddle out to the cribs (and back). It is a nice open-water paddling experience and the cribs are interesting to look at and attract plenty of birds.

Wilson Street Crib

A few years ago several of us, including Paul Doughty and I believe Bill Burton, paddled the four cribs one way, from Wilson Street Crib at the north past Harrison/Dever Crib and Four Mile crib down to 68th Street Crib at the south, landing at 63d Street Beach, where we had shuttled our cars. The trip was about 18 miles. We thought we were real paddling studs, and posted a report to that effect to the 400 paddlers on the CASKA Yahoo Group.

Jim responded to the news with his own post in which he revealed that when he did his four cribs trips he avoided the hassle of a shuttle by going around the four cribs and then returning to his launch site, which took the total mileage up to over 30 miles. While Jim's post did not detract from what was a fun trip, it did deflate at least one ego--mine. For the next several years I always wanted to do a "true" four cribs trip Jim Tibensky style. Weather, other paddles, and even a camping trip with Jim himself got in the way of that trip.

This Father's Day I was ready. I'm not sure what motivated Richard, Bill and Haris to show up, but I believe they were all aware of Jim's approach to a four cribs trip and wanted to match it. Haris, mischievous person that he is, had even pointed out to us the possibility of a five cribs trip that would include the Hammond, Indiana Crib. A five cribs trip would run over 40 miles. We didn't know if Jim had done the five cribs trip, but we weren't about to tip him off to the remote chance that some or all of us would be attempting a five cribs trip this year.

Bill Burton (where's your tuliq Bub?)

The conditions were near perfect this Father's Day. Winds were light, waves were slight and the clouds shielded us from the son. The water temperature was about 60 degrees and the air temperature was in the low 70s on the water.

We pushed off about 7:30 a.m., after our safety check, and sailed out to 68th Street Crib at a nice 4.5 mph clip. Along the way we spotted three white swans on the lake, which we took to be an excellent omen.

We took a short break at 68th Street Crib. This set the pattern for the day. We usually paddled steadily between the cribs and then took a short break upon arrival at each one. This meant that we never paddled more than two hours without a break. At the same time, the prospect of a break at the next crib helped motivate us to push ahead.

There was sufficient haze that we often could not see the next crib when we started paddling after a break. These conditions allowed our eyes (and minds) to be subject to all sort of visual tricks as we stared intently ahead looking for the next crib. "There it is" was often as not followed by "Oops, must have been a sailboat." We were well equipped with GPS units and compasses so in no real danger of getting lost, however.

Three Dads and Skyline

We pushed north from 68th Street Crib to Four Mile Crib, which, as its name suggests, is well out in the lake. This stretch is the farthest from shore and has the least boat traffic. It is an exquisite pleasure to be fresh, in a relatively tiny boat and miles from shore cruising along on a soft sea.

The skyline was wrapped in haze as we visited Four Mile Crib and then Harrison/Dever Crib. Richard and Haris recounted their recent encounter with law enforcement officials who had ticketed them for approaching too close to a crib. Richard's ticket even cited him for excessive speed and kicking up too high a wake, something that I hope he takes as a reflection of his paddling prowess. Indeed, during the trip Haris and I marveled how a guy who paddles with bent arms and not a lot of evident torso rotation can go so darn fast.

Harrison/Dever Crib

A long paddle provides an opportunity for plenty of conversation and plenty of solitude. As we paddled we checked in with each other, covering the usual topics of work, family, paddling trips and gear. During a paddle these conversations are pleasant diversions, but they also have a more practical purpose. We depend on each other out of the water, and conversation is a way to check in with the group and check out the condition of the paddlers upon which you rely for a safe trip.

The wind shifted to the north as we paddled from Harrison/Dever Crib up to Wilson Crib, the half-way point for a four cribs trip. At Wilson Crib we made a decision that signaled larger ambitions. We decided to turn around and push south back to Harrison/Dever Crib before taking our lunch break. This allowed us to take advantage of a slight following wind and seas. It also put our lunch break at the half-way point of a five cribs trip. There is some psychological advantage to taking your lunch break at or beyond the half-way point of an extended paddle.

The paddle from Wilson Crib to Harrison/Dever Crib was my favorite stretch. With the wind and waves favoring us we could keep our 4 mph pace with a 2 mph effort. It felt like we were skimming over rather than pushing through the water. Harrison/Dever Crib appeared out of the mist in no time. A couple of us got out of our boats during lunch and that was a welcome break.

After lunch we entered into what I think of as the trance time of an extended paddle. This is when your body is getting tired, your mind is weary, and conversation with your fellow paddlers has started to lag. Nothings matters but paddling. One stroke follows another automatically and without thought. The mind empties and the eyes open.

Tom Bamonte with paddling sombrero

Between Four Mile Crib and 68th Street Crib there are some shoals marked by three buoys. Haris and Bill looped off to explore them. We had visited them on a cribs trip last year and they are well worth the trip, shelves of rock bulging up from the depths. However, by then my goal was to make our next destination with the minimum number of strokes, which meant paddling on a straight line.

We met up at 68th Street Crib. It was decision time. Richard, good human being that he is, opted to paddle back to 63d Street Beach so he could celebrate Father's Day. Bill used his cellphone to try to reach his family and call off his festivities so he could join Haris and I in paddling on to Hammond Crib and back, completing a five cribs trip. He couldn't reach anyone so he joined Richard. Both of them were still full of energy and it would have been great to have had them along for this last stretch of a five cribs trip.

Richard Stiers impersonates the Energizer Bunny After 30+ Miles of Paddling

Haris and I burned with ambition to complete a cribs trip that was longer than a Tibensky-style four cribs trip. We had a nice paddle south through the entrance to the breakwater around Calumet Park into the industrial zone at the bottom of Lake Michigan.

Haris Subacius near Hammond

We didn't know exactly where Hammond Crib was located and spent a lot of time and mental energy trying to discern the Crib from this industrial backdrop. Finally, we found the Crib in the distance. From that moment the crib started to play that irritating game often played on tired paddlers of retreating at a pace close to ours. It seemed to take forever to make the Crib. Once we got there we found it to be a scraggly version of a crib.

Hammond Crib With Scraggly Paddler

On the trip back we debated whether we had to return to 68th Street Crib to complete a "true" five cribs trip or whether we could angle back to our launch site. We opted to return to 68th Street Crib so, in Haris' words, we could have an exclamation point rather than an asterisk next to our names in the CASKA Hall of Fame. Obviously, we were hallucinating at this point.

Haris Subacius Near Trip's End

We circled around 68th Street Crib and headed back to the beach. By now the water was starting to feel like molasses and we were tired. Nevertheless, we kept up a decent pace, arriving back to 63d Street Beach about 7:45 p.m., having covering over 43 miles.

68th Street Crib--Last Crib Stop on a Long Day

What a great Father's Day. All of us had established personal bests in terms of distance paddled in a day. We kept up a nice steady pace, took care of ourselves on the water, and ended our paddle tired but not ill, injured or even unusually grumpy.

When I got home I emailed Jim Tibensky to find out if he had done the five cribs trip before. I let out an involuntary whoop when his reply arrived and he said he wasn't even aware of the Hammond Crib. He also said that when he did his four cribs trips he typically would circle the four cribs and then angle back to his launch point. This meant that our four cribs trip likely covered a bit more distance than Jim's typical trip because we visited each crib twice. Another whoop.

Hopefully, Jim will be flattered that we viewed one of his many paddling accomplishments as our benchmark. After all, a good mentor is one that inspires others to stretch themselves.

Speaking of stretching, there is a sixth crib along the Chicago lake shore. It is a submerged crib located offshore at about the Evanston lighthouse. Next up for some paddling knuckleheads is a 60 odd mile six crib circumnavigation trip. I'll be happy to leave that trip to another set of paddlers who find themselves in the grip of Crib-o-Mania.

Our Route

Photos: Richard Stiers (mostly)

GPS Plot: Haris Subacius

Text: Tom Bamonte

Kayak Yak: Canada Day on the Gorge

noreply@blogger.com (John Herbert) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:01:00 +0000

Happy Birthday to us -- we're a spry 142 years young today!

Paula, Louise and I put in at the Victoria Canoe and Kayak Club to enjoy a leisurely kayak down the Gorge. Every Canada Day, this section of Gorge Road is closed to traffic for the annual Gorge Canada Day Picnic and the street turns into a 1.5 km long block party.
We put in just as the small parade passed us to start the day's festivities. First Nations drummers were followed by bag pipers, a few small floats, and a couple of fire trucks blasting their horns and setting off their sirens brought up the rear.

All of the noise didn't bother this heron, who was much more intent on finding some breakfast.

I paddled over to look at Iron Man, a sculpture watching over The Gorge on a nearby dock. He's dressed up in Christmas lights and he's lit up every night.
I wonder the if the artist is a Dan Simmons fan. The Shrike, from Hyperion...?

As we headed up The Gorge, we could see from the crowds that the party was in full swing. Thousands of people had descended on the area, and they all seemed to be trying to park in front of my house.

At the far end of The Gorge, small stages were set up for musical acts. Food vendors, artists and artisans were also displaying and selling their wares like a giant one-day farmer's market.

Even the geese were enjoying the day, although they are under the mistaken impression that the holiday is called Canada Goose Day.

We ducked under the bridge into Portage Inlet where we finally saw these year's batch of baby swans.

We puttered around the Inlet for a while...

...then headed back and passed the swans again.

As we kayaked back down The Gorge, some unseen force was tempting me, urging me to get out of my kayak and walk among the crowds.

And so we did.

After all, what could be more Canadian than catching a little hockey?

Trip length: 7.22 km
YTD: 147.36
More pictures are here.
The Google Earth kmz is here.

Kayak Yak: Canada Day Paddle 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Lou) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:10:00 +0000

John and I got up at our usual kayaking time of 7am to partake of a Canada Day paddle with Paula on the Gorge Waterway.

As we were preparing to launch John spotted a heron and was the first on the water to capture photos. I followed with Paula and got one with the Canada Day parade in the background.

Besides having a Canada Day paddle, John wanted to show his patriotic streak by displaying his Canadian kayak and flag

Here's Paula checking out the Canada Day celebration along the Gorge which we took in on foot after our paddle.

I captured my own patriotic photo -- Canada geese parading past a Canadian flag.

John in his Canadian (B.C.) made Delta kayak with his Canadian flag.

HAPPY CANADA DAY EVERYONE FROM THE FOLKS AT KAYAKYAK!!

frogma: Getting in the swim!

noreply@blogger.com (bonnie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:58:00 +0000

In honor of Tugster Will's Swim Day on the Net, I would like to share a few pictures from one of my favorite swimmin' holes in the whole wide world.

Ladies and gentlemen, Hanauma Bay:

Me, possibly even happier than I get in a kayak or a sailboat. I LOVE snorkeling, and TQ was the one who took my picture. What's better than snorkeling in Hanauma Bay? Snorkeling in Hanauma Bay with him. I honestly don't know if I ever would've taken up paddling if I'd ended up back in Hawaii - kayaking was a means to an end for me, and the end was just plain being on the water.

Uhu, or parrotfish. This one is having lunch. They're called parrotfish both because of their beautiful coloration and because their teeth are fused into a hard beak, with which they literally chew on coral. The coral polyps are digested; the ground-up coral goes through the fish and comes out as sand.

A fish of many names - people call it trevally, crevalle, but in Hawaii, it's the ulua.

A pair of Achilles' tang (orange spot by the tail), a couple of butterflyfish (ornate, I think) and I think that's a filefish that's alone & behind one of the tang.

I'd actually planned to share the story of how getting competitive with a squad of Marines at one of the on-base pool finally cured me of my attachment to my "bubble" swimming aid, way way back in "small-kid time", but it was yet another long long long day at work & I got home pooped & still needing to pack (heading off to see TQ for the holiday weekend). I hope this glimpse of one of my favorite places in the world to swim will suffice!

Kayaking on the Rocks: Paradise

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:49:18 +0000

I’ve finally dusted off the sea kayak; it’s not been out to play since paddling to Lundy back in September. Oh dear. But I feel that I’ve more than made up for it. I have discovered a little corner of home grown paradise. That’s right, I’ve been to the Isles of Scilly….

The bluest blue, north coast of St. Martins. Photo by Mark Rainsley.

The short few days on the Scillies were enough for me to fall in love with those rocks on the edge of the Atlantic. There is an air of tranquil romance about the place; an idyllic hush merges with the deep blue sea and white sands, all sprinkled with the riotous colour of flowers. Being able to dip in and out of the many islands by sea kayak is just the icing on the cake. Even my sea sickness and the very exciting* crossing back to St. Mary’s to catch the ferry didn’t dampen my spirits and my promise to return.

Unlucky for you guys, the Isles of Scilly is yet another granite. All my kayaking appears to be granite themed at the moment. I must diversify!

The Scilly granite is an outcrop of a large batholith that joins all the Devon and Cornwall granites at depth; it’s just a smaller sibling of Land’s End, Bodmin and Dartmoor (but not Lundy). This granite mass is related to the ending of the Variscan Orogeny. The Variscan Orogeny is a mountain building event caused by the collision of Gondwana (S. America, Africa, Antarctica and Australia) and Laurentia (N. America) that occurred during the Carboniferous and created the super-continent Pangaea.

The heat generated from the granite and the movement of hot fluids through fractures and fissures resulted in Cornwall being a historically important mining location for tin (cassiterite), copper, lead, zinc and silver. In addition, the degradation (it literally rots in water) of the granitic feldspar to kaolinite is also important for the extraction of China Clay. China Clay doesn’t just make china, it even goes in toothpaste and makes paper smooth. It also provided the hole-in-the-ground for the Eden Project.

I’m not sure what happened to taking any kayaking photos; I appear to have gone flower crazy. But there are lots more photos here…

*think big cross swell and white horses breaking over the deck

The Eastern Isles

Tresco Gardens

A room with a view, St Agnes.

Salvaged ship figurehead, Tresco

Tean, I think?

Go Kayak Now!: Digital Photography Roundup of Waterproof Cameras

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:50:07 +0000

DP Review rounded up the available waterproof cameras for a thorough review. For Kayaking it is a constant question as to which unit offers the best image quality, waterproofing, and durability. In my experience I am 2 Pentax Optio’s into my digital photography career. I am considering a switch to an Olympus. Looks like the 8000 Tough Might be worthwhile.

Check out the review and let me know what you think!

Sea kayaking with SeaKayakPhoto.com: Paddling by the shifting sands of time on Coll

noreply@blogger.com (Douglas Wilcox) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:19:42 +0000

Leaving the Sound of Gunna, we entered the great sweep of Crossapol Bay at the SW end of Coll. The shifting dunes (white dunes) between here and neighbouring Feall Bay, to the north, have been designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). This magnificent dune system is one of the largest in the Inner Hebrides and is maintained by a plentiful supply of beach sand and the high average wind

Essex Explorations Journal: June Selection of Wallpapers

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:19:28 +0000

Rowing, like success, is a journey, not a destination. — Rick Clother, rowing coach, U.S. Naval Academy For July’s selection of wallpapers we focused exclusively on our recent journey to Alaska. Truth be told, we’re doing it as much for ourselves as for our readers. Please enjoy the sights from such far off places as Sumner Strait, [...]

kusthare: ... igår tisdag [30/6]

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:09:22 +0000

Igår tisdag kväll blev det en paddling från Långholmen till Alvik (stranden). Det var en hel del farkoster på vattnet så det var ett ypperligt tillfälle att trimma gruppen i att korsa farleder. Gruppen består av 9 paddlare som jag och A-id skall umgås ...

Richard Cree - Fantastic times: What the f*&k

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:33:10 +0000

Just paddling along minding my business, enjoying a lovely day on Loch Leven, when out of nowhere

This is the second one the first was probably somewhere over Fort William before i got the camera off my neck. i could almost feel my insides vibrating as the sound passed overhead.

OSKA Adventures: Anthro-something

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:55:40 +0000

She was looking haggard as she walked up the side of the highway towards me. Normally I wouldn't have thought of picking up hitchhikers but she looked at me as if to say "Please help, this isn't fun.". 2 young ones followed her doggedly.

After briefly looking around to see who was about her head dipped as she started tucking into a lush clump of grass. A proud young cowboy on his likewise proud looking horse had seen what she was up to and moved in to shoe her on. She glared at them in irritation and turned back to eating.

The horse looked at her as if she should have known better. For her part, the cow glared back and stood fast until the cowboy's boot swung out and gave her a kick in the side. She moved on with the rest of the cattle drive.

A big thanks should go to Montana Whitewater for not calling me back. As much as I would have loved to have had a whitewater lesson, their lack of interest allowed me the immense pleasure in driving the Beartooth Pass towards Cooke City and then swinging around through Wyoming desert. I loved my time on the road today more than you can imagine. Enjoy the brief video of the top of the pass.

kajaknördar: Juni och ett halvår senare

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:44:53 +0000

Många maneter på en del ställen

Hoppsan, nu har det gått en månad till och ett helt halvt år… Juni bjöd på 119 paddelkilometrar och 7 tältnätter. Inte mycket det inte, men vi har i alla fall lite frisk luft och haft det gött ute.

Valöträffen i helgen var ju supertrevlig och midsommar trots att det blev en kortis. Turen med studiebesök på Känsö var mycket intressant. Jag hann med en kort, men skön runda i Misterhult och en ännu kortare morgontripp på Almesåkrasjön.

Nu är det snart semester, vi får hoppas vi kommer ut och paddlar lite då, men det kan ju också bli så att vi bara sitter och myser utanför tältet i ett par veckor… eller kanske i soffhörnan.

Valöfyr

Tokvarmt är det i alla fall just nu, har precis varit nere och tagit ett dopp i Rössjöholmsån några hundra meter bort, mycket skönt, dock inte så djup, men tillräckligt om man ligger ner

Åskar lite en bit bort, får se om det kommer hit. Läste hos Björn Thomasson att de hade haft lokalt busväder i Lund igår och Sydsvenskan rapporterar om några som hade paddlade kanadensare från busshållplatsen. Verkar ha kommit en hel del fukt på flera ställen i skåne i går. Här skulle behövas lite så det blir lite mer vatten i ån…

Lunch på Lilla Brändö

Liknande:

Lunnamöllan och Rössjöholmsån [caption id="attachment_5744" align="aligncenter" width="800" caption="Fint att cykla längs med Rössjöholmsån"][/caption]...
Blomstervandring på Valö [caption id="attachment_5722" align="aligncenter" width="800" caption="Var är de? Och vad kan...
Valöträffen 2009 [caption id="attachment_5711" align="aligncenter" width="800" caption="Pia paddlar västerut"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_5696" align="aligncenter"...

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The Lake is the Boss: The hugging of trees

gitcheegumeeguy@gmail.com (DaveO) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:12:48 +0000

A couple of things popped up over the past couple of weeks that made me scratch my head once again. One was the big '350' formation made of over 100 kayaks at the Inland Sea Society Kayak Symposium and the other seemingly unrelated event was the relisting of the gray wolf on the Endangered Species list.

The 350 formation was one of the highlights of the symposium for many people. 350.org is a group dedicated to reducing carbon in the atmosphere to the acceptable level of 350 ppm. There are a number 'actions' have been or will be executed over the next several months to bring more public awareness to the issue. Pulling this one off was a combination of hard work and pure luck. The formation was laid out using rejected webbing that CharlyR, head of the ISS, had scrounged . Field Marshal Gail Green orchestrated the setup, 10 boats at a time, a job much akin to herding cats. The weather cooperated by not blowing up the northeast wind, a wind that RonO and I used for some fine surfing, until two hours after the formation had been completed. It went perfectly but a couple of environmental purists in the crowd questioned the use of an evil, internal combustion powered, fossil fuel burning airplane to take pictures of the event.

On the wolf front, even though all of the state and federal agencies involved as well as noted wolf researchers Rolf Peterson, David Mech, and others agree that the Great Lakes population has recovered robustly and should be delisted, a number of interest groups won a lawsuit which plopped the wolves squarely back on the Endangered Species list.

Two "environmental insiders", Mike Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus wrote and published an essay, The Death of Environmentalism in 2005 and followed it up with a book, Breakthrough: From the Death of Environmentalism to the Politics of Possibility. In a nutshell, they contend that confrontational techniques and a strategy based upon restricting growth and development just doesn't seem to strike a chord with anyone, developing nations or the industrial ones. They argue for a new kind of development, one that takes ecological, economic, and social change into account and actually has an optimistic view of the future. Instead of the politics of fear and restriction, they suggest that we need to galvanize people and institution's creativity and enterprise to meet critical environmental challenges.

In other words, maybe if we can work together on some of this stuff, rather than flaunt and revel in our perceived ideological purity, there will be some significant progress. A prime example was two very different acquaintances that attended the Renewable Energy Fair in Steven's Point the weekend of the symposium. RangerMark, a guy who walks the walk on environmental issues and doesn't even own a soapbox and my cousin Joe, a pickup owner and Harley rider who's idea of fun is restoring old Ford Mustangs. I would have to say that the boys are about 180 degrees opposite politically but both took the long drive (in fossil fuel burning vehicles....likely solo....gasp!!) to explore possible alternatives. RM is working on implementing wind power at his place of employment and Joe is planning on building a flat plate pellet mill when he retires to use biomass to heat his house. A former colleague, the ZumbroFallsImpressionist, is passionate about land use and is a Sierra Club diehard. She helped negotiate a land use issue by reaching out to Ducks Unlimited, an organization not normally spoken of in the same breath as the Sierra Club. Different people with different backgrounds and philosophies finding that there is common ground on many of these problems.

Bottom line: we need to figure out how we can work together on issues like the two mentioned above and cut the ideological crap. The people whimpering about the airplane on the 350 formation probably drove their car up to Washburn with one or two people in it. The wolf huggers would probably think differently if they had a hobby farm in wolf country or their precious purebred mutt were attacked. Get off the soapbox, reach out to someone who it NOT like you, and let's git er done. As the Duke once said, "We're burnin' daylight".

•≈ Sgian Dubh: Faroes Crossing

sgiandubhqajq@imap.cc (•≈ Sgian Dubh) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:54:21 +0000

Since I was up the way, rolling around - at 8 o'clock this evening I took a scoot up to where Patrick Winterton & Mick Berwick had camped in a wee carpark just shy of Rubha Robhanais, & took in a wee blether as they prepared for a 5am start. Mike was running around with white war paint under his eyes like a thin drawn out Adam Ant - Patrick, poking at a bowl of noodles. They seemed quite jovial & psyched. Even Simon Willis had made the journey over in his luxury camper van. Some sheep were trying to gate crash.

As Simon wondered around looking for an O2 signal, we talked Norwegian highs, circulatory currents, hydration, exertional heatstroke, orientation without horizon & the psychology in soloing to North Rona, the Hunters or St.Kilda, while the collie sprinkled holy water on each tent, van wheel & kayak. Blessings come in many forms :o)

Once you've done the boring open water bit [& thats the thing about open crossings] are you gonnea put in a speedy Faeroes circ nav? I asked expectantly - It's excellent, but I don't know of anyone else who has done it.

Patrick scratched his chin. Try to get home again I think...but the ferry only goes to Denmark now. He looked out warily at the rip forming strongly 100 mtrs offshore.

Having caught his glance, & for the sake of boosting confidence, I mischievously added: Aye, that rip is 24/7, I've seen prawners going sideways in it & back throttling. A kayak goes through like a greased egg.

Generalizing, I still think some approaches to, & reasoning behind open crossings, need more examination, maybe questioning that addresses individual motivation; especially nowadays where kayaking/climbing & the great outdoors is marketed to anyone & everyone & equipment is sold without recourse to those without apprenticeship. As access to the oceans is marketed en-vogue without commercial responsibility so the commercial causalities rise. You can walk into a store & buy the best kayak & best equipment - but you can't walk into a store & buy several bombproof rolls & a level survivalist psychology - the most important tools you can have at hand. I have in the past, had serious words with a few people who have been about to cross the Minch with little more experience in a kayak than a few days in sheltered water...one unbelievably, without a spraydeck. It's a game of commitment, not Russian roulette..

Well, there is training for an extended crossing but then there is the crossing itself - they are not the same animals. It goes without saying that I wish them luck & a safe return, but this crossing is one I'd only go at with someone like Murty maybe, as shotgun. When there is doubt - there is no doubt. It's a simple rule. I don't even know if they roll well in a squall, fully loaded, at night after no sleep & maintain spacial direction/oppo awareness?...I hope so. I hope they won't need to also. The combining seas into South Iceland can throw a tantrum anytime & account for a lot of the mad waters that encircle the Faroes. I'd imagine any problems they hit, to be creeping down into that vicinity. I shelved the 2002 Reykjavik to Nuuk solo because of those very reasons.

Still, wee itches aside, at 5am, in morning rain most likely, they will leave for the North Rona [fine soft bivi ground in contrast to the hellish Sula Bothy alternative] & Sula Sgeir stacs, & that's a day realistically, then hit the 3 day/2 night march or die session. It still seems reverse to my mind, North to South would be my preference...Anyway, the seas have been like glass all week here & the sun barely sets at the moment.
Mainly easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times, slight or moderate, haar, moderate or good, occasionally very poor....
Only an exhausted Amadan could fail - it's a very good time to go on the skin of it, maybe a day or two earlier would have been optimal, but it's still good. They make it. I left them locked in preparation on the wee slipway, happy to know that when I first arrived, I wasnae the local ghillie about to shout GET ORF MOI LAAAND!:

Out the gap turn left a bit, keep going straight on - Patrick & Mick gear up for the Faroes

Their progress can be followed live on SPOT here