Archive for September, 2006
desolate and honest

You just crush yourself and walk away
I don’t care what the future holds
Cause I’m right here and I’m today
With your fingers you can touch me
-thom york
hail of gunfire

I’m the innocent bystander
Somehow I got stuck
Between the rock and the hard place
And I’m down on my luck
Send lawyers, guns and money…
- zevon
Earlier this year the Coast Guard started their training exercises with their shiny new .30 caliber machine guns. Kayakers and recreational boaters shouldn’t feel ill at ease however since they assure us there are safety measures in place to protect near by boaters. Warnings are broadcast on maritime frequencies before the exercises, and the they will have boats monitoring traffic in the area. Besides they say, “we’re only talking about a couple of times a year, a couple hours a day.” Hmmm, just another reason to buy that VHF. And maybe and extra large flack jacket to go over your PFD.
Where will sea kayaking go next?

Im learning to fly but I aint got wings
Comin down is the hardest thing
Im learning to fly around the clouds
But what goes up must come down
-t. petty
The NDK Dealers Meet was set up by Nigel Dennis to allow him to invite any company that sells NDK around the world to come and see what the kayaks were designed for. It is also a good opportunity to show off new developments and get feedback on what the customers want. The Romany Surf is now in production and watch this space for more photographs of the new design. I will be writing a full report on the week once we have all recovered!
After last nights traditional Irish band and many pints of bitter we are going through new website developments before heading out to Harry Furlong tidal race. With force 8 in the forecast there should be lots more entertainment on the way.
Simon Osborne
NDK Sponsored Paddler
dreamer’s ball

Oh take me take me take me
To the dreamer’s ball
I’ll be right on time and I’ll dress so fine
You’re gonna love me when you see me
I won’t have to worry
Take me take me
Promise not to wake me ’till it’s morning
It’s all been true
-queen
At this time I have an ACA L2 and just could not get up the energy to drive to the great white north to try for my L3. As you know, here in the Midwest it can be a challenge to find an ACA IT near by.
To be fair though my heart is with the BCU. I’ve always felt better with my experiences in BCU training. Not of course to say one group or the other is particularly better, but one or the other my better fit each paddler’s needs and personality.
One of the things I’d always really enjoyed about the BCU is that under most conditions if you know a paddlers certification level, you have a pretty good understanding of their skill. Of course that’s not always the case, but good enough that many outfitters are comfortable using BCU certification levels to qualify paddlers for trips. The ACA to this point has not run a certification program for paddlers, just coaches. Although that may change.
I’ve also heard on the wind that the BCU may soon be making new in roads into our part of the Great Lakes region very soon which will make a BCU cert a bit more relevant in Wisconsin. So that puts a bit more of a rush on if I want to take part.
So as it stands I have my BCU 4* paddler cert along with the ACA Coach 2. So I asked our favorite Midwest BCU Super Hero what to do next. His first question. . “Do you have a BCU 3*?” . . “ah, well, no. . ” I said, “but I have the 4″. Not good enough it seems. Interestingly, the BCU now requires you to have your 3* as well. Apparently there was some worry that paddlers were getting their 4* certification without being properly tested on the fundamentals of the 3* program. Surprisingly I do understand that. The 4* assessment does not require you to go through all the kayak gymnastics that the 3 star program does. It is assumed that you know them already. In fact it was my understanding that you could not just jump in at the 4* level without either having the 3* or proving you having equivalent 3* skills. Thus I could do my 4* assessment because I had a ACA coach certification. Confused yet??
Well the bottom line is that I need to go back and have my BCU 3* assessment and take a Canoe Safety course as well before I can try for my 2* coaching certification. Ok then. Two steps forward, one step back. It’s a waltz! I don’t really relish having to demo sweeps and bow rudders again, but so be it. If this is what it takes to be sure that the star program has real meaning I’m happy to go back and work on that flat-water sweep.
I wonder if I could escape 2007 with a Coach 3? Two steps in one year? Now I probably am dreaming!
YouTuesday #6 Alison Sigethy
You may remember Alison competed in Greenland this year and did quite well. You’ll find her next at the Delmarva Paddler’s Retreat October 6-8. For more information about Alison and what she’s been up to just visit her website, www.goingtogreenland.com. Did she blow that last one?? For shame!
bananaland

Work all night
On a drink of rum
Stack banana til
The morning come
Well, it’s about time to start hitting the pool for rolling practice again and I have to say I’m really inspired. I was watching Andrew’s video of Dubside and every so often I’d see a roll I thought I could do with a bit of work! Hmmmm, The dead seal thing looks interesting. . . Check out that video if you haven’t yet.
Meanwhile in another shade of black, Freya has posted her trip report from the Adventure Week Symposium sponsored by Adventurous Experiences on the Isle of Man. Looks like everyone had a great time and everyone survived. Survival is almost guaranteed as long as you keep your banana well protected . . .
aztalan

What is left of your dream?
Just the words on your stone
A man who learned how to teach
Then forgot how to learn
Oh yeah
-queen
Near by Aztalan state park is a small local historical society museum containing many artifacts of early settlers, log homes, and some native pieces. Of course these local societies have no money to truly care for the items and time is taking it’s toll on many of them. I was most saddened to find in a dark corner of a room a Native American deer skin and beaded dress on an old mannequin in a dark glass case. Without care, it won’t last. I thought about what must be in all these little museums in every little community in Wisconsin and around the country. History rotting away in dusty little well meaning museums. It seems like by our lack of funding we are taking a second plow to our land. Again, before we really know what it is we’ve discovered.
* Read More from the Wisconsin Acadamy Review
* image 4 from Aztalan State Park Archives






