Archive for October, 2006
Posted by derrick on
October 31, 2006
High weathered walls which fend off the tide
Cradle the wind
to my island
-king crimson
Now we all know that the moon landing on July 20th, 1969 never happened and was actually filmed in a hanger at area 51 in Roswell New Mexico. It has also been rumored that the first all female circumnavigation of Tasmania also may have never happened but was actually filmed in New Zealand in a small tin shed in Paul Caffyn’s back yard. Of course if you don’t buy into conspiracy theories you may want to pick up the December 2006 copy of Seakayaker Magazine. In it Justine Curgenven offers an an exciting narrative laced with wicked wind and waves. Then there’s that bit where she tells Gemma to “let go”. . .
Read more at Cackletv.com
See Photos
Happy Halloween!
Posted by derrick on
October 30, 2006
Remember what the dormouse said,
Feed your head!
-Jefferson airplane
So, last week I got this pretty card from Gail at
Living Adventure near Bayfield, Wisconsin. I say Gail, because she’s the one who takes off all winter to suffer the heat of the Yucatan while leaving her poor husband Grant to shovel snow and answer the bi-monthly winter phone call. No, I’m just making that up. Maybe he gets to go along once in awhile.

In the summer Living Adventures is charged with organizing the
Inland Sea Symposium in Bayfield meanwhile offering some fantastic guided tours of the Apostle islands. (Hey, their guides do the cooking. . .) Then each year about the first of January it’s off to the Yucatan with a variety of vacation packages designed to help you get your head together while surrounded by warm tropical breezes. Yeah, life is tough all over! Each package offers plenty of opportunities to paddle as you would guess. But they leave you plenty of time to swim, explore, or just lay around on the beach while muching fresh fruit and sipping hibiscus tea.
This year Living Adventure is offering a Mayan exploration trip which will give you the chance to explore some of the magnificent archaeological sites on the Yucatan and include a side trip to the "cenotes", which are beautiful underground fresh water pools that were once sacred to the Mayan people. They will also be offering an "Art/Adventure Series". So for those times when you’re out of your kayak you can explore your more artistic side through a variety of workshops. Both American and local artists with be on hand to share ideas and techniques. - More Details
Posted by derrick on
October 29, 2006
Down in the mall
I’ll be your man
We’ll go shopping , babe
It’s something we can stand
Down in the mall
We will abide
Up on the escalator
Darling, we will ride
-zevon
One nice thing about TV and shopping malls is that they keep people out of the pool! I have to admit I’ve been shocked to see no more than a few people even on a Saturday. Amazing. In the end that means I get a giant square indoor lake all to myself.
Finally got my norsaq rolls starting to work regulary on my “off” side. Something to celebrate for sure. On the other hand after 4 hours of constant rolling practice yesterday my old hide is feeling over taxed. It’s begging me to lay around the house all day and watch TV. . . . or maybe do something slightly more energetic and go to the mall.
Posted by derrick on
October 28, 2006
Some days I have such great plans. I wake up and tear into the day. Others days I wonder why I bother. Some days I just sit and stare at the ground. Occasionally I learn something important.
Posted by derrick on
October 27, 2006
Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace…
-lennon
I suppose it’s a good time for a preface. Gordon Brown is one of the most well respected and knowledgeable Sea kayaking coaches in the world. This is why when Gordon speaks, the sea kayak world listens. (Gordon, if you’re reading this, how’d you like that build up!??)
As most of us know by now GB started a bit of a fire in the traditional kayaking world during a recent podcast interview with Simon Willis by saying in reference to his new book, “Sea Kayak”:
Posted by derrick on
October 26, 2006

Come here mama….and dig this crazy scene
He’s not too fancy….but his line is pretty clean
He ain’t no drag.
Papa’s got a brand new bag
- james brown
So this is my tow bag. Certainly NOT brand new, it’s an old pink
North Water. (yep it was red once). I used to have a carabineer on it but after some discussion with a coach much more experienced than I, I changed it out for a smaller clip. In fact this came in really handy once when I towed a rowboat full of teenage girls into shore after they had partially sunk their boat. A carabineer would not have fit in the metal clip on the row boat. However since then I had another kayaking Super-being explain how he saw a clip shake loose and lose a kayak in a double tow. He prefers carabineers. Go Figure. Thus the phrase, “Do what works for you”.

Posted by derrick on
October 25, 2006

This is your life, this new life has begun
It’s your day - a woman’s day
It’s your day - a woman’s day
- Peter Gabriel
I was told recently KW was like the People Magazine of kayaking. I’m not sure that’s a complement. Steve Martin once referred to “People” as “Screw-Up-Your-Life Magazine”. Oh Well, I better start spreading some gossip then. . . So here it is. . .
Rumor has it that Freya Hoffmeister is now working with Rockpool kayaks on the development of two new Greenlandic style fiberglass kayaks! Can you imagine something strangely like her Waterfield Qaanaaq SS with a funky Rockpool paint job?? The rumored new kayaks will be take aparts, so easily shipped to the US. . That means all of us poor saps who could not get our hands on a Waterfield will have another choice! So now if you cold just top it off with Freya’s own signature model Reed Tuiliks . . . Hmmm. Now I wonder how my own top secret half-tuilik sketches will fit into all this??