Archive for October, 2006
the tassie conspiracy
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!
head trip
Feed your head!
-Jefferson airplane
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
Hmmmm. Hot sun, warm blue azure waters, fantastic food, painting, exploring Mayan ruins. . . I wonder if she needs a guide?
tv and shopping malls
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.
Lynched
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”:
“I have said quite pointedly that there is no place in modern sea kayaking for those [Greenland paddles]…The Greenlanders were a race of survivors. If and when guns came along, do you think they still used harpoons? And when outboard motors came along did they still use kayaks? And when nails came along, did they stop tying kayaks together? As sure as we are sitting here, if they had carbon fiber paddles, they would have used carbon fiber paddles…”
When I saw the sudden online firestorm rolling through QajaqUSA, I thought, “I bet neither Gordon nor Simon, were even slightly expecting this. . . ” Yep, that’s the power of our instant global communication world! One second you’re sitting nice and comfy talking to a friend and the next you’re being lynched by a bunch of strangers on the other side of the world. Ouch! Bloggers, Podcasters, and their guests may find a lesson in there that our words must be thought through, even if regularly mis-spelled.
My first thought was to re-iterate Rowland W’s assertion that one guy’s opinion is NOT the BCU opinion. The concept that the BCU is against traditional paddles is just plain silly. However, there are some silly coaches who are against traditional paddles. But that’s another story all together.
In reading what I have in the past from and about Gordon Brown, I think he’s another one of those coaches I’d sell my left shoe to get instruction from. I was curious what his take on the reaction would be. Although he has responded many times that he has a long history of using traditional paddles, I had really expected he would give a thoughtful defense or at least justification to the concept that “Greenland paddles have no place in modern sea kayaking”. It would at least be an interesting discussion.
I’m jaded. All you need do is paddle a couple days with Doug Van Doren to question such a blanket statement. Certainly Doug, Greg S. and others are intermediate to advanced sea kayakers. . no matter what Greg says.
I do realize that there are many rollers who may not have the skills to do multi-day trips on rough waters. But then, there a plenty of NDK owners with the same problem. . .
And hey, that’s not everyone’s bag anyway. If it’s an issue of materials, then we could argue there’s no place for a wood Euro either. But I can’t see an assertion like that being worth printing. Besides we’ve been seeing fast growth in traditional gear using modern materials. Superior’s Graphite paddles have been around for some time, and new traditional kit is coming out all the time. (can you say “traditional” and “kit” in the same sentence??)
Am I biased? Well, no more than anyone else who “goes both ways” as I like to say. My gut tells me they all go together. Beals & Lendals, Superior paddles & Epics all look great together. Nothing slicker than my black storm on the deck of my Explorer if you ask me! It all just seems like 2 sides of the same coin, and maybe the same side of the same coin.
So I guess I’m just confused and still wondering; “Greenland paddles have no place in modern sea kayaking”? In what way? Maybe, I’ll have to buy the book. . .
peace
and you will be punished

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
As I mentioned above when you’ve completed or passed off your tow on the water, just stuff the bag. Don’t bother trying to get it all tight and organized again. For my part I just leave the back sealed but un-wrapped, on top of my spray deck and clip the end to a pocket on my PFD. That way my rope is contained, but I could start another tow in a split second with the least amount of fiddling. In the BCU one way to raise the coaches ire is to be sitting there on the water trying to make your tow rope all pretty again. They dislike it immensely and you will be punished. . .
* There are numerous tow belt systems out there. Just choose the best one for you. I use a North Water. And sadly I get no benies for displaying it here. LOL!!
Weihnachtsmann

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
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??
And while we’re talking about Freya, another little birdie says she’s been clearing out her office to make more room. . . Now why would she do that? I wonder where the nearest airport to her house is anyway?
By the way, here’s what Christmas looks like to a kayaker. . .












