paddling under the confluence
Published April 11, 2007 | 
Tell you what herb for my wine
Honey for my strong drink
Herb for my wine, honey for my strong drink
I’ll take it easy, taking it easy
Take it easy, skanking it slow
Take it easy, taking it easy
Take it easy, skanking it slow
- bob marley
David H. Johnston at PaddlingInstructor.com reports that according to SNEWS "during the first week of April, a crack pipe or other sort of drug paraphernalia was found on a desk in the production area of Confluence Watersports." Apparently there were a whole boat load of firings. David reports, "So far it seems that almost 60 folks are no longer employed at Confluence though about half of them refused to take the test on various grounds and were thus terminated. The other half failed the drug tests." David was thinking this April bust may be some sort of April Fools joke gone terribly wrong!
Kayaking and leisure drugs? Well, I’m shocked. 
In all fairness this is certainly one of those reports that does not exactly cast a shining light on the industry, and yet on the other hand we’re all adults here and I’m sure there are more than a couple kayakers out there are lucky it wasn’t them. If this story is accurate, I think there certainly should have been some busts. I’m not so riled up about the pipes, but leaving them lying around. . . Now that deserves a good . . . ah, smack!?
I read this at the Confluence website, "Paddlers can’t sit through a meeting without daydreaming about favorite escapes". . . I don’t doubt it. . .
I better end this here, I’m suddenly feeling an urge for some munchies!!
Ah, life’s an adventure!
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Sorry guys. I know if true this is certainly a serious issue. Sort of like laughing at a funeral. But hey, if you can’t laugh. . .
* Photo from Cannabisfarm.org
the first "Noel"
Published April 10, 2007 | 
Oh the ocean waves may roll,
And the stormy winds may blow,
While we poor sailors go skipping aloft
And the land lubbers lay down below, below, below
And the land lubbers lay down below.
We’ve talked a lot here about reasons for doing a trip. Raising money, sponsorships, personal goals and all the rest. Noel has decided to use his adventure to awareness and cash for the UK’s Cystic Fibrosis Trust, thus the "tin cup". Of course to do this and do it well adds a whole other dimension to your trip. You can’t just be out on you’re own little adventure, when you are trying to raise cash. You suddenly have to take on another "off water" responsibility which can have quite and effect on your trip. Often meaning that after a day on the water you may not get to just go crawl into a tent like you’d wish. One thing that Simon Osborn did and it looks like Noel will do as well is go into towns, set up his kayak and talk about what he’s doing and why. It’s a great way to get some attention. Otherwise you’re just paddling around out there where no one would even know you were there. Not a good idea if the goal is to raise cash. So on his first go round standing on the street, he raised about £250 in 5 hrs. Great! And no, he was NOT taking money from children. . . candy maybe. . .
Noel will begin is adventure from the river Orwell in the town of Shortley Point. From there of course he has worked out a clockwise route to take advantage of the majority of prevailing winds and currents around the Uk. He expects the expedition will run from May to September and we can watch his website & blog for details and updates along the way.
This challenge of course is supported by among others, the Sea Kayaking "Dream Team" of Nigel Dennis Kayaks, Lendal Paddles, Reed Chillcheater & Kari-Tech. Without these guys of course many of these trips would never happen.
Good luck Noel, we’re pullin for ya!
Stay tuned to Kayak Quxitica where tomorrow you may hear Derrick comment about. . .
"Paddling Under the Confluence". . . .Whaaaaaaaaa??
Thanks to Noel Web for the picture. Used by permission.
the world according to Laurie
Published April 9, 2007 | 
Bass Strait between Australia (top) and Tasmania (bottom)
With the season coming up quickly I thought it may be a good time to review some "rules of the road". Of course, I don’t want to be the one to tell you the way you should act on the water. So I’ll let Laurie Ford do that. Laurie has a reputation as an outspoken, opinionated, larger than life type guy. A bit of a legend actually. One thing is sure, he is an experienced paddler and has a lot of good information to share. I’ve never met him personally but he is certainly on the top of my list of people I’d love to paddle with. . . even if he spent the whole trip telling my why I was wrong about everything.
a woman’s worth
Published April 8, 2007 | Not just dough but to show that you know she is worth your time
You will lose if you chose to refuse to put her first
She will if she can find a man who knows her worth
- Alicia Keys
Interesting thought this weekend. I’ve been sort of on the outside watching as many of my female friends put themselves into the Easter Holliday. Much of the work is all that domestic stuff that comes with bringing families together for any holiday celebration. Beyond the obvious Christian observance, Easter is also a time for family gatherings and family tradition. Something we must of course give much credit to the woman of the world for holding together. It’s probobly not surprising then that the suggested pagan basis of Easter may be based on a second century European celebration in honor of the Saxon Goddess Eastre or Ostara. So guys, while you’re running round to this and that obligation, and just wishing the house would quiet down. . sneak in a moment (especially if you’re not helping out like you should be. . .) and let the women of your family know you appreciate what they’re doing to keep family and tradition a part of your life.
What’s this got to do with sea kayaking?? Well nothing. . . and everything. . .
Sailing
Published April 6, 2007 | 
Cast away, tide’s a runnin’
Hoist the sail, strong wind’s comin’.
Gonna try to sail away from the rest of my life.
-CCR
You know how you can you tell a southern sea kayaker don’t you? Well, if they are from Tasmania, Australia or New Zealand you can tell by their great big . . . sails.
I hear the lads in Tasmania often brag that their sails are bigger than the Aussies. Of course the New Zealander’s laugh at the both of ‘em. Occasionally though, you have to send a woman down from the UK to show them she can do whatever they can do. . . AND without a sail!
Being American myself I can just sit here and cause trouble. All in good fun though!!
Photo by Geoff Murray used by permission. Thanks Geoff!
look inward, then project
Published April 5, 2007 | 
Some days, it’s ok to look inward. . . and find something good
-d
Rolando Kline Medina
Published April 4, 2007 | 
If you would like to send a note of condolence and support, here is the address:
Carrie Medina
HC 03 box 16615
Quebradillas, PR 00678
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