Archive for February, 2008

As I mentioned yesterday adventure writer, sea kayaker & coach,  (jack of all sea kayaking trades. . . ) Jeff Allen of Cornwall, UK is off to Scandinavia. He will be joined by  Mark Schoon of Maine. Jeff of course has had some amazing trips already in his back pocket  including circumnavigating the 4 main isles of  Japan with Hadas Feldman of Israel, and as a member of the 2005 British team that circumnavigated South Georgia Island in record time.  Jeff is also a prolific writer who has recently been contributing articles on such things as; survival for sea kayaking, rough water paddling & incident management for Ocean Paddler Magazine in the UK.

I actually came to know Jeff through Simon Osborn.  These days Simon and Jeff are running Sea Kayaking Cornwall which is located in Falmouth, Cornwall.  So obviously one question I had to ask Jeff was if he really felt brave enough to leave Simon in charge??  Alright, enough of that!  Let’s talk to Jeff. . .

derrick – Ok, pretend I don’t know where you’re going. . So . . Where ya goin? Can you share just a basic overview ?

Jeff – Yeah the idea is to try and circumnavigate as much of Scandinavia as possible, so we are leaving from Escape Kajak Centre in Gothenburg on the 4 March and heading North, trying to get as far North as we can by early May, then calling a halt to proceedings before picking up the Gauntlet later on in the year. We would ideally like to get beyond North Cape, but that’s in the hands of Neptune and Mother Nature!

derrick – It’s interesting that you’re going to do this trip spread over a number of years. Does that make it any harder to keep focused on the goal? I can’t imagine planning 3 years ahead.

Jeff – Yes it does, but also it takes out a lot of the pressure of having to meet a predetermined deadline, one of the most frustrating parts of both Japan and South Georgia was having to pass places you really wanted to just hang fire on and explore.

derrick – You say an expedition does not really start until you’ve been gone a couple weeks and you’ve had the opportunity to shake off the cobwebs left by the world. You also say on your website that the ideal trip for you is one where you are going to be away for at least a couple months. Can you expand on that?

Jeff – Yes I can, I don’t know about you guys out there, but for me I don’t really get into the groove until I’ve been away from society en-masse for several weeks, then you begin to focus on what’s really important to your survival, weather-environment-food-water-choice of campsite, you start to feel what’s going on around you rather than having it reported to you, you listen to your body, aspects to your life are rearranged, simplified, priorities change, it takes at least a couple of weeks to feel these things transfer over.

derrick – On the other hand, when you get home again you have to slide back into those cobwebs. I think we talk a lot about the trip but could you tell us a bit about re-adjusting when you return?

Jeff – That’s the hardest part, I used to scoff at the ’sensory overload’ comments you hear people comment on, it so true though, when I look back to the Japan trip, we finished with only hours to spare before we had to leave the country, one day we were struggling in fog as thick as pea soup and swells which rolled and crashed upon the shores of Chiba, next day we were stepping onto the tarmac of Heathrow airport, I was in a state of shock without knowing it for weeks! It’s been the downfall of many aspects to what you might consider a normal life.

derrick – Regarding the Scandinavia trip I read that this was something you had wanted to do for some time. Did the stars just align recently?

Jeff – Yes I suppose they did, I delivered a yacht to Larvik several years ago and thought then, what a fascinating country, my family have Scandinavian ancestry and I wanted to research that aspect too, as well as the environment, the mountains, especially around the Lofoten area look as if they are straight out of a Tolkien story.

derrick – How’d you and Mark Schoon come together on this one?

Jeff – I met Mark in Georgia a couple of years ago, we were both guest instructors and I invited him across to Cornwall paddling, he reciprocated and I visited him in Maine. He’s such a laid back guy, I know we are going to get along just fine.

derrick – Scandinavia, South Georgia. I have to ask, what’s the attraction to cold?

Jeff – I’m not averse to the heat, its more chance than choice, I’ve got to say I prefer to paddle cold than hot, and love to breathe the cold crisp air you seem to get in the polar regions.

derrick – This trip you will be using the expedition to raise awareness for two charities in the UK, the Ovarian Cancer Action charity and the Children’s Hospice South west. How did you come to choose these charities?

Jeff – A friend of mine recently lost her Mother to Ovarian Cancer and I said I would try to raise awareness on what’s often termed as ‘the silent killer’ and the CHSW because I found out that in my region of the South West we have almost 1000 children who are terminally ill, and yet have no hospice to support them or their families, I want to help change this and feel I can use this expedition to help do so.

derrick – So, maybe you can help me with some homework. I’m doing a presentation at Canoecopia here in a week on planning your first expedition. I think a lot of paddlers imagine doing these sorts of trips but just feel its never in the cards as it were. Any thoughts on bridging that gap from imagination to reality?

Jeff – For me it came about quite traumatically, I’d been struggling for years to fit into a marriage that didn’t work, a lifestyle that wasn’t me, I had to let go of lots before I could go and do something as big as Japan. It needn’t be so, there’s nothing to stop you taking it step by step, increasing your horizons gradually, matching skill to environment and expanding our comfort zones. I know when I got to a point where I was at an all time low I just returned to the dreams I had cherished as a child and started to live them out.

derrick – Last question. You’re going to leave SKC in the hands of Simon while you’re gone. . .Really?. . . no. . Really?

Jeff – Haha I know, should I really? No I have every confidence in Simon, he’s a fantastic coach, cherishes it as much as I do and will do well while I’m away…..no really. .

Thanks Jeff!  Enjoy, have fun!  Jeff will be posting his insights along the way on their trip blog so be sure to check that out as well. Below are some links where you can find out more about the Scandinavian Adventure and world according to Jeff.

• Trip Homepage
• BBC Radio Interview – Day 1
• Ovarian Cancer Action – Donate
• Children’s Hospice South west – Donate
• Jeff’s New Website
• Visit Mark & Mel at Carpe Diem
• Sea Kayaking Cornwall

Times when the day is like a play by Sartre
When it seems a bookburning´s in perfect order
I gave the doctor my description
I´ve tried to stick my prescriptions
Someday I´ll have a disappearing hairline
Someday I´ll wear pyjamas in the daytime
- ctd

Welcome to 4am in my world!  Has anyone tried this self heating Lattes before?  Yeah, it’s 4am but I’m not feeling that brave. Still, I was thinking pulling one of these out of the day hatch after a few days on the water may still seem like a treat. . .

I couldn’t sleep tonight so I spent most of long evening watching old episodes of “One foot in the Grave”.  I swear I will be Victor Meldrew in another 20 years!  Well, I’ll try to avoid freezing cats & baking turtles.   Now if you’re really brave. . . Here’s exactly what any poor soul has to see if they catch me this time of the morning.  Well, I’d better get to finishing off that interview with Jeff I promised for the day.  .  . 

Hmmmmm, I’m not even sure what to say about this. . . but don’t say I didn’t share.  It’s the Kayak Song

http://ourmedia.org/node/375528

Something new! "Quix Strokes" will be the place I post the little tid-bits that pop up from time to time.  Here’s an example;  On the symposium front, this weekend the 12th annual Coastbusters symposium is being held in New Zealand this weekend.   This year over 200 paddlers have registered.  Guests include; Sandy Robson, Paul Cayffn, Jim Kakuk, and more. . .  If someone attending would like to send me a report after the event I’d be happy to post it here.  Also Laurie Levknecht has sent out the first notice for the cast and crew of the West Michigan Symposium. For more info visit www.wmcka.org.  See, Quix Strokes are fun and usually painless!

I go to the bar, I ring my coat, I call the bartender
Said "Look man, come down here", he got down there
So what you want?
One bourbon, one scotch, one beer. . .
- george thorogood

Before I go any further with this silliness, I want to mention that Jeff Allen of Sea Kayaking Cornwall is off on the first leg of his Scandinavian Adventure today.  I will have an interview with Jeff tomorrow. . . Well, I could have posted it today. . . but there’s this strange narcissistic fixation with MY problems. . . .!

Well, really I just wanted to have a little break to show you around the few additions I’ve made to the site. I know it’s tough to come home and find someone’s moved your chair!  Besides, these interviews take more work!  “Waaaaaa!!!”. 

So first off,  if you are reading here, you probobly noticed you had to click on “continue reading”.  I apologize now for that, but it solves a little issue I’ve been having.  Back in the dark ages when I started making it goal to post every day I was thinking about a “daily” Topic.  But sometimes I have other news or notes that get put off or forgotten completely because I wait for a “free day”.  Also this year I want to do more live blogging from events and such, and I want it easier for you to browse on those days when I do multiple posts. Blogging can be a more dynamic conversation and I want to head more in that direction.   This certainly does not mean I’m going to give up on those occasional weird posts, but there may be more to share on any given day.

Below that little button and on the bottom of each blog is a “Share This” button.  You can click on that to send the posts to all your hip networking sites if you like or email it onward. Hey, not every post is a yawner!  Some of my posts are being syndicated now on a couple other sites as it is, and I’m hoping this will simply things that way. If there is a post you want to share, go for it! (please just say where it’s from!)

I’ve also added some RSS content as well.  On the left hand side under the “Archives” tab you’ll find “Kayak Headlines” from around the planet and below that, Environmental News from National Geographic.  In the right column below the films links you’ll find expedition updates.  These are direct feeds from active expedition blogs. I’ve only got a couple there, but I’ll be adding more. (Like Jeff’s for instance). I may be adding a couple more things as I get it all worked out.

I’m just realizing that as I wander around the more commercial blogs that I read each day, that often I enjoy having related content to buzz around.  So we’ll see how that goes. Just don’t forget to get your work done!

Coming up we’ll have a chat with Kelly Blades, Jeff comes tomorrow, then we’ve got a look at the new NDK boat that is currently crossing the Atlantic in a container, a story about Rowland Woollven’s next expedition,  a guest post from “Joe the Intern” at Paddler Magazine and much more, so stay tuned.

When you move like a jellyfish
Rhythm don’t mean nothing
You go with the flow

I’m really pleased to get to share with you a chat with Megan Pfieffer.  I realized that although you may have heard me mention the "Queen of Canoecopia" on KQuix occasionally,  you may not know who she is.  She’s a bit of a ninja in her own right, and manages to be everywhere and yet often unseen.  So maybe I should call this post “Megan Pfeiffer Exposed”. . .

Although I won’t share her age or cell number, I will say Megan resides in Madison, WI and is a bright, funny, organized type person who I hear is still into “Battleship”.  Megan works for Rutabaga in Madison and is one of the organizers behind Canoecopia & the Door County Sea Kayak Symposium.  Although there is probobly not a vendor or presenter at Canoecopia who has not gone through Megan, the rest of us may not know all the work she does behind the scenes to make the show come off each year.  I asked Megan if she would talk to us a bit about the big show and the work she does behind the scenes.   So let’s gab with the Queen, shall we?. . .

d – Here in the Midwest we are pretty familiar with Canoecopia.  But for those of us who are not familiar, can you tell us a bit more about the “big show”?

Megan – Canoecopia is the largest consumer based canoe and kayak show that takes place annually in our lovely town of Madison Wisconsin each March.  The show attracts paddling enthusiasts and beginners alike for a variety of reasons; maybe it’s the 170+ amazing paddling & non-paddling presentations, demonstrations, hand on exhibits & product demos running all three days, maybe it’s the camaraderie of seeing your extended paddling family/community each year even when the water is still frozen to discuss the years paddling plans and share stories of trips past, Or maybe even its the great deals on a wide range of products from over 100 different manufactures. No matter the reason, Canoecopia seems to have the answer.

d – Ah, you fit everything in there! Nice!  It’s interesting that the “World’s Largest Paddle Sports Expo” is right here in the Midwest. I’m sure some would find that surprising.  What is it about the Midwest that it can support such a large paddling event?

Megan – The Midwest is not only home to the only Rutabaga Paddlesports in the world, whom hosts the event, so that is a huge help I am sure:) But also the  proximity to many wonderful and varied paddling destinations. We are lucky enough to have the Great Lakes, small meandering rivers and creeks as well as exciting whitewater and many other beautiful paddling locations.

d – Can you tell us a bit about Rutabaga’s philosophy and how Canoecopia fits in?

Megan – In the most general of all things Rutabaga’s missions says it exists to foster sustainable communities that enjoy and respect the earth and our environment. Canoecopia creates a whole ton excitement and energy geared around enjoying the water and taking care of what we have (bodies, and equipment)

d – Ok. I can’t help but ask.  How many boats are actually sold at Canoecopia each year?

Megan – Some things we will never tell….what we are really looking for is 100% of the boats that are sold are the right boats for the right people, year in and year out. 

d – (you can’t say I didn’t try!!) Occasionally readers will catch me teasing you about being the “Queen” of Canoecopia.  Well, other than waving your scepter around,  what part do you play in putting on the show each year?

Megan – Nah that’s it really, I just wave the scepter around and poof! it all happens, it’s really cool how i have that worked out In reality, we all work hard to make sure the show is a wonderful experience for all involved, we are a great team here at Rutabaga, I just happen to be really organized and great with details so it all works out.

d – When do you start planning for Canoecopia?  I know it’s quite early.

Megan – When am I not working on the show?! was I suppose to stop really…? Hum no one ever mentioned that.

d – ( B-6 if you’re playing along at home) Each year Canoecopia has a huge number of guest speakers.  How do you go about choosing who will present each year?  If someone is interested in presenting what do they need to do?

Megan – That is a great questions indeed Derrick. Many folks are refereed to us from past attendees, current manufactures or word on the street. We do start accepting applications for speakers as early as April. All folks need to do is contact myself via email and I will send a form out for them to fill out and send back our way. We so sit down and make our speaker selection in early Oct. for the next year’s show.

d – Once the show’s underway, do things slow down for you?  What sort of stuff are you responsible for at the event itself?

Megan – I also work quite a bit with our Door County Sea Kayak Symposium and run our Youth Outdoor Programs dept. along with a few other events thrown into the mix. It is great to have such a variety of duties, I like the changes and wearing different hats throughout the year. Plus teaching a bunch during the spring and summer is just great. Time out of the "office" is always nice.

d – So there you were on YouTube paddling a canoe with a big letter “M” in the back of your canoe. What was that all about? You’re on busses now? 

Megan – Yeah you got me. This past fall I was part of MG & Es Mpowering Madison campaign which is set up to encourage folks to  offset the carbon emissions generated by your electricity use by choosing to purchase clean, renewable electricity. So I was able to spend a very windy afternoon paddling around with a giant letter M in my canoe. It felt kinda like being part of Sesame Street. Buses, newspaper, TV commercials…the whole works…

d – Lastly putting work aside, can you tell us a bit about what turns you on about paddling personally? Any fun adventures you’d like to share?

Megan – Last fall I had a wonderful experience with my dear friend Mr. Danny Mongno down at Tybee surfin off of the triangle. I swear to you, a small dolphin slid onto the deck of my boat while he was fishing the face of the wave, stalled on my boat and slid back in the other side, needless to say i lost all concentration and received a beating – but oh man was it worth it. A week I will never forget indeed.

Hey Megan, thanks for that.  I promise not to encourage people to chase you around with cameras this year.  

Canoecopia 2008 is just 9 days off and will be held at the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI.  For ticket information, Vendors & Speakers lists and all the rest just visit the website at Canoecopia.com.  Oh, did I mention I was speaking this year?  Look out Batman!

Also for those of you who attended the Door County Sea Kayak Symposium in the past or are just interested in what goes on up there, you may be interested in a little reception on Saturday at 4:30pm.  The DCSKS Reception will be held in the Killarney Room on the event grounds.  Yeah, they are hauling out lots of pictures of all of us in compromising positions, so you don’t want to miss that!