30,000 specimens collected
Published March 21, 2008 | 
“. . .of the 30,000 specimens collected, hundreds might turn out to be new species”. Buried under this interesting science news is the realization that “collected” is probably a euphemism for “killed”. There has got to be a better path to discovery. – Read More
shivering through the gale
Published March 21, 2008 | 
Do you simply reflect changes in the patterns of the sky?
Or is it true to say the weather heeds the twinkle in your eye?
Do you fight the rush of winter; and hold snowflakes at bay?
Do you lift the dawn sun from the fields and help him on his way?
Good morning Weathercock. Make this day bright.
Put us in touch with your fair winds.
Sing to us softly. Hum evening’s song.
Point the way to better days we can share with you
– tull
Yeah well, it’s snowing like hell outside my office window this morning and I’m pretty damn sick of it! Sometimes you get pretty desperate to find ways to stay hopeful that spring will come in the end. (No matter how much snow piles up outside the window). So if for no other reason than to boost my own positive outlook I went searching my photos for pictures from around this time over the last couple years. Much to my personal joy, history suggests that the snow and ice are not long for this world. The ice will be coming off the lake in the next couple weeks. History says so. Have a look!
A guy kayaking on March 26th, 2006 (see the ice?)
March 30, 2005. A day in the 50′s raised some fog
On April 5th 2004 the ice was almost gone.
Northern Lights Qajaq Society
Published March 20, 2008 | 
The new website for the Northern Lights Qajaq Society is now up and running for everyone to see. Their 3rd annual traditional paddling gathering will be held in Akeley Mn, on September 5- 7th. Guests will include; Turner Wilson, Cheri Perry, Dan Segal, David Sides & Will Bigelow. Registration begins May 1st. So check it out.
Major impacts to Society. . .
Published March 19, 2008 |
So we’re under another severe weather watch. A possible 4 to 7 inches of snow are expected. This bit cracked me up, “A winter storm watch is issued when heavy snow, and/or sleet, and/or freezing rain may combine with strong winds to cause major impacts to society.” “Major impacts to Society”. Doesn’t that imply somthing rather more catastrophic than a snow storm? Oh the drama of it all!
Meanwhile Quite Traditionally
Published March 19, 2008 | 
Greg contemplates dry socks after an icy swim. . .
My friend Greg Stamer has been working diligently on a new website & blog in preparation for his upcoming trip to “The Rock”. Now you may notice that “website” is really tied into expeditions these days and of course there are a few reasons for this. The most important of which is simply that we’ve all found that blogging is the perfect way to share our trips. It’s pretty easy these days to upload pictures and post the story almost “live”. Which is pretty cool. The blog of course is just the latest line in a long history of storytelling. Over centuries the campfire has given way to LED.
Greg will be beginning his unsupported, 1700 mile solo circumnavigation of Newfoundland in June. Recently “The Rock” as its known, has been circumnavigated by other world class expedition paddlers such as Wendy Killoran of Canada and Hadas Feldman & Tomer Sabag of Israel. Each drawn to an amazing environment filled with wildlife and Ice bergs.
There is of course much more to Greg than just expedition paddling. His first love as many of us know has been traditional paddling. Greg was part of the first American team to compete in the annual Greenland Kayaking Champion ship in 2000 and won in his age group in the World Class competition. In 2002 he returned and won another gold medal for rolling. In addition Greg Stamer is the founder and president of QajaqUSA and manages their website as well. The amazing growth of traditional paddling we see today owes its popularity in no small part to guys like Greg, Harvey Golden, Doug Van Doren who have worked to promote the sport here in the states and around the world. He may not jump up to take credit for the all that he’s done for the sport, but that doesn’t stop me from pointing fingers! 
Got Wood?
Published March 19, 2008 | 
Now here’s something you don’t see every day. This rather natural looking kayak is an Explorer CS by Sea Kayak Services. Its based of course on the original NDK (SKUK) Explorer. The CS is a composite kayak using a combination of wood, carbon fibre, glass fiber and epoxy resin. It shares the same dimensions as it’s namesake and comes in around 52lbs. Keep an eye out in the next issue of Ocean Paddler for a review.You have to admit the woodstrip design is pretty sharp. It certainly takes the Explorer to a whole new place!
* photo from SKS. used by permission. Thanks!
Recent Comments