Gina Ferguson
Published December 30, 2008 | 
Gina Ferguson of New Zealand is part time professional violinist for the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. She also won the recent Ironman Western Australia. Oh, and by the way she’d Like to learn to kayak as well. Any Volunteers? Read the Slowtwitch.com interview here.
the bump
Published December 29, 2008 | 
To install the button cover:
1. Gently work the cover onto the shaft.
2. Apply soapy water to the shaft.
3. Grab the button cover with a small towel and work the cover into position over the button.
For 2009 Werner Paddles has re-designed their Adjustable Ferrule just a bit by making the button a bit more low profile which will make those folks happy who were bothered by that little button bump. What’s more Werner is also making sure not to overlook all those past paddle customers who surely would suffer “low profile” envy and is offering them a special “button cover” just for the asking. You can learn more about the new Ferrule design by watching a little video over at the Werner site right here.
Paddlethon to Save the Library
Published December 29, 2008 | 
“How could I have feared it was going to be boring? Being “on the water” is never boring.”
78-year-old Dick Wheeler finished his 1,000-mile kayaking adventure to raise money for the Wareham Free Library. Interestingly Wheeler set a goal of 70 days to complete the paddle but reached his goal in just 46 days. In the end he raised some $50,000 dollars for his local library. Not a bad thing at all. – Visit The Website.
december fog
Published December 27, 2008 | 
The rowan, the oak and the holly tree
are the charges left for you to groom.
Each blade of grass whispers Jack-In-The-Green.
Oh Jack, please help me through my winter’s night.
And we are the berries on the holly tree.
Oh, the mistlethrush is coming.
Jack, put out the light.
-tull
There are many reasons to love sudden blasts of warm weather in the heart of winter. Not only is it simply the spring feel of the moist air but for camera junkies it’s also that amazing fog that really makes you giddy. Today’s nearly 50F temperatures created a thick fog that diffused the light and filled the forests to create a Narnia-esque dreamscape where any place you pointed the camera seemed filled with mystery.
paddling through life’s little adventures
Published December 27, 2008 | 
If I were alone, I would cry.
And if I were with you, I’d be home and dry.
And if I go insane,
And they lock me away,
Will you still let me join in the game?
- pink floyd
Oh, don’t think I don’t ask myself that question quite regularly. It’s certainly a fair question as well. I remember a particular conversation with a man last summer at one of the mid-west symposiums about this very subject. He opened of course by saying, “I follow your blog regularly”, which is always nice. Then he hesitated and asked, “What’s your goal?” Well, I know it may seem bloody abstract. Especially in this day and age, but I didn’t really have an answer. I mean, I just do because I do. . .
something new. . .
Published December 26, 2008 | 
Happy Christmas everyone! I hope you had a great day yesterday and are enjoying the extended vacation. The picture above is of my new hand crafted little clay Rockpool. It was made for me using what I had left over of some repair color & glitter so interestingly it’s an exact match of my Alaw Bach. The first question I asked was, “How do I take it apart??”.
All you do to me is talk talk
Talk
talk talk talk
All you do to me is talk talk
Talk talk talk talk
All you do to me is talk talk
– Mark Hollis / E Hollis
Going through my pile of email this morning I came across a new “Kayak Essentials” class outline from one regional paddling group. The class runs 4 days of classes each are 3 hours. According to the description this Essentials class is about 50% class room and 50% water. 50% Classroom? That sure seems like a lot to me.
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