if you don’t know hanna…
Published March 17, 2009 | 
Alright, you know those kids who sometimes seem to have it more together than you do? Yarg! Well, if you’re a paddler and you don’t know Hanna yet, chances are that in the coming years you will. Impressive young lady. If you want to know where kids like her come from you simply need to meet her parents. (Now if we can just get them to let Jeremy do the unicycle/kayak thing…)
Paddling with the good guys
Published March 17, 2009 | 
I’ve got to admit it’s getting better
A little better all the time (It can’t get no worse)
I have to admit its getting better, it’s getting better
Since you’ve been mine (Getting so much better all the time)
– beatles
“Paddling is more fun when you do it in a group.”, says the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association. (“You don’t say!?” ask the ancient Romans in the audience.) Well, I say whatever tips your canoe! One thing is sure, we certainly need folks like the NWIPA who are visionary enough to take on the task of nurturing environmental restoration projects on the southern bow of Lake Michigan. Not to mention promoting the area as a sea kayaking destination. It’s certainly not a place most of us would likely have on our list of top paddling places.
Going home…
Published March 16, 2009 | 
A lot of us were lucky enough to get to load up our gear and go home last night while the sun was still up. Others will be spending the next couple days clearing, cleaning and hauling the away the last remnants of Canoecopia 2009. You know how it goes. Getting set up for a big event or moving into a new home is always a rocking good time. Clearing up after the party. . not so much… On the other hand you sometimes run into people like this woman who seems to take joy in whatever the heck she’s doing. Even carrying a box! Must be a Werner thang…
no, but, wait
Published March 16, 2009 | 
How can it be “old school” when old school is so old school that I don’t remember old school. I mean I’ve only seen a Dancer nailed to a wall. But I’m told the new Fusion from Pyranha is basically an old school boat with some modern embelishments. What it is is a river kayak handle up to class 3 white water and still carry some kit. Now, I have to say, I do like this boat. I mean, not THIS boat exactly. I’ve yet to paddle the new Fusion (and yellow’s not my bag either). In fact the one at Canoecopia was the first to land over here, but I love the concept. I can image there are plenty of us out there that would enjoy a tough little river boat that’s a bit more predictable than a playboat. Now we just have to get a few together for a test paddle.
Not without decklines, sorry…
Published March 16, 2009 | 
You know, here’s the thing. Vendors often want to talk to instructors about their kayaks. In this case it was the Prijon/Wildwasser guy who wanted to make the case that the Prijon Capri 1 was fine for symposiums here on the Great Lakes. Continue reading
old habits die hard
Published March 16, 2009 | 
I had a Valley Anas Acuta. I loved it. I should have kept it. I did’nt. So now of course Valley had the new and improved Anas Acuta with the big cushiony seat, keyhole cockpit and giant front hatch on display at Canoecopia. Of course not of that stuff seems to fit the vision I’ve always had of the Anas Acuta as a classic. As it was Ben Lawry did his best to convince me I’d love the new seat so much I’d never want to take it out. The truth was that even though the new seat is lower and more posterior friendly, I fear it would still cut the circulation off in my legs. In the end I’d still remove the seat. Ummm, and get an ocean cockpit… and a tiny front hatch…
Canoecopia Update – Remainders
Published March 15, 2009 | 
This afternoon I head back to Canoecopia for my second day hanging out at the Door County Symposium booth. Yesterday was funny in that it seemed everyone that I had hoped to find later in the day seemed to all arrive at the booth instead. That was quite nice actually. Less walking for an old geezer like me!! Continue reading
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