fixin’ the ark
Published June 30, 2010 | 
I said, “Just tell me something before it’s too late and we’re gone
I mean just how safe is this boat we’ll be on?” – Sting
Today my workload is a bit heavy, not least of which is that I need to commit to a kayak to take to the Door County Sea Kayak Symposium coming up in about a week. As usual, the level heads of friends, well-wishers, readers & psychologists have convinced me that doing some repairs on my old NDK kayaks is probably a better choice (and more valuable) than selling them off for something new, and maybe not so tough. Continue reading
Posted in My Paddling, Paddling, Repairs & Modifications | 
jamestown distributors, kayak repair, ndkA Dry Look At Gear Pods
Published June 29, 2010 | 
Now I’ve been having a bit of fun with the Gear Pods Adventure Gear System I was sent to review. (Especially since the company seems to have sent them out to every blogger in the known universe!) Still my strange little oatmeal test does express the point that the gear we take along on a serious kayaking trip is only as good as its water resistance. After a couple weeks on the water, keeping things dry and free of sand can become a hellish obsession. But let’s come back to that…. Continue reading
…wait for it..wait for it…
Published June 29, 2010 |
The suspense is terrible… I hope it’ll last. – Willy Wonka
If you’re on my Facebook (s) or twitter, you’ve already seen this video and you’ll know I pulled the the GearPods from the back yard rain barrel last night (I couldn’t very well keep them in the tub for 3 days!). How’d they do? Well, this morning I need to run up and meet with a client about 30 miles away, then I’m going to come back and fill in those last blanks on the review which should be posted a bit after lunchtime. Yeah, I have a real job too!!
Washington Island Trip Report
Published June 28, 2010 | 
Happy Monday! Today I’m going to extract the Gear Pod from it’s under water tomb to see how it survived 2 days of total submersion. The final review will be tomorrow. However, if you follow along on Facebook you may get a bit of an advance look later in the day when we pull it out.
For today however, I want to share with you a trip report from the recent Washington Island Paddle Marathon Race held in Door County, WI., on June 19th. Participants paddled a 22 mile course around the island which is located at the very tip of Wisconsin’s famous Door County peninsula. This report was written by Gary Simon of Milwaukee. I like Gary’s report because it’s not so much about “racing” but about participation and learning which to me is the really important… and fun part of any event. Continue reading
Freya Hoffmeister at Geneva Kayak
Published June 26, 2010 | 
Geneva Kayak Center in Chicago is presenting Freya Hoffmeister on Monday, July 12th to talk about record-setting expedition around the continent of Australia. Tickets are available in advance for $15 by calling Geneva Kayak at (630) 232-0320 (Seats are limited.) Remaining tickets will be available at the door for $20 per ticket. For more information just call Geneva Kayak at the number above or visit their website at www.genevakayak.com. (It’s always worth visiting their website to hear that soothing water, paddling & bird call soundtrack!!)
Coming Up: Gear Pods & The Oatmeal Test
Published June 25, 2010 |
Video – Next week I’ll be doing a review of Gear Pods, the cool new modular adventure gear kits. This weekend I’m running the final and maybe most important (to me) test. It’s called “The Oatmeal Tes
t”. Just how waterproof are Gear Pods anyway? In my kayak filled world, I’ve found my waterproof bags and cases can sometimes spend hours in and under the water. It happens. It happened to me last weekend in fact!! Nothing sucks more than when you realize that your first-aid kit got soaked because the “waterproof” case leaked. How Gear Pods hold up to sitting in standing water for a couple days will tell me a lot about how appropriate they are for sea kayaking. Next week, we’ll talk a bit more what Gear Pods have to offer as I review their Backcountry kit. AND by Monday morning we’ll know just how they stood up to the dreaded Oatmeal Test as well!
Swimmer’s Ear (Again)
Published June 25, 2010 | 
Hey! Don’t come around here no more
Don’t come around here no more
Whatever you’re looking for
Hey! Don’t come around here no more
-petty
Sorry I’ve disappeared for a couple days. I’ve been in the bowels of hell fighting a just battle against a hoard of demons… or put another way.. I have swimmers ear again. I can’t even begin to describe the amount of pain I’ve been enjoying. For 3 days now I’ve been up most nights and caught only winks of sleep during the day. To make matters worse, when the doc called in the prescription our insurance company decided they didn’t like the meds and required a new one (neomycin).. (or I could pay over $100.00 out of pocket for the Ciprodex). That delay meant another day until I finally got meds.. Joy.. Continue reading
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