What It’s Like
Published March 31, 2011 | 
Sometimes love is all flowers and romance.. sometimes it’s well… You know. Sea kayaking is like that….
Sometimes it’s all nature and beauty and all that sort of thing. Sometimes though it’s … well,
Sometimes you get out of your kayak, stand up, wipe the water out of your eyes.. spit, then go sit in the car with the door open and put this on the stereo….
very…
very…
loud…
Yeah, eventually you’ll carry gear and load the boat..
You will.
When you’re damn good and ready.
Color My Tow
Published March 31, 2011 | 
Yes, it seems so long / Girl, since you’ve been gone
And I just can’t go on / If you won’t see me
You won’t see me
- beatles
If I had my way, tow ropes would be lime green or blaze orange with glow-in-the-dark and silver reflective threads embedded in them. I know the folks making tow ropes have good intentions. They offer various yellows, bumblebee striped versions, reds, etc.. but for me they all go almost invisible as soon as they hit the water. Honestly I’ve seen fishing line more visible. Maybe I’m blind!! (I do own reading glasses after all!) I’ve found lots of colorful rope out there that may be more visible in open water, but it’s used for other purposes and not the sort of material you’d want for a strong, flexible tow. I have the same thoughts about my contact tow as well. I know, I’m right there and it’s usually right in front of my face, but just a bit of “flash” would help me keep track of it in my peripheral vision. Alright, so maybe this inst the biggest issue in the world and it’s not like they are black. But here’s the thing. I know that you can generally see tow ropes IF you are looking for them. My thought is that they should scream out to the other paddlers who don’t know they are deployed.
Thursday’s Nickle!
Paddling From The Beginning – Do I need A Drysuit?
Published March 30, 2011 | 
Expedition Kayaker Justine Curgenven of CackleTV.com all suited up.
It’s spring! You’ve been paddling for a couple of years now and you’ve spent the last 3 months drooling over your private stash of kayak porn. Now? Oh, you are SO itching to get back out on the water! (Well, the second the ice melts anyway.) Now, you’ve been around this whole paddling gig just long enough know all about hypothermia and the risks involved in cold water paddling. Having ice still floating around out there has that little voice in the back of your head asking, “Do I NEED a dry suit?” Well, you know the answer. Just asking the question is a dead give-a-way. Still, we’ve all been there. We all consider reasons to put it off. Why? Well, you know, It’s the price tag. Continue reading
Bragging Rights
Published March 29, 2011 | 
So, the last time I talked about the Montrail Sabino Trail Mid GTX shoes was July of last year. At that point I had run my sturdy frame up and down the Baraboo hills for about two months and had written for them the good review they deserved. One comment I made near the end of that post was, “I expect them not to fall apart by next spring”. Well, here we are… Continue reading
No Paddling, But No Complaints
Published March 28, 2011 | 
All kinds of sadness I’ve left behind me.
Many’s the day when I have done wrong.
But I’ll be yours for ever and ever.
Climb in the saddle and whistle along. – tull
You pick, we’ve got it! And all within a couple miles of my home. Well, we don’t have big water.. but then.. I can’t complain, it’s only a 2 hr drive to Lake Michigan and 6 hrs Lake Superior. Thing is, even when I paddle I’m a shore hugger. I want to see stuff!
So while it’s still too cold to get out and paddle daily at one of the local lakes, spring is providing some wonderful hikes. Yesterday it was 35F around here and very sunny which feels warm and wonderful after a long winter. We went out hiking at a natural area next to Devil’s Lake State Park called the Merrimac Preserve. The preserve is over 1,800 acres of forests, savanna, wetlands, streams, sandblows and prairie located here in south-central Wisconsin. The Baraboo bluffs on the northern end force water to flow down into the preserve, then south to the Wisconsin river. Everything between is a nature lover’s wonderland. Continue reading
Mobile Tendencies
Published March 27, 2011 | 
KayakQuixotica.com has become a bit more mobile friendly over the weekend. I won’t bother going into the technical end of it. Simply put, if you come to KayakQuixotica.com via a mobile device, the site will see you coming and dress for the occasion. That means running fast and clean. The trick was deciding priorities. What I’ve done is laid a small list of links. The blog of course, followed by some basic Wisconsin related info including; Wisconsin shops & guides, Wisconsin instructors, and some preferred products to start with. You’ll also find my social media links, email and other contact info is there as well. Continue reading
And The Sparrow Sings…
Published March 26, 2011 | 
So much has gone / and little is new
And as the sparrow sings / Dawn chorus for
Someone else to hear – bowie
There are all kinds of reasons to paddle that have nothing to do with athletics, competition, cool kit and dropping off the tallest falls.. Sometimes it’s hard to remember what kayaking was before we became enthusiasts, bloggers, coaches, competitors, filmmakers, writers or reps.. Can you remember how paddling came into your life back in the day? Why do you paddle? How long have you been paddling? Do you paddle for the same reasons now as you did back then? Maybe that’s a conversation we should spend more time on. After all, it’s not the fact that the sparrow sings that intrigues us.. It’s why they sing that is truly fascinating. There’s probably more long-term value in talking about why we paddle to folks curious about paddling, than talking about the nuts and bolts to those looking to take 2 ounces off their hull. Random thought…
Why do I paddle? Continue reading
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