Inland Sea Symposium, This Weekend
Published June 16, 2011 | 
Everyone is beginning to slide up onto the beach of Washburn, Wisconsin for this weekend’s Bi-Annual Inland Sea Kayak Symposium. Well, almost everyone.. I’ve got to stay around here and get some work done. It’s the only way I’ll justify heading out for nearly 2 weeks for both the Door County and the Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposiums coming up in the very near future as well. The big name at ISS this year is world-renowned paddler, coach and owner of Sea Kayaking UK, Nigel Dennis. Back in the day, Nigel and Paul Caffyn completed the very first sea kayak circumnavigation of Great Britain.Nigel has also taken part in expeditions in Antarctica, Easter Island, around Cape Horn and elsewhere. I’ve met Nigel more than a couple of times and will never comment on his choice of underwear again.. promise.
Oh, and by the way, if you have any questions about your Kotatat gear at this symposium just hunt down Kelly Blades or Megan Kress. Either of these folks will be glad to talk to you!
Posted in Events & Symposia, Paddle Gear, Paddling, People | 
kelly blades, kokatat, Megan Kress, Nigel Dennis | 
Leave a commentWMCKA Picture Day!
Published June 1, 2011 | 
I have two photo galleries for you today.. The first gallery is a variety of pictures from the 2011 WMCKA symposium as well as a few from the drive over and back. As you know, most of my galleries tend to wander all over the place just to catch the atmosphere. Camp Pendaloun certainly has atmosphere! Continue reading
Return of the Dragon
Published May 31, 2011 | 
On Saturday morning I paddled around Big Blue Lake, the site of the WMCKA kayak symposium early in the morning while a heavy fog shrouded the distant shoreline. My eye caught upon a log that looked amazingly like a dragon straight from the imagination of Terry Gilliam. I didn’t take a camera with me, but I had to get the shot. I carefully pulled my iPhone from the drybag and fiddled to get the camera up and working. Just as I was about to snap the shot, a heron burst from the shoreline toward me calling wildly, then just as suddenly it turned and began to fly away. I recovered from the surprise just in time to take this shot. Continue reading
I Love WMCKA!
Published May 26, 2011 | 
As if you couldn’t guess, I’m really excited to be heading off to the West Michigan Coastal Kayak Association’s annual symposium. ( Called WMCKA or WimKa for short.) Not only does WMCKA kick of the summer symposium season here in the Great Lakes region, but it’s also one of the top symposiums for beginners due to the calm warm water of Big Blue Lake and the world-class instruction. What’s more WMCKA has a strong contingent of traditional paddling & rolling instructors featuring the man, the legend himself, Doug Van Doren. After looking at my teaching schedule for the event, I can see I’ll be spending a good amount of time with Doug this weekend. 
Continue reading
Posted in Events & Symposia, Paddling | doug van doren, justine curgenven, keith wikle, ken fink, WMCKAThe Groove Engine
Published May 24, 2011 | 
Last week I posted a picture of a singer and asked if anyone knew who the woman in the image was. The answer is Betsie Anderson. Betsie and Al Anderson are the owners and creators of the finely crafted Betsie Bay kayaks of Frankfort Michigan. Continue reading
Supporting Big City Mountaineers
Published May 13, 2011 | 
If you’re in the Madison, Wisconsin area you can score some great deals on outdoor clothing and gear today through Sunday at a big new & used outdoor gear garage sale held outside Rutabaga Paddle sports shop. I saw a cool purple $200+ Marmot jacket that will be going for $50. No kidding, great deals! OK, but maybe the more important thing here is that all the proceeds are going to support Big City Mountaineers. You know about these folks right? Here’s what they say, “Big City Mountaineers mentors under-resourced urban teens through transformative outdoor experiences to enrich lives, broaden horizons and instill critical life skills.” My low-brow translation is that they help troubled teens find a new way to view themselves and the world around them with a bit of help from caring adults and the great outdoors. But here, why not watch the video… Continue reading
I gave the doctor my description / I’ve tried to stick to my prescription
Someday I’ll have a disappearing hairline /Someday I’ll wear pyjamas in the daytime
Afternoons will be measured out /Measured out, measured with
Coffee-spoons and T.S. Eliot –
I’m sorry I’m old. Really. I didn’t start out this way. I used to be much younger but then the sun came up and went down a bunch of times and I got older. Now I’m 45 for some reason. I’ll be 46 in about a month. I’m sorry for myself too. I’m sorry that there are probably fewer years ahead than behind. I’m also sorry that I’m pretty much on the young side of your average sea kayaker. I didn’t even start in the sport until I was in my late 30s. By then I had a business that was doing OK and the ability to buy the stuff necessary to get into sea kayaking. (Well, barely!!). Come to think of it, I’m sorry we’re all old. What will become of us? Continue reading →