100 Down The Boo
Published June 7, 2011 | 
Up a lazy river by the old mill stream
That lazy, hazy river where we both can dream
Linger in the shade of an old oak tree
Throw away your troubles, dream a dream with me
- louis armstrong
Thermometers around here were just hitting 100f as I launched out for my second run down the Baraboo river in 2 days. This time I hauled out my Pyranha. I wanted to do this quickly so that I could get some sense of the differences between this boat and my new/0ld Perception Mirage. Yeah, it’s obvious that they are totally different kayaks..but unless you actually do the butt-in-boat time it’s all theory. What surprised me was that the much shorter Pyranha actually seems easier to keep on a line than 13 foot Mirage. Of course while surfing and playing in a small hole there was no comparison. The playboat actually listens to commands! Continue reading
2 Feet Short
Published June 6, 2011 | 
Whatever floats your boat.. Well, this won’t do it! It’s about 90f out there today and I still can’t catch a break. By the looks of things I’m still about 2 feet short of a good time. Oh well, back to work….
The Way-Back Machine
Published June 6, 2011 | 
We’ve talked quite a bit about how paddlers are getting older recently. I know. It seems almost everyone I meet has paddled a Perception Mirage or Dancer at one point in their lives.. Well, at one point a very, very, very long ago. (Well, the 80s through 1994 actually) Of course I wasn’t paddling way back then, so when these old school cigar-shaped kayaks were all the rage I missed my opportunity. That is, until this old beat black Mirage came up for sale. Hey, I couldn’t help myself! Continue reading
Having Been Restrung
Published May 26, 2011 | 
If you’ve been following along in earlier posts as I worked on putting leather lines on the skinboat, you’ve not seen the finished product. Here it is. Now I need to get back to work. Only one workday left before I head out to Michigan by way of Chicago for the West Michigan Coastal Kayaker’s Symposium. You know what the hardest part of preparing for a symposium is? Well, deciding what kayak to take of course! More on that later… IF i find the time. 
The 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
Sidetracked In Black
Published May 17, 2011 | 
And if the night runs over / And if the day won’t last
And if your way should falter / Along this stony pass
It’s just a moment
This time will pass – u2
Today was the day I was going to tell you all about properly wearing and testing dry gear… but then I got distracted. I had my skin boat out anyway, (The one that’s for sale actually) so I decided to get all the new leather deck lines installed. That was a good idea, (I’d been putting it off since last spring.) but then I got distracted. I realized that I still needed to give the canvas another coat of paint. Having originally been painted white, a bit of missing black paint shows right through. Thankfully it only takes a can of black exterior paint and brush to give it a quick retouch whenever I like. Continue reading
Posted in Kayaks, My Paddling, My Weird Life, Paddle Gear, Paddling, Quixotica, Traditional PaddlingSomething To Look Forward To…
Published May 12, 2011 | 
You don’t have to be into traditional rolling to appreciate this… (But it helps!) The amazingly beautiful Black Pearl design by Björn Thomasson has been something of a dream boat among home builders and Greenland rollers for some time. The Black Pearl is low slung, reactive, fast and a dream to roll. Did I mention that its beautiful as well? It’s no wonder why there is a lot of excitement in the traditional sea kayaking community right now about the new SeaBird Designs versions of the Black Pearl which are just now beginning to hit US dealers. Continue reading
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