Lumix DMC-TS3 At First Blush
Published June 23, 2011 | 
This wild rose shot is one of the first shots I took with my new Panasonic Lumix TS3. I just set the camera on “normal” mode (as soon as I figured out where to do that!) and went out the door. The shot is about as un-edited as possible. It’s cropped and re-sized for the blog, otherwise it’s just as it came out of the camera. As paddlers our first concern is often how “waterproof” a new camera is, but what’s the point if they don’t take decent pictures? I took the camera to my favorite haunts and shot a lot of images that I’ve shot before. Same subjects, same spots, same cloudy weather. I can easily find comparable shots I’ve taken with my digital SLRs, various compacts and even old Waterproof Optios. At first blush, I’m pretty content. Continue reading
Time Ain’t On Your Side
Published June 17, 2011 | 
Time is on my side, yes it is / Time is on my side, yes it is
‘Cause I got the real love the kind that you need
You’ll come running back / You’ll come running back / You’ll come running back to me – stones
I bought my Yakima rack, rollers and saddles the same year I bought my first Jeep. That was way, way back in the dark ages of 2004. Zoom forward to 2011 and let’s have a look at how they’re holding up… shall we?
The rack has held up well over the years. We even upgraded Jeeps once along the way. We did have to buy some new parts to adapt to the change in vehicle, but all it all it was an easy upgrade. The rollers and saddles are doing fairly well. It’s getting hard and harder to keep them tight. Over time the plastic grooves in the saddles have begun to warp and degrade enough that they no longer hold the bolts the way they used to. I find myself having to slide things around or find a place to wedge the bolts so that they will tighten properly. It’s just age of course, but I can’t help but wonder; If plastic will sit in a landfill for 500 years without breaking down, can’t it at least remain solid for 10? Continue reading
Columbia Sportswear’s Drainmakers
Published June 16, 2011 | 
For the past few weeks I’ve been giving Columbia Sportswear’s Drainmaker shoes a trial run. On their website Columbia says they got the idea for the Drainmakers when they saw so many people fishing and bombing around the water in their running shoes. I’m guilty of that myself… From there came the inspiration to create a running shoe that would drain water quickly, a sort of hybrid running/water shoe. All in all, I’d say they accomplished their task, not that attaining the goal didn’t come without a cost. Continue reading
Posted in More Gear Reviews, Outdoor Recreation, Reviews | 
Drainmakers, shoes, watershoes | 
Leave a commentThe 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
New Shoes!
Published May 31, 2011 | 
I always take it as a compliment when a company seeks me out to give a review of their products. Recently Columbia Sportswear asked me to take a look at their new Drainmakers. These funky shoes arrived over the weekend. (Along with a reminder to tell all of you that they sent them to me at no charge..) The selling point with the Drainmakers is that they are watershoes that they tell me feel just like a running shoe. I said I’d be happy to give the Drainmakers trial run, fill out a survey, and do a review for you all right here. Columbia Drainmakers retail around $80. Of course I always ask if things come in black.. (Didn’t expect the bowling shoe vibe! LOL!) I’m going to put a couple of weeks wear on ‘em and then I’ll let you know what I think. Continue reading
Posted in More Gear Reviews, Outdoor Recreation, Paddling, Reviews | columbia, Drainmakers, watershoesNo Wake!
Published May 16, 2011 | 
Welcome to Monday! The great adventure around here over the weekend has been suffering more unseasonably cold weather and testing out my fancy new dry duds.. Well, not exactly… The Big, BIG adventure was heading down to Madison, Wisconsin to watch my daughter graduate from the UW. Seeing her get the diploma was the good bit, surviving 2 hours of pomp and circumstance was a challenge of to the very depth of my soul! Another challenge to the very depth of the soul is swimming in fifty degree water without the proper gear. Worse, thinking you have the proper gear only to find out it leaks when you need it most. That’ll “WAKE” you up! (Boo! Hiss!) This is why you never simply toss on new gear and go paddling. You need to get out and play with it awhile…
How’d it go? Well, right now I have to step away from the computer and run a child off to school. More to follow. 
New Website For Kokatat
Published April 30, 2011 | 
I got a gypsy woman givin’ me advice / I got a gypsy woman givin’ me advice / I got some red hot tips I got to keep on ice
Got my mojo working
Got my mojo working
Got my mojo working
- muddy waters
Check it out! Kokatat has just gone live with their fancy new website! And it is pretty nice. (That coming from someone who does this stuff for a living.) The new site is clean and easy to navigate and maybe most importantly, full of big beautiful pictures! I like how the feature carousel invites users to simply click on the sport they’re into, to be presented with the right gear for them. It’s sort of a suggestion box, navigation and sales tool all in one. Once in your chosen category, there are all sorts of ways to easily sift through the content to find something specific. It’s also nice to simply browse through the updated pictures. Mobile addicts will be pleased to note that a mobile friendly interface is coming soon as well. One thing though… I’m not quite sure what “Sort by Mojo” means? Calling Austin Powers! Continue reading
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