Spin Cycles
Published May 5, 2011 | 
I will shape myself into your pocket
Invisible
Do what you want
Do what you want
- radiohead
I’d learned what I do know of traditional rolling from the cockpit of my old blue NDK Explorer. Later I moved on to a Valley Anas Acuta. Step by step I was progressing. There came a point though, when I felt I wasn’t getting any further. I’m not sure if it was the volume of the kayak or just me hitting a wall. I stopped. I walked away with most of layback rolls in place up to elbow rolls.. and just starting to work on forward rolls beyond a storm roll & reverse sweep. At the time I was really feeling like the volume of the kayak was beginning to raise its ugly head. That can real, or it can be a psychological limit. Sometimes when you feel something, it doesn’t matter if it’s true or not. It becomes true simply because you feel it to be so. Continue reading
The Waiting Is…
Published March 23, 2011 | 
The waiting is the hardest part
Every day you see one more card
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part
- tom petty
So Freya Hoffmeister is sending some of her kayaks to new homes before she begins her South American odyssey. This one, is coming to live here with me. The Black Beauty #2 is a folder that you’ve seen her use to perform her crazy head stand to bow gymnastics. I’ve got the head stand down, but the rest… fuggitaboutit! Freya put the beast into its little bag and sent me a photo-by-photo diagram of how to get it back together once it arrives here in the frozen north. Now we just have to get that shipping thing down. It would sure be fantastic if I knew someone who was flying back from Europe in the next couple months.. but in the end I might just have to spend the $$ and tell “brown” what to do for me…
Running To Stand Still
Published January 6, 2011 | 
And so she woke up / Woke up from where she was / Lying still
Said I gotta do something /About where we’re going
– U2
Freya Hoffmeister announced her intention to circumnavigate ALL of South America today right on the heels of Justine Curgenven and Barry Shaws arrival in Chile to attempt their circumnavigation of Tierra del Fuego. Freya’s trip will be broken up into 2, 7-8 month sections that will extend over 4 calendar years. Her intent is to complete the journey in 2014 just before her 50th birthday. You can read more on her blog right here.
Thoughts?
*Photo: The prehistoric Cueva de las Manos, or Cave of Hands, in Argentina by Mariano
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!!)
Congratulations Freya!!!
Published December 15, 2009 | 
Mind me platypus duck, Bill,
mind me platypus duck.
Don’t let him go running amok, Bill,
mind me platypus duck.
Altogether now!..
It’s been a long time coming, but I can’t say there was much doubt. Freya Hoffmeister of Germany completed her sea kayak circumnavigation of Australia!! Amazing! Wonderful! Well done! Continue reading
the price of fame
Published February 25, 2009 | 
Want a horse, i want a sheep,
I wanna get me a good night’s sleep,
Livin’ in a home in the heart of the country.
-mccartney
Freya Hoffmeister has found that she needs to put a delay on some public information about her trip just to help her retain a bit of privacy during her expedition. It’s not hard to imagine why “all live, all the time” could create problems. Well, for Freya anyway. I, like most paddlers I dare say, could post 24 hour exact GPS coordinates and still not be interupped by the passing of a tumble weed . . Fame of course is a fleeting thing and you should enjoy it when you’re in the eye of the bubble. . . on the other hand sometimes you just need some sleep. ( I think Madeline Kahn sang something about that once. . .)
Freya Begins. . .
Published January 20, 2009 | 
Freya is on her way around Australia. You can read more about it and check out Peter Treby’s photos at Frey’s QajaqUnderground Blog right here. The short post itself was written by Sea Kayaker magazine‘s Christopher Cunningham. Hmmm, if he posts regularly maybe we will get a chance to critique HIS blogging prowess for a change!
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