Philip Edward Island - Part 1

Killarney Provincial Park is located in the northwest corner of Ontario's Georgian Bay. It is a land of contrasting rocks, red granite, white quartzite and grey limsetone all over lain with a scattering of pine and oak forest and crystal lakes. It's one of Canada's paddling paradises. Leaving my car at the campground's put-in located on a small stream leading down to Georgian Bay, I decided to first paddle around Philip Edward Island just east of the Park. The island is about 20 miles or so long and roughly 10 miles across at the widest point.


The boat ramp at the Park's put-in.


The stream to the Bay meanders around a bit alternately revealing banks of alder bushes and pink granite bluffs.


At the mouth of the stream, one is suddenly presented with a maze of islands, some bearly above water, others, like this one, high and topped with wind-blown evergreen tree, the trademark of Georgian Bay.


As the sun was out and the wind was up, I decided to head out into the Bay to play in the waves and warm up the muscles for the 2o mile paddle ahead of me. I was soon lost among the dozens of islets all around! Good map and navigation skills are definitely an asset in this area. Finally oriented once again, I headed into Collins Inlet, the narrow channel which cuts Philip Edward Island off from the mainland.

MEC's Toronto Paddlefest 2008

First stop on my recent jaunt was PaddleFest, an event put on by Canada's Mountain Equipment Coop chain in various cities across the country. I chose to head up to Toronto to meet Justine Curgenven and Dubside, not to mention anyone else who wanted to smile back in my direction.


It was a happy gathering of the water world. Water craft of every description were out on the bay enjoying the day, the boats and the instruction. I ran into Dubside, caught up on his news - he's incredibly busy these days - and we discussed his latest video production, a sort of history of Greenland paddling and Delmarva for the past several years.

Justine was as charming a person as you could ever hope to meet. We watched, listened and interrupted as she led us around New Zealand's South Island. It was a story on her blog account, but to hear her tell it, it was so much more. Truly a grand adventure!

After a fun-filled day, I headed northwards to Killarney Provincial Park for my own little adventure. I'll spend the next few days showing you what I saw there.

Ckayaker in Mexico?

Footprints found in 2003 in Mexico have recently been re-dated to about 40,000 years BP. The fact that they were found along the shores of an ancient lake also strongly suggests that the footprints belonged to early Inuit tourists wintering at one of the Mexican kayaking resorts probably popular back then. From the look at the prints, together with my newly acquired knowledge of muddy footprints, their depth and so on, I'd be prepared to say they were Inuit carrying one of the heavier Canadian style kayaks rather than the lighter Greenland version.

So it's good to know that early Canadian Ckayakers opened the door for me to visit Mexico - 'La terra del Dios' - in the distant past! No doubt I'll be welcomed back to the same paddling spots with open arms and cold cerveza, of course. Like many of you, I've often wondered why the word 'gringo' sounded like a corruption of the word 'kayaker'. Now I know! Science is so cool.

Friday I hit the road on my first paddling trip of the season. Expect posts to drop off until/unless I find internet in unexpected places...

Getting Old...

Or maybe it was the heat, which with the humidity soared from about 15°C on Friday to over 33°C yesterday and again today. Either way I couldn't figure out how I was going to paddle in either my drysuit or my Reed gear. Then it hit me. Why were other people swimming and I was still wearing full immersion gear! Hello, Michael, it's nearly summer!

So today for the first time this year, I braved it, went paddling in swim suit and short sleeved top and my new funny sun hat. Then I too went to a swim. I'm getting old I guess... Next year I'll get younger and be more on the ball when summer strikes suddenly.

Muddied Decision Making

Just when I'd finally made some decisions on where and when I was going to paddle this spring, my contractor called and suggested a date he'd be free to do some work on the foundation to the house which has been pending for a while now. He promised me three days, "probably less", to get the job done. What could I say? Let's do it!

Then the rains came... This is day three of almost continuous downpour. The picture says it all. The job is finished, but how can I leave this mess behind? So it's back to decision time: when and where to paddle? It's looks like I'll leave next week after I've had a chance to get some grass seeded on this mess. First I'll head up to Toronto to the PaddleFest event and meet Justine Curgenvan and Dubside. Then it's west to Killarney and on into the North Channel area where I used to sail. I'll follow that up with a Greenland event on the Hudson River.

I figure this couple of weeks or so of fresh water paddling should whet my appetite for the East Coast in July!

The Banner Pictures

Ever wondered where the pictures in the blog banner come from? I didn't think so, but I'll tell you anyway. Nothing like a bit more useless information to pad the far reaches of your brain. Think of it as brain padding when you're practicing your rolls. A little extra to keep the noggan in place...

Okay, from left to right, Florida. If you paddle inland from old Homosassa on the west coast, keeping to the right you'll pass under a small road bridge. Turn left and there's a little creek which follows the road. A little wild spot almost in town!

Second picture was taken on Trinity Bay heading south along the coast towards Hant's Harbour. We'd already paddled downwind that day, but it was so lovely out, we heading back upwind ending in Capelin Cove.

Middle picture was taken on a symmetrical day where shorelines and sky were all perfectly reflected in the waters of Lake Massawippi where I frequently paddle.

The next along is a beach just past the South Point coming out of Bonne Bay in Newfoundland. There's a waterfall and a hole in the rock at the beach making it a fun stop when paddling in that area.

Lastly, the new ribbing on my skin-on-frame qajaq. Here I've clamped then in place to get an idea of how I like the lines before I notch them in place.

Now that's done, I'm toying with posting up a new set...

The New Look

Camping is different these days. No more rushing about trying to set the tent up in the pouring rain. No more huddling under soaking fabric walls wondering whether they will leak and where.

Here's the new look. I'm getting so decadent, it occurred to me I could plug in an electric blanket should it get chilly... How quickly one adapts to new realities! I will, of course, be facing Nature in her rough 'n raw state once the paddling begins, but the road to the put-in has taken on more civilized surroundings.

Letting Go. Moving On

The first sea kayak I bought was purchased to fulfill a dream and a promise I'd made to myself when I was 25 years old. I told myself I would return one day to Igloolik, a community in Nunavut, Canada where I'd lived for the better part of two years. It had been a wonderful period of learning and growing up among the best of all environments, the arctic and with the best of people, the Inuit.

Walking into a kayak shop one day 30 years later and seeing some kayaks on the wall, I knew I had the means to return to Igloolik, to work that dream. A year later, I paddled into the community under the mid-night sun with many of my old friends waiting for me on the beach.

I am selling that kayak. I have put up ads here and there and will have to let go if a purchaser appears with the cash. Life is about collecting and letting go of our collected goods. I will be sad, but I've moved past that particular boat. It really is time to move on. With a smile.

The Challenges of Spring

Who among us does not enjoy a challenge? If you're one of those who lives in a northern clime, then the spring is a time of rapid renewal and growth in the natural world and by extension in our lives as well. The urge to head out on an adventure which grows our souls is nearly irresistible.

Two Québeçois have made it to the top of Mount Everest this past week. There's news of some kayakers about to head out to paddle a nearly uninhabited section of the Greenland coast and another will go around Iceland. Yet another is going around Nova Scotia. I'm itching to leave as well...

A friend of mine from London, Ontario has taken yet another route. She is walking the pilgrim's way through northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela. She left St Jean Pied de Port about 10 days ago and has been emailing about 30 of us regular reports from along her route. Now about 220 kms into the pilgrimage, her life has already been full of adventure and drama, tears and joy. How I wish I was there to share the experience...

My own route to adventure will first lead me west in the next couple of weeks and then east to Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia in July where I hope to paddle with friends both met and yet unknown. I can't wait! First, though, there's the matter of the crack in my basement wall. The backhoe arrives at the beginning of next week...

Old Times, Changing Times

My revised Greenland style kayak seen here lying on the beach, is no longer alone...

How long ago was it that one never saw a Greenland skin-on-frame boat (SOF) or a Greenland style paddle? I remember in the late 1990's when Maligiaq was in Montreal preparing for the 'Traversée' across the St Lawrence river people made fun of his 'skinny stick' wooden paddle. They didn't laugh after the race was over. Many must have wondered what had happened, how had he got so far ahead of them?

Last weekend not only were at least half the paddlers using Greenland sticks, there were several other SOF kayaks present. It's a good sign of changing times and how the sport of kayaking is open to old ideas and new, interested in exploring every facet of itself. I like that feeling!

Paddling in a Maelström

It isn't every day when you get to take out a brand new kayak design and then return to the beach and chat with the designer and other company officers! This happy opportunity occurred at the Grand Rassemblement 2008 last weekend. A number of the Maelström personnel had brought several examples of their company's new boats, the Vaåg and the Vitäl for people to demo on the waters of Lac Megantic.


In this short video seqment, you can readily see the distinctive 'pectoral' stripes which grace each boat. I liked the way it distinquished the boats from the multitude of other designs on the water. The hull shape is also very 'English' in the modern sense and has much in common with the Rockpool and Tiderace boats which have become quite popular overseas.

Paddling either the Vaåg and Vitäl was a pleasure. Both track very well regardless of the wind direction and while we didn't have much in the way of wind or waves, both boats seemed little affected by sudden side gusts, even with their skegs up. Edged turns were easy to make, the boat having lots of secondary stability. It was even possible to spin the boat 180° with a single paddle stroke as the ends lift well clear of the water on a lean! Rolling and balance bracing was a snap, especially with the low rear deck and comfortable layback position.

Putting the skeg down and cranking on the paddle produced good acceleration and an easily obtained cruising speed. The boats seem to run on rails yet have a light feel and seem to want to play when you do. I would guess these boats would make the perfect companion out on the ocean and skirting through a rock garden.

Which boat did I like best? Perhaps the Vaåg, but only because I liked its slightly longer length of 17'4" compared to the Vitäl's 16'6". Both boats are serious contenders in the world of high end, high quality kayaks. If you're looking for something in that range, you owe it to yourself to look closely at a Maeström! As for myself, I'm begging you to send in your pocket change. I really want one of these boats...

Kayaks, Kayaks And More Kayaks!

My SOF seen here down at the water's edge was in excellent company last weekend! One of the fun things about attending a kayaking event is the chance it provide of trying out a variety of boats which are new to you. The Rassemblement provided a wealth of boats, some familiar, but never paddled, and some totally new to me.






Among the boats were Boreal's new Baffin, a plastic kayak with a nice, flat rear deck which I liked.









There were several of Valley's new plastic boats as well, specifically a Nordkapp and an Avocet. They seemed well made and nicely laid out and equiped. A couple of older Anas Acutas were also present. There were some Swedish boats in attendance including this blue plastic Point 65° seen here next to the red Avocet on the right.


I went out for a brief paddle in this CLC Shearwater 16, the original narrower version. I'd thought about building one of these kit boats earlier in the spring and was happy to try it out before taking on the task.


It was a big surprise to see one of the new Skim's, a beautifully made composite boat which I took out for a spin. My first impression was it's amazing length. Looking over the foredeck gave me a real sense of being in a powerful craft that really wanted to travel! I'd just paddled one of the new Maelstrom boats, so was a bit intimated with the Skim's size, but once underway I was pleasantly taken with it's speed and easy manoeuvrability. Lay-backs were easy as well as balance braces. The quality of finish and the brilliant yellow and red striped finish was an awesome sight both on and off the water.

Tomorrow I'll give my impressions paddling the new Maelstöm kayaks!

Grand Rassemblement 2008!

Ever wonder where you could go for a few nights of lakeside camping with a couple hundred friends, paddle all you like, take part in workshops, listen to information sessions, trip accounts and try out lots of new kayaks all for only $25? This year I spent my money at Québec's Grand Rassemblement 2008 kayaking event in Piopolis. To make the event even a bit more interesting, I took my brand new (to me) Go-Camp mini-trailer. I picked it up north of Montreal last Friday afternoon and was on the road ready to paddle on Saturday morning. I am extremely pleased with how well the Go-Camp tows behind my light car. The gas mileage seems to be no worse that when car-topping my kayak alone! It is comfortable, airy and pleasant to be in. Not at all what one might think of life in a small box on wheels!


Here is the view of the beach and waterfront from the municipal camp-grounds. Over the next few days I'll post more information on the event and some of the boats I got to paddle. Some of them are brand spanking new boats from new companies, and others were very rare examples, seldomly seen in North America. It made for a very interesting weekend!

My Teardrop Trailer!

Okay, it isn't exactly a Teardrop trailer, but it's close. Most of the traditional Teardrops have a kitchen arrangement which is accessed via a rear hatch. This Go-Camp does not. Instead it has more useable room inside and in a trailer this small, more room means a lot! Just look at all that cupboard space! The floorplan is roughly 4' by 8'. I plan to set up a portable kitchen unit in the hatch of my car. The advantage being it can be used when tenting as well as when pulling the trailer. Clever, eh?


Because the exterior shape does not follow the 'tear' shape I get other bonuses. This trailer had a previous owner who took advantage of the flatter roof and installed a set of roof bars. At the moment, these have a bike holder installed and I will probably put a set of kayak holders on the bars so I can transport a second boat easily.

I will miss camping in the rain, I suppose and this will increase my carbon footprint a bit, but older bones know best. A warm cozy place to camp will be welcome, especially when I feel like entertaining!

Want A Paddling Soul-mate?

Every now and then I hear someone mention how much better their life would be if only their spouse or one of their friends was closer to being their 'soul-mate'. Most of us have heard that term applied to paddling couples. Perhaps we even think we know some soul-mate paddling couples. Personally, I believe the paddling soul-mate idea is a bit of a fantasy, a phantom relationship, which can lure us away from what we really want in life. Here are my thoughts on the subject...

A healthy relationship is one in which each party is devoted to supporting the well-being of the other. A mature relationship is one in which each party assumes responsibility for his or her individuation, and supports others in their efforts. Sounds easy on paper, but we all know, it is often difficult to carry out in practice. The level of maturity it demands of both parties often asks a great deal of each of us. However, if I can reasonably assume my companion is not here to make my life work for me, but intends instead to support my own efforts at life-building, then I will have made a huge stride towards cleaning up the debris which hampers and impairs our relationship. In turn, I am not in a relationship for the role purpose of seeing that my companion enjoys my idea of a full, rewarding life. That's their business. Instead, my role is to support the life that individual creates and to celebrate whatever it becomes.

To set out on a soul-mate quest as if I was missing some critical component of my life is thus a false endeavour. Far better, to try to become who you really want to be independently, asking for help when you need it. When you encounter others on the same path, support their similar efforts. Don't try to direct or control them. Don't try to grab on to them in an effort to complete yourself. Let them be. If it happens your paths become parallel ones, then enjoy that relationship. Call it 'soul-mating', if you like, but be prepared for the storms and calms as they appear. Learn to weather them. Remember you will always be two individuals, perhaps even paddling similar routes side by side. You'll never become one.

Perhaps that's why we love dogs. They support us, but don't try to change us or control us and ask impossible things of us. They love to walk along side of us. Such healthy, mature beasts! Soul-mates!

Screaming Children & Fainting Grannies

You know the scene. You're in the parking lot at the put-in changing into your drysuit or whatever, you're trying to be discreet and all of a sudden, you wish you had a better place to change.

Well, if you have a hatch at the rear of your car, then here's my idea for an almost instant, private changing room. Step one is to pick up a light weight tarp. Mine is 5' x 8'. You'll have to measure your hatch door to see what size is best for you. If you're really handy you could custom make the tarp to fit the hatch opening. Next step is to acquire some 'super magnets', the tiny silvery things stacked together in the picture above. Sew them into the tarp's long hem in places where it makes sense to hang the tarp from the opened hatch. I also sewed a couple of magnets into the two short hems so the tarp sides could clip onto the car's sides. This prevents the wind from suddenly opening the door, as it were. Using magnets allows the tarp to be put up and taken down very almost instantly.


By keeping my gear in the rear of my car along with a little piece of carpet to sit on, I now change in peace, in private and in comfort. No children have screamed in horror and no grannies have fainted from fright that I'm aware of... Another bonus is staying dry when changing in the rain!

Iglulik to Arctic Bay by Dog Sled

Each year about this time the Inuit of the Eastern Arctic stage a dog sled race from one village to another. The sleds used are traditional kamotik, not the basket style sleds seen in races in the western arctic. Prize money is $10,000 so lots of time and effort go into preparing a team for the race.

This year the race went from Iglulik northwards 500 kms or more to Arctic Bay on northwestern Baffin Island. A great place to see some photos and read about the arrival is on Clare's blog. I won't steal one of his photos. You'll just have to go and see them yourself!

Got My Sticker

Like most of the local lakes, Lake Massawippi's various municipalities require people using the lake to purchase an annual sticker to attach to one's boat. The rationale for this, clearly stated on the sticker, is to pay for the fight against a possible invasion of the dreaded invasive zebra mussel. I gather the dreadful colours of the stickers somehow scare away the mussel spawn... The cost of the sticker gradually rose to $25 for the first boat and $10 for additional ones. I have always bought my sticker under protest claiming it was a tax grab by the municipalities who used poor science in their fight against the zebra, not to mention their slack approach to washing and checking incoming boats at launch sites. Motors and bait wells are never rinsed out and so on. Aircraft from all over the place freely land on the lake, carrying the mussel spawn from place to place. Of course they never get checked...

Yesterday I drudged down to buy my stickers and got a little surprise. The price had changed! Now people using non-powered boats only pay $5. Well, I applaud the price drop - anything to encourage non-motorized boating - but it does prove my point that the stickers are a tax. With the cost of checking boats for spawn rising, how could the sticker price drop? My mussel tax sticker is now on my kayak, but I wonder if I have blundered by putting them on the back deck. Will the mussels die of fright if they can't see the stickers? Perhaps I should practice rolling more often. That will scare the little buggers!

Aaaaa... to paddle!

Spring weather is always flip-flopping back and forth like an indecisive child, but today was wonderfully warm and slightly breezy. A good day to paddle, to get out on the water, to warm up the muscles and exercise the brain. There's always lots to think about when paddling!

I thought about people I know, one leaving to walk the Camino, the pilgrim's way in Spain, another taking photos of bear scats in Newfoundland, another strangely quiet these days. Then there was where to go paddling this summer. As usual, my search for companions to go around PEI has drawn a blank. Not even Cape Breton brought them out. Lower North Shore, anyone? Going once... twice...?

Time to head back to the put-in, four hours is enough for today. Enough paddle/thinking for one day!

The Water's Not Fine

Nice spring we're having. Summer birds in wintery trees. Sunny days on freezing cold waters.

I got out for a paddle yesterday on Lake Massawippi. Some fishers were out on the sun drenched surface, but not a soul was prepared to go for a swim. Good thing too, because the water was freezing, it's icy cover only having disappeared on April 22nd.

I was dressed for a swim, but the calm conditions meant it wouldn't be likely. My hands were frozen by the drips running down my Greenland style paddle. I'd forgotten just how cold water can get and still be liquid!

Hopefully others will not be seduced by the sun's heat into an early swim without wearing proper gear. In their favour however, one of the progressive steps to freezing to death is the sensation of burning up with heat. An interesting 'serves-you-right' reaction I suppose. One of the body's little ironic tricks.

I'm still staying in my kayak. For now.

Zach Kunnuk Interview

IsumaTV translates into English as 'ThinkTV', almost an oxymoron these days, but Igloolik's multifacited production team has really made us TV viewers think. They've recently posted an interview with the head of Isuma, Zach Kunnuk. Here's how it begins...

I was nine when I came into Igloolik. I was on Baffin Island, living on the land, and I saw the last of that era - my family living in a sod house, my father getting ready to go dog-teaming early in the morning, mother waking me up saying, "Go get your dog," because nobody else could catch my dog. (In those days all dogs were loose, outside). I would go out and the dog would come to me, and I'd give it to my father. He harnessed it, and I would go back to sleep. I was just about old enough to go out with the men dog-teaming, and then I had to go to school; so I just saw a little bit of that life.

I recommend reading the rest. The man behind the film 'Atanarjuat' and the 'Journals of Knud Rasmussen' has much to say. Enjoy!

You Gotta Love Spring in Québec!

I am enjoying my second spring now that I'm back home in Québec. The trees are starting to leaf out, every brook and creek is gushing with melt water and the roads are a mess. The paved roads are cracked and broken, more suitable for off-road vehicles and the dirt roads, well, most of them look like the one in the photo above. Covered in frost heaves and mud holes. You just have to love it here!

I haven't bothered taking the kayak down to the lake yet. The road to the shore is washed out. The other put-in, the one I used all fall, is reachable, but the high water is right up to the bridge and I don't feel like portaging over it to get on the lake.

So, like I said, you just got to love living here. Every season gives us ample material to complain about, and laugh about. Oh, and did I mention the gas prices yet? $1.35 a liter and rising about as fast as the water. Like, I said, you... well, you are probably catching on by now...

Poetry of Aqqaluk Lynge

Aqqaluk Lynge is a Greenlander well known in circumpolar forums. He has recently published a book of his poetry some of which go back over 35 years of his life.

His press release says, "The poems rely on strong images drawn from traditional life, the people and the geography of the land he loves so dearly. Greenlanders have survived many changes and now not only have their own government but also a thriving modern society which is slowly overcoming the hurts and limitations of colonial times. The revolution is not quite over, but there is no longer any doubt that Greenlanders, the land and the culture they love, will survive. Aqqaluk Lynge has combined poetic imagery with political action to become one of the most influential Greenlanders, both at home and abroad."

If you're interested, Aqqaluk's books can be had by following the links located here.

Dot Com Kayakers

I suppose everyone at some point has fantasies about living off the fruits of their kayaking hobby. I don't seriously dream about that day, but I began thinking of owning the URL 'ckayaker.com'. It's always smart to plan ahead, to take care of the 'what if's' in life if you can.

The other day I applied for the 'ckayaker.com' name only to discover it was already taken! Imagine that! It was grabbed in July of 2005, before I began blogging. To make matters worse, the owner of the URL has done nothing with it to speak of. Go see for yourself!

Not to be outdone, I hurriedly bought the rights to 'ckayaker.ca'. After all, I am Canadian and proud of it. So now, if you want to reach my blog, you can use the URL ckayaker.ca. You'll discover an annoying banner ad at the bottom. Some day I may pay to have it removed, but not today. Today I'm buying a new watch to replace my old Casio which has broken after many years of service.

Oddly enough, I'm not the only kayaker who doesn't own their URL name. Looking around, I was surprised to find at least one other regular blogger who's site name is owned by another person. Want to guess who it is? ;-)

Surf a Maelström!

I was sent some sneak preview photos of two of the new Maelström kayaks yesterday. These photos and others will be appearing on the company's web pages next week, but I thought we enthusiasts would also like an advance peek as well.


I'm not sure where the photos were taken, but the water looks fast and lumpy, fun for sure! There is also a video coming on YouTube shortly as well. I noticed that JC Vaillant already has a video of the Vaag in action in the rapids at Chambly.

Thanks François at Maelström Kayak for sending me these photos!

Pogo Jumping To New Heights!

We are absolutely living in 'extreme' times. Yesterday I went to watch my daughter's boy-friend's team of engineering students try out their newly designed pogo stick. Now pogo sticks have been around since forever, but these guys had taken the stick used for the 6 foot Guinness World Record jump and engineered it into an 'extreme' variant. Their new super-charged pogo stick was theoretically capable of doubling the current record and possibly more! In front of judges, press, friends and family, David Barabé pogo jumped himself over an 8 foot high bar, and bounced his way into the record books. I made a video of the jump and am waiting for the boy's permission so I can post it on YouTube. In the meantime, here's a look at the post jump champs posing for the press!

UPDATE! You can now see the record jump on YouTube!

Kiwi Style!

It isn't every day one gets a chance to paddle with a fellow 'klogger', but last weekend KiwiBird and I spent most of the day on the water together. The day was warm and sultry, with a bit of wind now and then to cool us off. Neither of us was dressed for full immersion, but prepared for a quick plunge should it occur.


By lunch we were hot and hungry and also at the end of the lake, a small, tumbling rock-filled stream which blocked any further progress. We ate and then headed back. About half the distance to the putin, thunder rolled in the distance. Dark clouds pushed up to the other side of the lake. Then a bit of lightning and a breeze. Suddenly we were hit by a brisk wind and pelting rain, pushing at our rear quarter. Waves began building rapidly. A lightning bolt struck so close to us it came simultaneously with the thunder! We dug our paddles in hard, trying to control our skittish boats as we raced to the put-in. Sliding into a calm inlet beside the boat ramp, we finally managed to smile again. It was a close call and a bit scary, but an exciting finish to a day on the water. We managed to beat the odds, dodge the lightning, surf the waves and tell the tale.

Georgia Red

What is it about the colour red? It provokes such strong reactions in us. We even have an expression, "To see red!" where we use the colour to show our anger. Then we like to think of red as the colour of love, of passion. What would a night-club be without red?

Here in Georgia, one often paddles between the red banks of rivers and lakes. The red clay is nearly everywhere you go. You even get to take it home once you leave. The fine red clay stains your feet, your clothes, your neoprene, everything! Georgia never leaves you! Like a good lover, she stays close and stays long!

Forgotten Muscles

After a long winter without dipping a paddle into any kind of liquid, it was a great relief to finally go paddling again. It came on this lake in northern Georgia, one of many flooded mountain clad valleys formed to create reservoirs for the Tennessee power grid.


Out on the lake, I realised that no matter how much skiing I had done this past winter, many different muscles are used to paddle, muscles which have been resting on the back burner for these past several months. On the water, I was soon reminded of that when first I eagerly headed out. I quickly reminded myself that it's a good idea to take it easy and not cripple myself with over-enthusiasm. Sadly, I'm not one who likes going to the gym during the winter to stay in overall good shape, preferring to ski and paddle instead to stay reasonably fit. I'll slowly be paddling my forgotten muscles into shape in the coming days until I return to where I can once again paddle comfortably from one end of a day to the other. Tough work, but I've done it before...

Customizing Yourself

With the paddling season about to open any day now in northern lakes and rivers, why not customize yourself? Starting at the top, you can order your new hat from Lids.com. Here some of my cap ideas, but lots of styles are available and you can put whatever text you like on the front as well as a graphic. Can't wait to see you all on the water in your new caps!

Klogging 500

I noticed the other day that I was typing out my 500th entry on this blog. While this number pales in comparison to several other bloggers, it gives me a bit of satisfaction knowing at least it's visible proof that I've done something since I retired from teaching a few years ago. It also makes me think that the word 'blog' may no longer be appropriately descriptive for those of us who blog about the world of kayaking. I am therefore coining a new word: klog, short for 'kayak log'. This word may sound like the activity being enjoyed by the folks in the photo above, but of course the devil's in the spelling.

Those of you who visit René Seindal's Paddling Planet will be aware of how international the klogging world is. I especially enjoy not only reading about the paddling experiences of people around the world, but also have fun trying my foreign language skills on the variety of languages being used to express those adventures. Such a fun planet to live on! Klog on!

Final Check

On Sunday, with the sun poring down out of a cloudless sky, my daughter and brother and I took a walk on the lake and through the surrounding woods. It was time before my departure for a final check to see everything was ready for spring. It was. We are. So bring it on!


I want to paddle here when I get home at the end of the month...

Stroking Your Kayak

I picked up a copy of Doug Alderson's 2007 title Sea Kayak Strokes the other day. Now there are lots of 'how-to' books out there explaining what to do with your paddle while you're in your kayak, but I particularly like the approach this book takes. To begin with, there are lots and lots of pictures. Then there are lots of paddles used including the Greenland paddle. As I paddle with one, I found this refreshing.

Another nice addition to the usual explanation given in books, are some exercises to try out after each chapter description. These are useful for the beginning paddler who doesn't always have an instructor close by to say, "Ok, here are some thing to practice...". As someone who mostly had to learn to paddle from books and videos, I know what the beginner goes through trying to figure out how to paddle.

The book deals as well with bracing and rolling. I liked the way the two were presented in the book as a continuum, a low brace being a slight roll, and a full 360° roll being a complete brace. This fits in with my way of thinking about learning to roll where a person acquires a series of braces right up to a controlled capsize with a balance brace at the water's surface. Once at this stage, any roll can be turned into a balance brace or a sculling brace position and, from there, turned into a recovery to the upright position.

I'd recommend this book to anyone starting out, to teachers and to people like me, with lots more to learn.

Newfoundland's South Coast

Click to enlarge
I was in Montreal yesterday to see a presentation about paddling a section of Newfoundland's south coast. Anyone who knows this area doesn't need to be told it's a paddler's paradise. The rugged coastline plunges into the sea, huge granite lined inlets pierce the land every few kilometers and bold headlands push out into the North Atlantic to challenge your cape rounding skills. Years ago there were more communities than the few that survive today, but those that do are well worth visiting.

It was also an opportunity to meet some of the people involved in the new Maelstrom Kayak company. I can tell you they are young, talented and very excited about their new boats! I look forward to trying one out, perhaps in May. There was some talk about getting a few pictures of the boats in the development stages. I'll post them if I am able to get them. It'll be a bit like watching the birth of a child, won't it?

Wanna Paddle?

I've given the lakes and rivers around here every possible opportunity to thaw and let me go paddling, but their stubborn refusal has given me no choice. I'm heading south where the water runs free and the sun shines brightly. So postings will become erratic for the next month, more or less. My itinerary will run down the east coast of the US. If you want to go out for a paddle together, get in touch either via 'Comments' or my email address (see profile). I'm always interested in meeting new friends and paddling on new waters...
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Tonight I'm heading to Montreal to a presentation on kayaking Newfoundland's South Coast. Naturally, I'll be driving in snow. It's too far to ski, unfortunately!
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The picture? Sumac. Frozen sumac.

Living High

If you live in the high latitudes, say above 60°N, you'll no doubt be taking advantage of the longer days you're beginning to have. The further north you live, the more night-time is switching into daytime. Some people will soon be getting no night at all! The longer day provides lots of time for these lucky people to get out on the land to look for dinner and just enjoying life.


In this series of pictures taken in Kangirsuk in the Spring of 1972, a bunch of us are heading out for a day 'on the land' as we called it. The snow has been melting in the warm temperatures so some people would remove the cowling from their SkiDoos to aid in cooling, especially going up hills or when towing a sled. For others, it was a matter of being 'cool' in both senses of that word.


The first task was to climb up the hills off the river and head inland. It wasn't unusual to find small flocks of ptarmigan, small grouse-like birds that buried themselves in the snow up to a dozen or so at a time, white arctic hare in groups of two or three and solitary foxes out on the tundra. The small songbirds had also been returning, so there was always lots of wild-life to be found.


We used to drive around for hours, roaring our machines up hillsides, jumping off snow-drifts, generally enjoying being able to freely explore after a winter spent mostly indoors or dressed in warm, bulky clothing when we were out. We used to laugh about the high price of gas back then and be thankful we weren't driving cars. Today, we pay almost three times as much for gas to power our cars and we wonder whether we ought to be polluting the planet when out joy-riding. The joke has returned to mock us...