This week when I was grabbing paddles to take to our Monday night pool session at the CV Starr Center, I grabbed a stick (not a greenland paddle but a hockey stick). Peter Donohue, editor of California Kayaker, inspired the idea this summer. Here's a video of my first attempt at the hockey stick roll.
After I loaded this onto YouTube, I discovered that some paddlers in the Olypmic Kayak Club have already rolled with a hockey stick. They call it the Canadian Emergency Paddle Roll.
Pretty fun, eh?
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Rainy Day Reading
After a busy summer, a much awaited rainy day has arrived. Ohhh . . . how I have been looking forward to a rainy day spent in a cozy chair in the sunroom cuddled up with a blanket, a cat and a good book.
Today I am reading Wild Trees by Richard Preston. A story of passion and daring and redwoods . . .
As my laptop has been down, I have been reading more than writing while at our shop on the Noyo River. If you are looking for a rainy day book, here's my top picks from my summer reading -
Confessions of a Wave Warrior by Eric Soares - Tales of Eric's beginnings as a boy in the water and sea kayaking adventures (and misadventures) with the Tsunami Rangers. Eric has recently started blogging on his website. His latest blog was on sea cave safety.
Diary of a Sea Captain's Wife: Tales of Santa Cruz Island by Margaret Holden Eaton - Jeff is reading this one now. Fascinating stories of early days in the channel islands including stories of boats, fishing, camping, bootlegging, and movies.
The Raven's Gift by John Turk - An adventurer/scientist's travels to the Siberian Wilderness and spiritual journeys with a Koryak Shaman. A must read!!! Adventure, exploration, spiritual journey, and even a search for reindeer. I am going to check out his other writings.
The Chicken Thief Soldier by Michael Fields - My high school English teacher crafted a page-turner coming of age novel set within Valley Forge, PA. Here's a description of it that does way more justice to Fields' writing than I can.
The Shack by William P. Young. An "out of the box" look at how we view tragedy and god and probably a book that will mean something different to each reader.
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. A fun tale that entertains with a family's quest to raise their own food and support local farmers that also educates about the realities of agriculture in our modern world. Good resources as well in the book and website.
California Kayaker Magazine - a fun, new magazine that covers different aspects of kayaking.
Although I have to admit that a rainy day at the beginning of fall may have me picking up Dick Schwind's - West Coast River Touring: Rogue River Canyon and South which is likely to bring sweet afternoon cat nap dreams of our upcoming Mendocino County whitewater season.
Today I am reading Wild Trees by Richard Preston. A story of passion and daring and redwoods . . .
As my laptop has been down, I have been reading more than writing while at our shop on the Noyo River. If you are looking for a rainy day book, here's my top picks from my summer reading -
Confessions of a Wave Warrior by Eric Soares - Tales of Eric's beginnings as a boy in the water and sea kayaking adventures (and misadventures) with the Tsunami Rangers. Eric has recently started blogging on his website. His latest blog was on sea cave safety.
Diary of a Sea Captain's Wife: Tales of Santa Cruz Island by Margaret Holden Eaton - Jeff is reading this one now. Fascinating stories of early days in the channel islands including stories of boats, fishing, camping, bootlegging, and movies.
The Raven's Gift by John Turk - An adventurer/scientist's travels to the Siberian Wilderness and spiritual journeys with a Koryak Shaman. A must read!!! Adventure, exploration, spiritual journey, and even a search for reindeer. I am going to check out his other writings.
The Chicken Thief Soldier by Michael Fields - My high school English teacher crafted a page-turner coming of age novel set within Valley Forge, PA. Here's a description of it that does way more justice to Fields' writing than I can.
The Shack by William P. Young. An "out of the box" look at how we view tragedy and god and probably a book that will mean something different to each reader.
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. A fun tale that entertains with a family's quest to raise their own food and support local farmers that also educates about the realities of agriculture in our modern world. Good resources as well in the book and website.
California Kayaker Magazine - a fun, new magazine that covers different aspects of kayaking.
Although I have to admit that a rainy day at the beginning of fall may have me picking up Dick Schwind's - West Coast River Touring: Rogue River Canyon and South which is likely to bring sweet afternoon cat nap dreams of our upcoming Mendocino County whitewater season.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
It FLOATS and Surfs!!!
The frame was almost too pretty to skin but that wasn't the purpose.
So I sewed a ballistic nylon skin on her.
And she floated.
And hasn't broken yet kayaking in our Mendocino rock gardens.
Good thing I skinned it with the 12 ounce cloth.
So I sewed a ballistic nylon skin on her.
And she floated.
And hasn't broken yet kayaking in our Mendocino rock gardens.
Good thing I skinned it with the 12 ounce cloth.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Skin on Frame Kayak
Progress continues on my skin on frame kayak which I am building on our deck over the Noyo River. It is fun to hear the comments that paddlers make about her as they cruise by on the river.
The chestnut chickadees, downy woodpeckers, wilson's warblers, orange crowned warblers, and violet green swallows flit about feeding in the alder tree by my new kayak. It is fun to hear and watch them. Perhaps they will be inspiration when naming her.
When I cut the ribs, I put them in the mortises for a stegosaurus effect. At the moment when I took this photo, Stan and Jim of the Lost Coast Chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association rowed by and were intrigued.
Steaming and bending the ribs can be a little nerve-racking. I broke several of my first attempts on the steeply V'd first ribs but then started to get the hang of it - sort of. My ribs definitely aren't perfect. The keel required some shimming and I am hoping that the chines will help pull things into shape a little bit better tomorrow.
My friend John's ribs are very symmetrical and even (the boat closest to the river). But my purpose for building this boat is to do it on my own (with a little insight from my friends) and learn from and enjoy the experience. It will be fun to see how well my imperfect boat paddles.
The chestnut chickadees, downy woodpeckers, wilson's warblers, orange crowned warblers, and violet green swallows flit about feeding in the alder tree by my new kayak. It is fun to hear and watch them. Perhaps they will be inspiration when naming her.
When I cut the ribs, I put them in the mortises for a stegosaurus effect. At the moment when I took this photo, Stan and Jim of the Lost Coast Chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association rowed by and were intrigued.
Steaming and bending the ribs can be a little nerve-racking. I broke several of my first attempts on the steeply V'd first ribs but then started to get the hang of it - sort of. My ribs definitely aren't perfect. The keel required some shimming and I am hoping that the chines will help pull things into shape a little bit better tomorrow.
My friend John's ribs are very symmetrical and even (the boat closest to the river). But my purpose for building this boat is to do it on my own (with a little insight from my friends) and learn from and enjoy the experience. It will be fun to see how well my imperfect boat paddles.
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