Paddling into 2014

mewolf1 said:
Scott, 500 bucks is a STEAL!! Well done! :thumbup:
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Good. I'm glad others think so. Last summer I got a Dagger Impulse (a solo whitewater boat) for $100 plus another $20 to have the seller deliver it to me. It was ugly and a bit beat up, but it will last me the rest of my life (assuming I don't do anything too stupid with it. :)
 
Greykilt said:
Do you have a favorite paddle Codger?
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For years I have used the Mohawk/Carslile "snake-beaters", the black plastic blade and grip aluminum shaft paddles. They are nearly indestructible. A couple of years ago, with Mewolf1's guidance I picked up a laminated wood Mitchell Seneca. The difference is night and day.
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Kent, was my info correct on the canoe? Some of it came from "that guy". :p
 
Scott Free said:
You got that for $400??? Wow! Good for you! Bell sure makes pretty canoes!
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Close. $450. Plus gas. Bell sold out and the new owners wend under shortly. Ted is back in business now with "Bell Composites". I think he is only making two models just now. I forget which ones. Mewolf may remember.
 
Watched the 'boys' get in the creek yesterday. This is Clear Creek in Golden, Colorado. 600 yards Upstream from Miller/Coors brewery and 3 miles from spyderCo Corporate Headquarters. Water is snow melt run off, a nice 49 degrees. Brrrrrrr. Grey stayed on shore, baby.











 
But I did make it into one of my favorite Kayak Shops. Hello Liquid Logic. Goodbye Checkbook.



Fremont Pass 9 miles out of Leadville. Calmer if not Warmer Water.



Youngest Son, Ben
 
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Sometimes I wish I could do kayaks. Most times not. They became popular after I had been canoeing for many years as new plastics and designs evolved. And as my physical abilities devolved. Do you have a picture of your fleet Billy? And Scott, pictures of your pending "get"?

My current river temp is around 64 degrees still though it spiked yesterday midday at 67 degrees. Water levels are staying above 500cfm and 3.39' on the USGS gauge. Maybe this coming weekend will work out for a trip to the river.
 
mewolf1 said:
He's stepped things up a bit with,http://northstarcanoes.com/ ;)
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More than just a bit it seems! No small surprise that he found so many retail outlets so fast. I would bet that he had to make a waiting list. Seven models now? More than doubling the selections? I bet the former short-term owners of the BCW name are regretting their business failure in the face of an obvious specific demand for Bell designs. That demand can only increase as the pending death of the Royalex material limits what competetors can make, designs and materials that Ted has excelled at for years. And IMHO, he is smart enough and experienced enough to not push expansion of production capabilities to the max. "keep them hungry"! Go Ted!
 
Went to the river today. Sunny skies, mid seventies in the morning and mid eighties early afternoon. Once again I was the only one on the shuttle van and had a good discussion with the driver on the way to the put-in. He helped me carry the Morningstar the fifty yards down the hill to the water and after resting a bit, I loaded and launched. A mild breeze was blowing that made me add some bow ballast. I had forgotten the camera but took a lot of pictures with my cell phone. But I cannot locate the USB cable to download them.

It was a good day to be on the water. Rentals were few and wildlife was plentiful. Fish weren't really biting so I just caught a couple of rock bass which I released and one really nice 16" smallmouth.

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I stopped for a break after about an hour and snacked on crackers, sharp cheddar cheese and summer sausage, drank a bottle of spring water and continued on. I was the only one on the river today wearing a PFD which is what I have come to expect. A couple of young otters were fishing, Canada geese flew over, wood ducks did their "hide and swim" routine hugging the bank and stopping behind logs as I passed. A few watersnakes were out swimming so the water wasn't too cold. As usual I stayed dry so I didn't try it out myself. All in all it was a good first paddle of the year. I left stinky dog at home this time. He found some sewage or some sort of black water to lay in yesterday and I hadn't had time to bathe him. He'll get to go next weekend if the weather cooperates and we'll take the Guide. Amazing the stability two feet of length and another foot of width adds. He can rock it but not turn it over. The Morningstar is just too responsive to his perpetual motion. I'll post pictures if and when I can find the USB cable.
 
Codger_64 said:
And Scott, pictures of your pending "get"?
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The seller pulled her ad once I committed to buy (and the ad pics were all I had.) We're making the big drive to get it tomorrow, though. This will be three canoes for me. One of them is going to have to set outside for a while. :)
 
Some footage from some Arkansas Canoe Club members on the Buffalo National River there this weekend.

[video=youtube;z5G263m4bRE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5G263m4bRE&feature=youtu.be[/video]
[video=youtube;SHRkBRbe7lk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHRkBRbe7lk&feature=youtu.be[/video]
[video=youtube;bh8Ak7dn9gM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh8Ak7dn9gM[/video]
 
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It was a good thing I made my trip on Saturday. It began raining here Sunday afternoon and this morning I dumped 3 1/2" out of my rain gauge. The river? Water temp dropped from 69 degrees on Saturday to 61 degrees today. And discharge went from 502 cubic feet per second and 3.36 feet on the gauge to... 9,480 cubic feet per second and 13.89' on the gauge, ten feet over the level it was at when I made my trip Saturday. It would be a rocket ride today. And dangerous as hell with new-fallen trees and strainers, new channels and moving gravel bars. Thirty years ago my friends and I would be there on a day like today. I have since realized that I am mortal and don't tempt fate that way these days.

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The Bell Morningstar got a cleaning today and moved from the trailer to the rack. The Old Town Guide took it's place on the reailer and got it's spring cleaning and 303 protectant treatment. And I even put the paddle locker back on the trailer. Watching river levels and weather, it looks like Jake and I will be headed to the river on Sunday morning. Sunny skies and a high in the low eighties, water temps should be back up to at least the low sisties. River level still has some dropping to do, currently at 1,710 c.f.s. and 5.06' on the gauge. The river bed will be scoured and fresh strainers in new locations are a sure bet. Almost wish I had a bowman for a spotter instead of a bow-wow-man.

Making a list now of needful things. Painter lines - can't line around downed trees without them. A fresh supply of Firetiger Roostertail lures, 1/8th ounce. Emberlit and cookware for a better lunch. Soup? Stew? Gumbo file' maybe. And a pot of coffee. It'll be too hot for my beaver felt Shikari hat. And my old river hat is pretty pathetic. Last weekend I wore my Arkansas Game & Fish Comission wildlife officer's hat. And Jake still needs a bath tub mat for traction up front. An anchor. I need to find my scale weight or find an old sash weight. Anyone else getting ready to head out this weekend?
 
I have not been in the water yet this year. It was a cold winter and the water is down right cold. I don't own any protection from that so will hold off for another few weeks. Own 2 Perception yaks. 10.5 and 14.5.
 
I hope to get on the water this weekend!

Always look forward to these threads.
 
Scott Free said:
The seller pulled her ad once I committed to buy (and the ad pics were all I had.) We're making the big drive to get it tomorrow, though. This will be three canoes for me. One of them is going to have to set outside for a while. :)
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Pictures now? Hopefully the deal didn't fall through or the canoe was in worse condition than the seller let on in the ad. I suppose I have been lucky on that count so far.
 
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