Paddling into 2015

Still iced in, snowed under or otherwise under the weather? I have some interesting reading material for you. Rapidmedia/Canoe Roots magazine. Titles like: Paddle like it is 1905 - about two guys seeking to recreate a history exploration of a river in Labrador using only turn of the century (last century) equipment. Canoeist Completes 4000-mile Journey, pretty well self explanatory. Nine Rivers follows four men on a month-long, thousand kilometre canoe journey through the Canadian shield. More videos like, Packing for a weekend canoe trip. We belong to it. And daily photos... Agawa Canyon today.

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http://www.rapidmedia.com/canoeing/categories/boats.html
 
[video=vimeo;55080116]https://vimeo.com/55080116[/video]

I dream of Spring- Algonquin Provincial Park.
 
My paddling group will be expanding from three to five this summer. My son and his wife are moving here. He is being stationed at Great Lakes north of Chicago. Military pay leaves little room for toys at times so I've been hitting craigslist here in an attempt to score a canoe so the two of them can join us on our trips.

I've been emailing with a guy that has one of these, unused, with all PFD's and paddles for about $100 less than retail on the canoe alone.

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http://www.madrivercanoe.com/product/index/products/recreation/adventure_destiny_series/adventure_14

Hopefully, I'll let you know tomorrow how it works out.
 
Good luck! I've been "fishing" for a third canoe myself. Or a pair of SOT yaks, for my two older granddaughters. I need to get busy selling some knives I guess.
 
Scott Free said:
Codger posted a bit of good news for canoe enthusiasts a few days ago with his vid of Tuffstuff. I'm here to post some bad. Two days ago, Esquif announced they were going out of business. Sad news.

http://www.esquif.com/en/index/
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It is with great sadness that we announce today that Esquif Canoes inc. has stopped operating Monday March 16th, 2014. Various elements forced Esquif to dispose of its assets and end production.


For over 15 years, we worked hard to design and build the best canoes in the world and we want to thank all our customers and friends. Mission accomplished!


Jacques and everyone from Esquif
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Wow! They had become the cutting edge of OC1 design and very prominent in competitions!
 
A cool buy on the auctioned Burt Reynolds' knives. For those interested in seeing other historical canoe memorabilia, Bill Mason's 17' Grumman Canoe is up for auction on eBay now.

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Also a group of his gear was auctioned.

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From Canoeroots Magazine:

A few of Bill Mason's famous pieces of gear are being auctioned off on eBay. The bidding ends this evening with four more lots to go up for auction in the future. The following is excerpted from an article in the Ottawa Citizen:

"People ask me, ‘How could you possibly sell these items?’ Well, he was a filmmaker and he always bought traditional gear, maybe half a dozen of each,” says daughter, Becky Mason.

His red PFD (personal floatation device), many times recovered, “saved his life many times on Lake Superior, (once) specifically in Waterwalker,” she recalls.

It’s for sale, and so are canoe parts: A thwart and a yoke — the wooden parts that go from gunwale to gunwale and keep the canoe rigid. The yoke rests across a person’s shoulders on a portage.

Becky says her father liked portaging almost as much as canoeing.

“He loved that vision of Canada that you still can go from waterway to waterway. He didn’t find it a drudgery; he just loved being out there.”

Seeing the auction items together “makes me hear the laughter,” she said."
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bill-Mason-...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
 
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I picked up this video from Canoeroots Magazine online and thought it was a simple, no frills, low cost way to mount a camera. I will add that having swept fishing rods and other gear overboard over the years, I would add a small, light lanyard to the mount for ease of recovery if the mount slipped or brush (or my paddle) hit the mount.

[video=youtube;EI4AkbYCrIE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI4AkbYCrIE&list=UUpsDOHysPzrBhn8S7zJ8f4w[/video]

Canoe fever has hit me bad (couldn't tell, could you?) and I may get on the waqter for a short float as soon as tomorrow if the weather and wind cooperates. My target is the Henry's Fork of the Snake not far North of me around Ashton, Idaho. This section from Old Stone Bridge Access to the County Boat ramp is a 6.8 mile, 3 to 4 hour paddle. It is referred to as the "Warm River Stretch" as the river is emerging from the conifer forest and lava canyons where it is mostly fed by snowmelt and is more spring fed. Difficulty is rated at only 1+ (1.3 - 1.4) due to some basic navigation and control skills needed to avoid instream rocks and the riffle-drop-pool features. In other words, near novice level. The trout are reported to be numerous but on the small side.
 
Do it! Nick Allen of NWA knives is a Facebook friend. He was out on his today.

I can live vicariously through the two of you until the water level becomes manageable in the Fox river.
 
It's supposed to be in the low 60's here this coming Wednesday. The only thing holding me back is the water temps here are only about 40 degrees, and I don't own a drysuit. With a wetsuit, I want a water temp of at least 50 or 55 (especially if paddling alone.)
 
Supposed to be 63 and partly sunny tomorrow, but the wind will pick up with gusts up to 22 mph. Still not decided. The water is quite cold here as well and my drysuit isn't here yet. And it will need gasket replacement when it does arrive. We shall see.
 
We paddled Foster City Lagoon (South of San Francisco) with our latest Team River Runner course graduates a couple of weeks ago. It was a balmy mid-70's day, good paddling, followed up by a nice BBQ.
 
bluesurf said:
We paddled Foster City Lagoon (South of San Francisco) with our latest Team River Runner course graduates a couple of weeks ago. It was a balmy mid-70's day, good paddling, followed up by a nice BBQ.
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Young folks and paddlesports are a natural fit. DO you have any pictures you can share?
 
Nice! I see a mix of ages there. Mostly novices or more experienced paddlers honeing their skills? Also a mix of kayak styles, SOT and enclosed. Everyone seems to be properly outfitted with upscale PFDs as well. Not really sure the helmets are needed for flatwater paddling unless a part of the class was shallow water rolling. Looks like a good turnout!
 
Yes, the Veterans and Volunteers comprise a wide range of ages. Our course consists of 7 weekly sessions during which Veterans are introduced to kayaks and related safety equipment, then progressing through to wet exits, bow rescues, various paddling and bracing techniques, etc. Helmets are a general program requirement for our chapter, and it's simply easier to have everyone accustomed to being comfortable wearing the gear.

More information about the program is available at http://www.teamriverrunner.org/
 
Well I didn't get to go paddling last weekend as I had hoped. My lung issues have their up and downs and last weekend it was downs. So I stayed home and read about paddling.

This month's issue of paddling magazine online has some good gear tips, some paddlesports bios from people as diverse as a shuttle driver, a conservationist, a river guide, a small town kayak retailer and more. And as always a plethora of new gear to ogle and lust for.

http://www.rapidmedia.com/2014-07-0...site&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email
 
Still paddling away, down here in Florida. Two back to back paddle/camping trips this month on the Oklawaha River.
 
Codger_64 said:
Good luck! I've been "fishing" for a third canoe myself. Or a pair of SOT yaks, for my two older granddaughters. I need to get busy selling some knives I guess.
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I sold a few guns before moving to Chicago. Not having an opportunity to use them I decided to part with them. That money became new furniture for the new house.

In my old house I had a basement bar with neon, mirrors, tin signs, and stuff like that. I've no room for it here so it's being sold. That is what I'll be repaying the loan I gave myself to buy this:

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The seller wasn't kidding. Unused with the price tag still on it. Two Stearns vests, and car top foam blocks still in the bag.

The odd part. One wood Feather Brand paddle (new with tag) and one Caviness plastic and metal (with tag) paddle. I think he got the lighter Caviness for his wife.

Matters not. It's mine now and the armada has grown to four vessels :D.

Soon I'll be in Guyon's league :cool:
 
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