Paddler Forums

Search for Glory

2008-07-31T13:46:53-04:00

Has anyone tried this online game?

Beside shooting blood everywhere and doing quests for others, talking to monsters that I’ll never find in real life ... I found this game interesting for surviving ( although are lot’s of topics to be covered ).

A difference from Wikipedia ( you only have content ) this game kind of force you to read about topics / ideas / concepts ( learning without knowing it )

Idea of the game: Win credits for solving questions and use the credits to post your own questions for other users to solve!

Take a look around you can find the concept useful for you.

Search for Glory - Develop yourself in a fun way

Kayaking on the Bay

2008-07-18T08:45:21-04:00

Hi out there!

Any one live in or handy to the Tantallon area? If any one is in the area lets get together and arrange a paddel.

Don

IR Vacation to Hell

2008-07-17T09:50:00-04:00

Ok; firstly, this is not ‘my experience’, but it is an experience I have been following and I’d like to share it with members and folks so you can experience it as well.

A little background. IR is Immersion Research - maker of some very nice paddling and apres-paddling apparel. This is the second year they have sponsored what has become known as the “IR Vacation to Hell”. Very simple premise you form a team (usually 4) of kayakers, develop a video stating your and your team’s experience and why your team should be picked. The fun part is when you submit your application you have no idea where you are going - just that since it is the “vacation to hell” you can be sure it won’t be easy. Part of the deal, if chosen, is you chronicle your planning and eventually your trip.

The first Vacation to Hell was a river run - whitewater boats. The mission was the Rio Huallaga, the last unrun tributary of the Amazon. Located near Tingo Maria, Peru the Rio Huallaga proved to be a formidable undertaking forcing the team into a multi-day bushwhack out of the jungle. A little side note - a member of that team was Bryan Smith who last year released his first video Pacific Horizons - about sea kayaking on the West Coast. He’s currently working on an East Coast version which is scheduled for release in March of 2009 - featured will be; New York, Maine, Newfoundland, Reversing Falls NB, and Dory Rips at Cape d’Or NS.

This year is sea kayaking; but true to it’s name not just any old sea kayaking… it is sea kayaking up on our northern most shores… from Devon Island to Ellesmere. To get a sense of what they will be trying to do check the Jan 1 posting http://devon.irvacationtohell.com/2008/01/index.html

Aside from my just being generally interested in following the team’s exploits - from planning, logistics, attempts to secure and decide on sponsors and gear, decide on food (after all they will have to rely solely on themselves and what they bring to deal with whatever the trip and Mother Nature throws at them); I have had the pleasure of meeting and receiving instruction from two of the participants.

This journey reminds me of the type of epic undertakings of early explorers - going into some barren and seemingly forsaken lands - to explore, to see and to experience. Do I envy these four - yes; would I go - honestly don’t know But it would certainly be a voyage of discovery - both natural and personal.

So this being the 21st century and being ‘blessed/cursed’ with basically instant communication we will be able to follow these four on their journey North while basically sitting in the comfort of our homes.

The blog site is http://devon.irvacationtohell.com/ they should be starting their journey in the next week - assuming everything goes well and Parks Canada allows them to cross through Devon carrying firearms to protect themselves from polar bears (lots and lots of polar bears - and I don’t think these drink Coke) - see June 27 posting.

So pull up a chair and book mark the blog site - following the exploits will become addictive. Oh yeah - at the end of their posts there is an opportunity to drop the team a comment; having done so a couple of times, I do get the sense they really enjoy receiving comments and encouragement - so if you are moved to do so - let them know you’re watching and wish them well.

Oh yeah - IR is accepting applications for their 3rd Vacation (whitewater again) - any takers?

Paddling next week

2008-07-04T19:14:17-04:00

Hi all,
I plan to get out on the NW Arm next week....not sure which day yet, but will confirm. Will leave my contact # when I do.

Rockin, Rollin and Surfin

2008-06-26T15:53:48-04:00

Are you tired with your paddling? Looking to push the boundaries a little? Well how about a little surfing with those long boats? I was first made aware of this possibility by watching the “This is the Sea” (1 through 3) videos by Justine Curgenven. This Welsh paddler chronicled many of her adventures and included paddling in tidal races, surfing standing waves and just plain surfing waves. My first reaction was - “They’re nuts” - apparently insanity runs in my family as well.

My surfing experience started innocently enough at Rainbow Haven one evening - there was a bit of wave (I do mean a bit - maybe 1 to 2 feet) near the beach and so I decided to “play” a bit. Most of this was done with a view to improve my balance and getting used to being pushed about by the waves. After all, there may be times when landing on a beach will require dealing with waves, or your nice serene day paddle suddenly has swell and breaking waves - it helps to have some experience with this in a controlled situation before having to do it for real some day.

There are books to read and even some videos that cover the topic; most written from the perspective of keeping you from surfing or broaching your kayak. They are useful and help in getting you to understand wave dynamics and what your boat, and consequently you, will do. However, nothing will replace your “bum in the seat” and just plain doing it.

Having slowly gotten braver and realizing the worse that can happen is getting wet - over and over and over again - the boundaries got pushed further and further. Now waves of 4 to 6 feet are preferred (higher sometimes) and more experimentation with the kayak “working” the wave is being pursued.

It is exhilirating beyond words to catch the green part of a wave and surfing the front while the wave breaks behind you. The ride continues as the foam pile catches up and another ride starts. Sometimes you broach and now you try to side surf - or as some call it “bongo surfing”, because you are bongoing/bouncing along. Pretty soon you realize this doesn’t have to be at the mercy of the wave and you start to try to control the side surf, maybe getting your boat to swing around and dropping back into a front surf, or maybe trying to get a back surf going.

Aside from the pure fun of surfing and playing on the waves - the practical aspect is important as well. This is a truly great way to practice your braces and rolls. It is one way to ensure that your corrective manouvers are second nature and won’t let you down when the going gets tough. Finally a word about safety - start small, get used to what the water can do. Buy and wear a helmet - hitting sand while being “pile driven” by a wave can still hurt. Keep those hands below your shoulders - a dislocated shoulder because of poor bracing is not fun.

So go find a beach - watch what the waves do for a while and then push on out there; it will make you a more capable and confident paddler and that is always a good thing. Be wary of people on the beach, they are the equivalent of speed bumps in driveways; also, be aware of surfing etiquette, if the beach you choose has board surfers. If you want to know what days may be good go to http://magicseaweed.com/Nova-Scotia-Surf-Forecast/26/.

Oh, by the way, a final caution - you may find your jaw muscles hurting from the ear-to-ear grin plastered on your face.

19th Annual Sea Kayakers’ Meeting - one person’s perspective.

2008-06-16T10:34:00-04:00

Another year has come and gone for the Sea Kayaker’s meeting at Coastal Adventure in Tangier. Saturday rose sunny and warmish (and not because of the fire around Porters) but the winds were still doing there best to blow us off the map. Still, Coastal’s front lawn was a beehive of activity with paddlers who hadn’t seen each other in awhile getting caught up on their exploits of the past year. Other paddlers were busy registering and checking out the planned routes for the day and weighing their options as to which they’d participate in. For those who have not been to Coastal - there are always three trips (since I’ve been attending) available - a smaller (10 k) paddle a medium paddle (15 - 20 k) and a longer paddle (20+ k) - all this subject to changes on the water - due to weather and water conditions.

Once everyone was registered, Scott gathered the crowd in and had a few words to say about the day’s proceedings and introduced the leaders (and their assistants) of the various trips, reminded people about having all their gear and finally sent people off to their various rendezvous points.

Trip 3 started (19 paddlers in all) with a little shuttle drive, down along the highway back towards East Ship Harbour - launch was coordinated, with the owner’s permission, from a little private launch area right off the highway. The plan for the day was to skirt along the shoreline for a while then crossing over to a small cluster of islands and eventually along Cable Island (near DeBaies Cove and Owl’s Head). From Cable we crossed what’s called “False Passage” and made our way to Wolfes Island where we found a nice lunch stop area among the rocks and out of the wind. After a nice pause for lunch and some conversation, it was time to push on as we had a deadline to meet with regards to our church dinner (you really don’t want to be late for this). So off we went along Duck Cove, round Long Point passed Big Sandy Cove (an amazing stretch of beach and turquoise water), past Lobster Cove and finally to Wolfes Point. This now had us pointing directly into the wind and it was a “mad dash” towards Ship Rock and our eventual take out point of Murphy’s Campground. In case you didn’t catch the quotations - mad dash - is meant to be tongue in cheek. The approximate 2 k paddle into the gusting winds was a good challenge. The Church Dinner went a long way in replenishing spent energy stores from the paddle - and the couple of cold beverages afterwards completed the task.

Sunday broke cloudier than Saturday but there were no winds to speak of - a very different day from just 24 hours before. While in the past the bulk of the people attending the weekend really only stayed for Saturday - this year had a very good contingent attending the Sunday activities as well.

Sunday is broken up into on the water seminars on various topics from basic paddle strokes - rescues - navigation - more advanced strokes, and this year for the first time an afternoon session on “rock hopping” - unfortunately the introduction of surfing at Clam Harnour has to wait another year due to very small swell/waves. Rock hopping is where you get to put all those strokes and edging you learned into play by maneuvering your boat in and among various rocks. It is a lot of fun and a good way to test your skills and get to know what it takes to handle your boat. This session was led by Jim Price (instructor, paddler from Newfoundland) and Scott Cunningham; both can really can make their kayaks dance in and out of tight spots. As usual 4:30 came to soon and it was time to say goodbyes - wish old and new acquaintances so long and happy paddling; and start planning attending next year’s gathering.

19th Annual Sea Kayakers’ Meeting

2008-06-10T14:26:30-04:00

Hey folks - I know Alan has this link posted on the site - but here it is again

http://www.coastaladventures.com/meeting.html

This is always a great event - it is happening this weekend - there is somthing for everyone of all shapes, sizes and skill level. Come and enjoy paddling and camraderie - not to mention a great church supper at thend of day 1 - and for those who want some instruction/fine tuning - day 2 is what you are looking for.

There’s still time to call and sign-up - hope to see you there

Planning an overnight trip

2008-05-29T12:51:15-04:00

I am writing for some advice from experienced paddlers. My brother and I are planning an overnight trip on PEI this summer. We are planning three nights and four days of paddling.

My question is, how far would be a reasonable distance to plan to travel per day? This is important to know as it will determine a great deal about our trip.

Thanks