If this guy isn't rich yet, he soon will be. Maybe.
The CIA and every other dirty trickster will be all over this.
Check it out here:
Pretty cool, huh?
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
The Trusty Kayak
So this past Friday, October the 25th, I was able to get onto and into Lower Rideau Lake.
I did my usual pre water checks. I inspected the hull and the inside of the boat. Then I walked into the lake and submerged a few times to ensure the integrity of the dry suit.
The water is cold enough to cause paralysis with in a few seconds, or perhaps minutes, at the most.
Click here to go to a good cold water immersion info site.
In and on the water by 1300/1 pm and out by 1500/3 pm.
An hour and a half of capsizing practicing rolls, paddle float rolls and rescues and meditation on the back kayak deck. Then a half hour to paddle the somewhat usual 8 mile circuit: boat launch to Hog Island, Rideau Ferry, Nauds Point and back to the boat launch.
Truly a wonderful adventure on and in the water.
The practice is paying off, slowly but surely.
The water was flat like a shiny plate of glass. Very unusual for that time of day.
The only other craft that appeared that day was a cruiser on it's way to Poonamalie. In the distance.
So why did I title this post the "Trusty" kayak.
I trust the kayak because I checked it out before I got a mile off shore. I also tested my thermal protection, the dry suit, as well.
My checklist is short for this type of water play. Clearly the checklist has to be appropriate the planned water event.
For two hours of what is essentially safety practice followed by a short paddle the list is not long.
So yeah, I had a bunch of fun and ... the money machine as been shut down for the season, so I no longer have to pay $6.00 to use the launch. Yippee!
I did my usual pre water checks. I inspected the hull and the inside of the boat. Then I walked into the lake and submerged a few times to ensure the integrity of the dry suit.
The water is cold enough to cause paralysis with in a few seconds, or perhaps minutes, at the most.
Click here to go to a good cold water immersion info site.
In and on the water by 1300/1 pm and out by 1500/3 pm.
An hour and a half of capsizing practicing rolls, paddle float rolls and rescues and meditation on the back kayak deck. Then a half hour to paddle the somewhat usual 8 mile circuit: boat launch to Hog Island, Rideau Ferry, Nauds Point and back to the boat launch.
Truly a wonderful adventure on and in the water.
The practice is paying off, slowly but surely.
The water was flat like a shiny plate of glass. Very unusual for that time of day.
The only other craft that appeared that day was a cruiser on it's way to Poonamalie. In the distance.
So why did I title this post the "Trusty" kayak.
I trust the kayak because I checked it out before I got a mile off shore. I also tested my thermal protection, the dry suit, as well.
My checklist is short for this type of water play. Clearly the checklist has to be appropriate the planned water event.
For two hours of what is essentially safety practice followed by a short paddle the list is not long.
So yeah, I had a bunch of fun and ... the money machine as been shut down for the season, so I no longer have to pay $6.00 to use the launch. Yippee!
Monday, October 21, 2013
Yeah Baby!!!
It was another beautiful day yesterday. I spent part of the afternoon/evening on the Lower Rideau Lake.
A profitable one and a half hours of practice followed by a paddle over to Nauds Point, Millar Bay and Rideau Ferry/Hog Island and back. A distance of just under 8 miles.
The fun stuff included paddle float rolls, ladders, scrambles, and the head in the capsized cockpit, breathing the trapped air.
The standard procedure now is to sit on the back deck while pumping the water out of the cockpit. The back deck is where I meditate. I am able to sit cross legged back there now.
Another fun technique is to do the ladder recovery with the bow pointed into the waves. While I am slithering up the back of the kayak the water turns the kayak 180 degrees to face downwind.
The dry suit is working very well. It is a amazing to me to be able to play for well over an hour or two in water that would otherwise be out of limits to me.
I have started to study marine navigation. At this point I am using the compass on the charts but already have a spherical compass to attach to the kayak deck.
Thirty three times on the water since July 14, 2013.
So why? What does it accomplish? What is the point?
Fun, learning & exercise! It is beautiful out there. We are very lucky to be able to enjoy the immensity and grandeur of our natural Canada.
We are so fortunate.
I don't know who or what to thank ... but I am grateful.
Thanks.
A profitable one and a half hours of practice followed by a paddle over to Nauds Point, Millar Bay and Rideau Ferry/Hog Island and back. A distance of just under 8 miles.
The fun stuff included paddle float rolls, ladders, scrambles, and the head in the capsized cockpit, breathing the trapped air.
The standard procedure now is to sit on the back deck while pumping the water out of the cockpit. The back deck is where I meditate. I am able to sit cross legged back there now.
Another fun technique is to do the ladder recovery with the bow pointed into the waves. While I am slithering up the back of the kayak the water turns the kayak 180 degrees to face downwind.
The dry suit is working very well. It is a amazing to me to be able to play for well over an hour or two in water that would otherwise be out of limits to me.
I have started to study marine navigation. At this point I am using the compass on the charts but already have a spherical compass to attach to the kayak deck.
Thirty three times on the water since July 14, 2013.
So why? What does it accomplish? What is the point?
Fun, learning & exercise! It is beautiful out there. We are very lucky to be able to enjoy the immensity and grandeur of our natural Canada.
We are so fortunate.
I don't know who or what to thank ... but I am grateful.
Thanks.
Friday, October 18, 2013
Wonderful Wind & Water
Another couple of hours on the lake with the wind and water ... and a bit of rain. Who cares? The weather is cozy inside the dry suit.
Another successful roll and some very nearly successful rolls.
The process is to practice the hip flick with the float on the paddle first for about ten minutes. Once again the first attempt was successful after the paddle float practice.
98 more to go then I can start learning some other rolls.
The waves were substantial as was the wind. This made sitting on the back deck more fun.
I also pointed the bow into the wind when doing the ladder rescue and the waves turn me 180 degrees while I am sliding up the back deck.
Also did a couple of cowboy scrambles.
The other new technique was going under the capsized cockpit and breathing the air trapped in there.
I also have started capsizing while moving.
Another successful roll and some very nearly successful rolls.
The process is to practice the hip flick with the float on the paddle first for about ten minutes. Once again the first attempt was successful after the paddle float practice.
98 more to go then I can start learning some other rolls.
The waves were substantial as was the wind. This made sitting on the back deck more fun.
I also pointed the bow into the wind when doing the ladder rescue and the waves turn me 180 degrees while I am sliding up the back deck.
Also did a couple of cowboy scrambles.
The other new technique was going under the capsized cockpit and breathing the air trapped in there.
I also have started capsizing while moving.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Roll Baby Roll!
Since August 18 I have been trying to roll the kayak.
I did it today!
Today I practiced performing the hip flick.
And that is the secret ... the shortcut ... the magic.
Don't practice rolling the kayak ... practice doing a somewhat decent hip flick.
And that is how I rolled the kayak.
Now doing a first roll in less than 60 days after the first attempt is not bad ... actually that is pretty good.
But concentrating on doing the hip flick would have made it happen sooner.
So now, I need to do a hundred rolls. Then they'll be good every time.
I also wore the drysuit for the first time today.
It takes rolling practice to a whole new level to be dry and warm while on the lake.
The drysuit is the Kokatat GMER.
It cost me just over a thousand dollars including tax. Dry & warm is worth a thousand dollars in itself.
This suit though has just increased my paddling season from 3-4 months to 7-8 months.
It effectively increases the value of the money I spent this year on kayaking equipment and courses.
I am pleased that the first time I wore the suit was also the first time I rolled the kayak, somewhere around my 52nd or 58th try!
And therein lies the paradox of learning to roll the kayak:
By the time one finally rolls it, one has perfected a number of alternate self-rescue's.
The water temperature was 15C/59F and not one bit of a cramp.
Another wonderful time on the water.
I did it today!
Today I practiced performing the hip flick.
And that is the secret ... the shortcut ... the magic.
Don't practice rolling the kayak ... practice doing a somewhat decent hip flick.
And that is how I rolled the kayak.
Now doing a first roll in less than 60 days after the first attempt is not bad ... actually that is pretty good.
But concentrating on doing the hip flick would have made it happen sooner.
So now, I need to do a hundred rolls. Then they'll be good every time.
I also wore the drysuit for the first time today.
It takes rolling practice to a whole new level to be dry and warm while on the lake.
It cost me just over a thousand dollars including tax. Dry & warm is worth a thousand dollars in itself.
This suit though has just increased my paddling season from 3-4 months to 7-8 months.
It effectively increases the value of the money I spent this year on kayaking equipment and courses.
I am pleased that the first time I wore the suit was also the first time I rolled the kayak, somewhere around my 52nd or 58th try!
And therein lies the paradox of learning to roll the kayak:
By the time one finally rolls it, one has perfected a number of alternate self-rescue's.
The water temperature was 15C/59F and not one bit of a cramp.
Another wonderful time on the water.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Kayak Update
So here is an update to my Kayak Dreams. Since my last post on September 15, I have put in another 9 hours on the water and under the water.
Without bragging, ladder exits are very effective and cowboy scrambles are good. I haven't practiced any paddle float exits so that needs to be done soon.
Clearly ladder exits are my favourite because they are fast and they don't require a lot of physical work.
These last 15 days I have started sitting on the back deck, no hands!
My recent attempts at standing in the cockpit have indicated that I am not ready to invest large amounts of time in learning that trick.
To be sure, all attempts at new techniques are a learning process ... and we love learning so it is justified.
The rolls are coming along slowly.
I read a number of kayaking blogs by kayakers who have a good or great roll or, 2 or 3 or 4 different kinds of good rolls.They nearly all took a number of months to get an occasional roll.
As far as the Paddle Canada course description is concerned, a successful roll, 3 out of 4 attempts ... is not covered until Kayak Skills Level 2. That qualification for most people is in the 3rd year of kayak skills training.
It all depends on where you want to paddle. For Lake Superior, the St. Lawrence River and oceans, a good roll in adverse seas is a must. For paddling alone a roll is a must. Most of my paddling has been alone but nearly 60-75% of my time on the water is practicing rolling and self extraction.
If you never use a sprayskirt, and do not intend to paddle unless it is summertime and the water is 75F/24C degrees, and you paddle with others, and you can swim to shore a distance of 150 feet ... then as long as you have a roster of roll-less self extraction methods, (ladder, cowboy, float), then you can probably still survive and live to tell about it after capsizing unexpectedly.
I need a roll. So I will practice/get instruction until I succeed.
I am considering joining a kayak club next year to get some additional experience and contacts also.
A drysuit will be required soon, the water is already starting to cool off from the cold rains.
I recently located the charger for the Nikon D50, so I will plan on taking it in the kayak too. I am still trying to locate the charger for the waterproof camera.
A GoPro Hero 3+ is in the offing ... 60-90 days I expect. They are surprisingly affordable even with the additional appliances required for water/underwater video/photo.
Yesterday I purchased an extra paddle and hip pads for the boat.
I was very unsafe and foolish to be paddling without an extra paddle for these last 50 hours on the water. Granted, I was mostly doing rescues in familiar waters. Paddling is not walking or running. It is a water environment and risks are to be minimised and safety maximized. Enough said.
To London this week for a few days ... no boating there, no time.
Take care of yourself so that you can help those that matter to you.
Without bragging, ladder exits are very effective and cowboy scrambles are good. I haven't practiced any paddle float exits so that needs to be done soon.
Clearly ladder exits are my favourite because they are fast and they don't require a lot of physical work.
These last 15 days I have started sitting on the back deck, no hands!
My recent attempts at standing in the cockpit have indicated that I am not ready to invest large amounts of time in learning that trick.
To be sure, all attempts at new techniques are a learning process ... and we love learning so it is justified.
The rolls are coming along slowly.
I read a number of kayaking blogs by kayakers who have a good or great roll or, 2 or 3 or 4 different kinds of good rolls.They nearly all took a number of months to get an occasional roll.
As far as the Paddle Canada course description is concerned, a successful roll, 3 out of 4 attempts ... is not covered until Kayak Skills Level 2. That qualification for most people is in the 3rd year of kayak skills training.
It all depends on where you want to paddle. For Lake Superior, the St. Lawrence River and oceans, a good roll in adverse seas is a must. For paddling alone a roll is a must. Most of my paddling has been alone but nearly 60-75% of my time on the water is practicing rolling and self extraction.
If you never use a sprayskirt, and do not intend to paddle unless it is summertime and the water is 75F/24C degrees, and you paddle with others, and you can swim to shore a distance of 150 feet ... then as long as you have a roster of roll-less self extraction methods, (ladder, cowboy, float), then you can probably still survive and live to tell about it after capsizing unexpectedly.
I need a roll. So I will practice/get instruction until I succeed.
I am considering joining a kayak club next year to get some additional experience and contacts also.
A drysuit will be required soon, the water is already starting to cool off from the cold rains.
I recently located the charger for the Nikon D50, so I will plan on taking it in the kayak too. I am still trying to locate the charger for the waterproof camera.
A GoPro Hero 3+ is in the offing ... 60-90 days I expect. They are surprisingly affordable even with the additional appliances required for water/underwater video/photo.
Yesterday I purchased an extra paddle and hip pads for the boat.
I was very unsafe and foolish to be paddling without an extra paddle for these last 50 hours on the water. Granted, I was mostly doing rescues in familiar waters. Paddling is not walking or running. It is a water environment and risks are to be minimised and safety maximized. Enough said.
To London this week for a few days ... no boating there, no time.
Take care of yourself so that you can help those that matter to you.
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