It is a beautiful sunny morning here in this part of eastern Ontario. The temp is finally into the single digits again at -7 degrees Celsius/19.4 Fahrenheit, yay!
It is forecast to reach a high of +1 or 2C for the next couple of days.
There may be a few nights of minus's in the double digits, but within the week, both day and night temps will be in the single digits!
So I am encouraged. Maybe the lakes will become liquid within the next 30 days or so.
First of let me link you to Alaskagraphy. Bixler and Krystin are Alaska sailboat sailors who enjoy going on hiking, fishing and hunting trips on their sailboat. They also have made a couple of good quality movies of some adventure trips in Alaska.
If you are sensitive to fishing and hunting, this may not be for you. The fish they catch and the bears they shoot end up on the dinner plate.
This is the first one, about an hour long; Boats, Beaches & Bears 5 Months Sailing In The Last Frontier.
It is excellent viewing and learning fare.
I am still practicing the compass and chart navigation. To assist me in that effort, I recently purchased a book titled Sea Kayak Navigation Simplified by Lee Moyer for around $18.00. It is very clear and simple.
Time to start checking out the camping and kayak gear. I'll be ready!
More than likely my first trip will be down the Tay River to Beveridges Lock and into the Rideau System at Beveridges Bay. It is convenient at least. The Tay River is less than a block away from my front door. I can put in there conveniently without having to use the car even. Maybe a one nighter or two.
Dream, live the dream.
Friday, March 7, 2014
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
The Lakes Are ...
... Well, they are still frozen! Patience, Jebb ... patience!
It is going to be an excellent season! I'm going to fish from the kayak this year.
This year my formal kayak education will consist of the Paddle Canada Level 1 Skills weekend. Then of course there are the kayak/camp trips too. More kayaking during cottage week too.
So I have been checking out some water adventure & outdoor vid's at You Tube to keep the dream stoked.
Here is a link to a really good sailing site by Bixler & Krystin:
http://alaskagraphy.wordpress.com/
They also have some very good video's at You Tube of their adventures sailing, fishing, hiking and hunting up in Alaska.
My "Mike Poliszuk" You Tube site has a number of subscriptions to boating, camping and outdoor fun video's.
I was down at Lower Rideau Lake again yesterday. The ice fisher's are enjoying the long fishing season this year. Some of the huts have started coming off of the lake.
So still dreaming about kayaking, camping, fishing and water and stuff.
Ciao for now,
Mike.
It is going to be an excellent season! I'm going to fish from the kayak this year.
This year my formal kayak education will consist of the Paddle Canada Level 1 Skills weekend. Then of course there are the kayak/camp trips too. More kayaking during cottage week too.
So I have been checking out some water adventure & outdoor vid's at You Tube to keep the dream stoked.
Here is a link to a really good sailing site by Bixler & Krystin:
http://alaskagraphy.wordpress.com/
They also have some very good video's at You Tube of their adventures sailing, fishing, hiking and hunting up in Alaska.
My "Mike Poliszuk" You Tube site has a number of subscriptions to boating, camping and outdoor fun video's.
I was down at Lower Rideau Lake again yesterday. The ice fisher's are enjoying the long fishing season this year. Some of the huts have started coming off of the lake.
So still dreaming about kayaking, camping, fishing and water and stuff.
Ciao for now,
Mike.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Welcome Aboard!
It is so energizing to watch a dream become reality.
One of my goals since last July has been to find or develop a paddling partner or group. It has been a concern to me, that except for the courses I took, I haven't paddled with anybody who has more experience than myself.
So I updated my Goodreads account the other day to indicate that I had read: A Paddler's Guide To Killarney and the French River by Kevin Callen. That prompted a good acquaintance of mine to make me aware that he also had three of Callen's books.
Now I knew that Dave did have a sailboat at one time. Dave has a proven track record as an adventurer. It turns out he also has a couple of kayaks, as well camping gear.
What makes him unique is that he has extensive outdoor/survival experience. Previously he has had careers with the police department and with armed forces in an international hotspot.
So him and I are planning a kayak/camping trip to Northern Georgian Bay for 9 nights in early July.
And when stuff starts happening on Georgian Bay, I couldn't ask for a better survivor, a better soldier to be with.
He can be counted on!
Philip Edward Island is crown land. It costs nothing to camp there. It is also an immediate safe haven because when the water on Georgian Bay turns wild, it offers a nearby water exit.
I can hardly wait. The weekend before our trip I will complete the PC Level 1 Kayak Skills course. To follow that up with an 11 day trip really will be fun, a wonderful experience!
Even better, now I won't have to do it alone. That length of time on Georgian Bay will be a challenge of sorts. It certainly is an "envelope pusher" for me.
Later in the year I will do a three night solo trip to be followed by two other overnight trips of one or two nights each. Perhaps Dave and I can partner up if our schedules allow.
The experience this year will be invaluable for next year's trip to Lake Superior!
One of my goals since last July has been to find or develop a paddling partner or group. It has been a concern to me, that except for the courses I took, I haven't paddled with anybody who has more experience than myself.
So I updated my Goodreads account the other day to indicate that I had read: A Paddler's Guide To Killarney and the French River by Kevin Callen. That prompted a good acquaintance of mine to make me aware that he also had three of Callen's books.
Now I knew that Dave did have a sailboat at one time. Dave has a proven track record as an adventurer. It turns out he also has a couple of kayaks, as well camping gear.
What makes him unique is that he has extensive outdoor/survival experience. Previously he has had careers with the police department and with armed forces in an international hotspot.
So him and I are planning a kayak/camping trip to Northern Georgian Bay for 9 nights in early July.
And when stuff starts happening on Georgian Bay, I couldn't ask for a better survivor, a better soldier to be with.
He can be counted on!
Philip Edward Island is crown land. It costs nothing to camp there. It is also an immediate safe haven because when the water on Georgian Bay turns wild, it offers a nearby water exit.
I can hardly wait. The weekend before our trip I will complete the PC Level 1 Kayak Skills course. To follow that up with an 11 day trip really will be fun, a wonderful experience!
Even better, now I won't have to do it alone. That length of time on Georgian Bay will be a challenge of sorts. It certainly is an "envelope pusher" for me.
Later in the year I will do a three night solo trip to be followed by two other overnight trips of one or two nights each. Perhaps Dave and I can partner up if our schedules allow.
The experience this year will be invaluable for next year's trip to Lake Superior!
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Brittany Kayaking
This is really cool! It shows capsizes, rescues, a failed roll or two ... I can relate to that!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGvoLrADm_s
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGvoLrADm_s
Enjoy!
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Frozen Out
Winter is here. For the next six days it will be minus double digits Celsius.
The lakes were frozen days ago and this cold spell will freeze the rivers as well.
Still it was a good first kayak season for me.
I was able to average 10 times on the water per month. My last time on the lake was November 17. Life has been good and busy as usual.
I achieved my goal ... I successfully rolled the kayak ... twice!
My research enabled me to find a practice routine that works. The routine is the paddle float technique. It requires attaching the paddle float to the paddle and practicing the "hip flip". Paying special attention to not raise the head while executing the move.
So now I will concentrate on a camping trip or two over the winter. If I can do two trips I will be happy. Of course, Frontenac Provincial Park is must. Maybe Mew Lake at Algonquin Park. Mew Lake is car camping or yurt camping. Frontenac is hiking in ... no car camping unless you walk at least a mile and a half back to the car.
My winter camping at Kingsford Lake taught me well: after dark, stay put.
Of course if there is a group of you, that makes a difference. The problem is finding people with the desire, experience and equipment to camp in sub zero weather. I think I will try out the winter sleeping bag in the car first, this week. In the parking lot.
It is going to be minus 18 or thereabouts for the next week or so. A good time to check it out.
The thing about Frontenac is that both times I camped there in the winter, the park belonged to me and the coyotes and the Canada Goose. I was the only human in the 14,000 acre piece of heaven.
To be precise, at the time I had a wonderful girlfriend so I wasn't entirely alone.
The similarity between camping by yourself and kayaking is this: Risk Management & Planning.
My three night kayak camping trip to Doe Lake this past summer was the first time I had ever camped alone. It was the first time I had kayaked alone as well, because it was only the second time in my life I had kayaked. On the way home from Doe Lake I had a three hour kayaking adventure on Devils Lake.
Solo kayaking, from a safety standpoint is not ideal but it takes time to find and establish a kayak community. It takes time to get involved.
I accomplished some important skills in four months. Especially the rescues. That was the bulk of my time on the water. Even though it was solo, it was very productive as far as self rescue is concerned.
I gained experience. The most valuable lesson I learned on my kayak camping trip is this: things will go wrong. Events will occur that will demand good judgement. There will be significant challenges.
I loved every second of it.
So kayaking is on hold until the thaw. Hopefully I will establish some contacts.
The lakes were frozen days ago and this cold spell will freeze the rivers as well.
Still it was a good first kayak season for me.
I was able to average 10 times on the water per month. My last time on the lake was November 17. Life has been good and busy as usual.
I achieved my goal ... I successfully rolled the kayak ... twice!
My research enabled me to find a practice routine that works. The routine is the paddle float technique. It requires attaching the paddle float to the paddle and practicing the "hip flip". Paying special attention to not raise the head while executing the move.
So now I will concentrate on a camping trip or two over the winter. If I can do two trips I will be happy. Of course, Frontenac Provincial Park is must. Maybe Mew Lake at Algonquin Park. Mew Lake is car camping or yurt camping. Frontenac is hiking in ... no car camping unless you walk at least a mile and a half back to the car.
My winter camping at Kingsford Lake taught me well: after dark, stay put.
Of course if there is a group of you, that makes a difference. The problem is finding people with the desire, experience and equipment to camp in sub zero weather. I think I will try out the winter sleeping bag in the car first, this week. In the parking lot.
It is going to be minus 18 or thereabouts for the next week or so. A good time to check it out.
The thing about Frontenac is that both times I camped there in the winter, the park belonged to me and the coyotes and the Canada Goose. I was the only human in the 14,000 acre piece of heaven.
To be precise, at the time I had a wonderful girlfriend so I wasn't entirely alone.
My three night kayak camping trip to Doe Lake this past summer was the first time I had ever camped alone. It was the first time I had kayaked alone as well, because it was only the second time in my life I had kayaked. On the way home from Doe Lake I had a three hour kayaking adventure on Devils Lake.
Solo kayaking, from a safety standpoint is not ideal but it takes time to find and establish a kayak community. It takes time to get involved.
I accomplished some important skills in four months. Especially the rescues. That was the bulk of my time on the water. Even though it was solo, it was very productive as far as self rescue is concerned.
I gained experience. The most valuable lesson I learned on my kayak camping trip is this: things will go wrong. Events will occur that will demand good judgement. There will be significant challenges.
I loved every second of it.
So kayaking is on hold until the thaw. Hopefully I will establish some contacts.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Ice On The Water
The cold weather has arrived!
Last night's low was -22, and the night before -26. Celsius that is.
So yes. At those low temperature's the lake freezes.
I am hoping for a warm spell soon. If these temperatures continue the ice will be too thick for a warm spell to thaw.
Lake Ontario is still open. It is one matter to solo on the Rideau Lakes. It is an entirely different proposition to solo on the big water of Lake Ontario.
Sea Kayaking by John Dowd is still going to take a little longer to arrive.
No news on the men missing in the Bay of Quinte.
Off to London at the end of the week for a holiday visit with my babies.
Last night's low was -22, and the night before -26. Celsius that is.
So yes. At those low temperature's the lake freezes.
I am hoping for a warm spell soon. If these temperatures continue the ice will be too thick for a warm spell to thaw.
Lake Ontario is still open. It is one matter to solo on the Rideau Lakes. It is an entirely different proposition to solo on the big water of Lake Ontario.
Sea Kayaking by John Dowd is still going to take a little longer to arrive.
No news on the men missing in the Bay of Quinte.
Off to London at the end of the week for a holiday visit with my babies.
Monday, November 25, 2013
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