Today's Paddle

You guys are inspiring me. Gonna get a craigslist to look for a deal on a nice tippy fiber boat and just be done with it.

My introduction to skis was a matter of getting thrown in the deep end, complete with a lesson in surfing them in “grommy” size overhead waves (about 7-10’ FFS!)

Geoff, my mentor and host for a week, was a lifelong Surf Lifesaving Club Member, in fact so was his wife Josie, and their three “nippers” (kids).  In Aussie lingo, they’re Clubbies.  It was an eye opening and stupid fun week.  He took me out in their double Surf Lifesaving Ski, designed to be paddled out through breaking surf to rescue people who needed rescuing.  In his words, if I can be comfortable in a double, a single will be apples. (Easy peasy and good).  

I'm in the market for a large recreational canoe this Spring.  Any idea on where to start?  I'll check craigslist and the Saratoga (and possibly Old Forge) Paddlefests.  

Saratogahalfday wrote

I'm in the market for a large recreational canoe this Spring.  Any idea on where to start?  I'll check craigslist and the Saratoga (and possibly Old Forge) Paddlefests.

You are on the right track. If you’re particular and want to try out lots of boats first, paddle fest is the way to go for sure. If you’re just looking for a cheap beater, Craigslist- this would be the one I would investigate first:
https://oneonta.craigslist.org/boa/d/oneonta-canoe-3-seat-composite/6866500513.html

Thanks man.  Given that I grew up in o-town, I'll check that one out.

Happy Easter to meeeee!  
My brand spankin’ new ski..  
Small issue though..  ice-out not.  Yet. Soon.

So, did you actually go paddling or just cruise around with that missile on your roof?

LOL!  Kim Jung Un is envious!

D.B. Cooper wrote

LOL!  Kim Jung Un is envious!

Fuck KJU - I’m jealous

No paddling today. Spent most of Saturday afternoon and half the day today looking for my cam-strap bag. At least the garage got a good cleaning out. Very frustrating but since I finally gave up and am ordering some new ones, it ought to show up soon.

New straps acquired. The old ones should be showing up in 321...

So I’ve put in some water time with my new ski..   literally... I think I'll name her Kyles Mom.   Entering the surfski is the toughest part, as there’s no primary stability, and even less secondary stability when you’re not paddling.  Any time one is idle, you take your feet out and hang your legs over the side of the cockpit to act as stabilizers..  (I’m sure glad I’m paddling on fresh water.).

I think you need to track a trip on strava or something similar and tell me how fast that sucker goes.

For this reason the outrigger was invented.

Sick Bird Rider wrote

For this reason the outrigger was invented.

Touche!  Actually I’ve been working on convincing a friend to split on an OC2 next spring..
... in the meantime, I’m progressing little  by little with the ski..enough positives each session that I’m pretty stoked ..  

So yesterday I upped the ante, a learning session on the ski (now named The Jack Sparrow for it’s tipsy nature),followed by a workout paddle on my SUP..
To top off my day, Bon and I went out for a hour and a half afternoon bike ride on the beat down back roads ..
When all was said and done, I fired up the barbie..  best way to end a beauty Summer day!


All loaded up and looking pro..  BWAHAHAHA!

The lake is finally warm enough to limit the neoprene needed to booties..  

It sure is nice getting out every AM for dawn patrol SUP or  ski paddle before heading off for a day of enslavement to the Babylon Shitstem.  (Actually I do love my job, it just sounds so woke to talk like a Rasta)

Yesterday morning...

This AM..