Medicine Lake

Stopped by Medicine Lake today, looks to be about 50% ice free. I'll be checking up on Lake Waconia this Friday, I'd like to hit Waconia this weekend. The shorline is a good 10 mile paddle to circumnavigate, for a nice first time on the lake for the season.

Sunrise

Was a beautiful sunrise this morning, stopped by Lake Independence to check on ice conditions after all the rain last night. Lots of fog over the ice with the warm temps. I've much to learn about photography, and had a hard time trying to get some good pictures. this one will have to do, although it doesn't do justice to the morning fog..

New Boat

Well I've slowly saved all my pennys this winter, with odd jobs, and snowplowing. I'll have the new boat paid off this month. I didn't want to part with my trusty NDK just yet, its been such a good boat, and has taught me much, and with this one as a second boat, I'll be able to maybe introduce some friends into, and let them have a go at some paddling. I'm still waiting for news on the shipping date from Midnight Sun Adventure in Duluth, for the new Valley Q-boat I ordered. With any luck it will be here by the time the ice is off the lakes.

Springtime

Its getting to be that time of year ... now if only I could set up a trailer to tow the kayak around.

Newest SKOAC board members

The two newest members of the board for SKOAC, that would be me on the left .. The beard is gone, but the hippie hair remains .. gotta think about a haircut soon. Due to limits on his time, Rich Cook , has stepped down and allowed all three candidates, Jerome, Chris, and myself to be appointed this election. Jerome was up for re-election this year. Although I'm sad to see Rich step down, I am sure we can count on his help, and input. First meeting next Thursday evening .. lots to do for the upcoming year .. Midwest Mountaineering Expo, I'm sure I'll get some booth time .. Spring Fling planning .. It's looking to be a good upcoming paddling season!
Picture was taken by Courtney Ehlers at Meyers Beach on Lake Superior last October.

Making Paddles

Designing and building the machine stand for the CNC that will be making paddles for "Novorca Paddles". Not only does he make nice paddles .. he's a pretty good welder too!

Another busy weekend

Winter party for SKOAC is Saturday .. two positions were open on the board, and three people chose to run for election, I am one of those who has decided to run for a board position. After 4 years in the club, and all of the opportunities I've had, that I would have never been able to do on my own, It is time to give something back. New board members will be announced at the Winter Party on Saturday evening.
Ron Steinwall and I will be working on building a stand for a new CNC machine for making his paddles this weekend. I'll try and get a few pictures of the project.
Pool Sessions on Sunday ... Good thing the lakes are still froze over, I wouldn't get anything done!

Canoecopia!

Some familiar faces at the rolling clinic

Freya

Alex, Derrick, Freya, and Greg teaching G-rolls at the rolling clinic on Sunday night. I wish we could have stayed later, but the drive back, and back to work on Monday morning meant a departure by 9:30 pm. We did have some excitement on the ride home, we had a tire blowout on the freeway at approx 75 mph .. but the two resourceful souls we are, we had the tire changed and back on the road in NASCAR time .. well almost.

Where to start ... An early departure on Saturday saw Jill, Chris, Courtney, and I, in Madison for an early lunch at the "Come Back Inn", then off to the show. The weekend was grand, getting together with so many people in the kayaking world is something a person doesn't get to do often enough. I was able to see Wendy Killoran's talk on Newfoundland, lots of great pictures. I followed her blog on the trip, and was great to see her presentation. The whole reason for me to go was the people, all I managed to buy at the show was my copy of "This is the Sea 3", which Justine signed for me, and I renewed my ACA membership. We did go to the premier showing at the "High Noon Saloon", which was wall to wall packed!

Sunday was a day of listening to speakers, and just hanging out at the show. Afterwards Dave Olson and I made drive to Baraboo for the rolling clinic with Freya and Greg. These folks are first rate, some of the best Greenland instructors in the world. It was a real treat to learn somethings from them, I was able to spend some one on one time with Greg learning about static and sculling bracing.

The weekend I felt was a great success, both for me, and for Canoecopia. Spending a weekend with good friends, and meeting folks like Justine, Derrick Mayoleth, Wendy Killoran, Greg Stamer, Silbs, and all the others that came together this last weekend. Makes it hard to come back and concentrate on day to day activities again.

Canoecopia Weekend!

Busy weekend coming up, get all my ducks in a row by tomorrow evening. Finish projects at work. Saturday morning early I meet Jill and Chris for the ride to Canoecopia http://www.rutabaga.com/canoecopia/page.asp?pgid=1001 then for the evening "This is the Sea III" http://www.cackletv.com/2007/02/this-is-sea-3-first-review.html premier is at the High Noon Saloon in Madison. Sunday plenty of good speakers to spend the day listening to, then after Canoecopia winds down its Rolling with Freya and Greg http://freyahoffmeister.blogspot.com/2007/02/canoecopia-after-show-pool-session.html Then the drive home and back to work on Monday.

Pool Rolls

Dare I say it .. I think I can add the Butterfly Roll to my list of "can do's". I had it consistently working today. I've been working on this one for quite a while, Alex had diagnosed somethings that I didn't realize I had been doing. This along with a couple of tips from some others, Ron Steinwall in particular had been coaching me along the way. Now I have it working, so, thanks guys, I do appreciate the help.

Got some good video clips, and pictures today. I did get a nice clip of Alex doing the under hull sculling roll. Ron and I got some nice pictures for his website http://www.novorca.com/ . This carbon fiber paddle venture he has started is really going to do well, the paddles have to be seen to be appreciated.

New Reading

I had read "On Celtic Tides" a few years ago, This was the book that inspired me to make some changes in my life. After years of thinking about kayaking, I found a way to get my first kayak. Many things have changed since then. In good ways. I hope someday to meet the author Chris Duff, and thank him.

Some things had brought New Zealand to mind recently, the tragedy with Andrew McCauley as he crossed the Tasman Sea, another team is planning the attempt next year. Currently Sandy Robson is attempting to paddle all the way around Australia So lots of activity in that region of the world. I had been planning on reading "Southern Exposure" for some time, I just never ran across the book in stores, so I finally ordered it. I'm looking forward to Chris Duff taking me with him through the roaring forties.