BaffinPaddler - http://baffinpaddler.blogspot.com

Maine Events: A Beautiful Thing

2012-02-17T19:08:00.001-05:00

Gooseberry Island, Deer Isle Archipelago, near Stonington, Maine USA paddling with Penobscotpaddles

The oneness of each, makes the paddle pod a beautiful thing.

Sharing . . .

Discovering . . .

Finding . . .

Together. It’s a beautiful thing.

I love how a kayak can take you there. Time and time again!

What’s this all about?
See the first Maine Events

Happy paddles!
The BaffinPaddler

Maine Events: Happy Valentine’s Day!

2012-02-14T20:01:00.003-05:00

Ahhhh, those passionate moments, the ones you love to remember, and can’t seem to forget.

I love those impromptu moments of discovery, like this special moment I was lucky to steal last August while paddling the Deer Isle Archipelago, off Stonington, Maine, USA.

This hidden little beach on Sand Island, shows up during low tide.
If your timing is right . . . you might just get lucky and meet up with it too.

A fleeting moment. I wish I could have stayed longer.

If your one true love, or best love, is secretly your awesome sea kayak and favorite Greenland paddle, you probably aren’t alone! And it's probably not a secret! I’m just sayin’: HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

BaffinPaddler in the awesome Maelstrom Vital 166 sea kayak with favorite Greenland paddle.

What’s this all about?
See the first Maine Events

Happy paddle trails!
The BaffinPaddler

Maine Events: Bear Hugs

2012-02-13T19:52:00.003-05:00

Why not? A little bear hug to warm up for a great meal of Maine’s awesome crabmeat stew, lobster rolls, and coleslaw at Dockside Restaurant in Belfast, Maine, while en route to Stonington, Maine to paddle the Deer Isle Archipelago last August with Maine paddle buddies.

“How come we can’t get this stuff in Canada!”

"Yeah, they make it, but Maine does it best!"

That's me thinking out loud and paddle partner agreeing in between bites.

But hey. Why is the angle of this post’s photograph so bent out of shape? And why is there a big red dump truck barreling down the street?

Here’s a clue . . .

Me: “Here, take the camera.”

Paddle partner: “Not this again.”

Me: “Got the picture?”

Paddle partner: “I’m HUNGRY!”

Me: “Take a picture please.”

Paddle partner: “Do we have to do this now?”

Me: “Thanks.”

Note to self: Always feed paddle partner first before requesting a photo. Seems paddle partners can’t see straight when hungry.

Here’s another shot after a good feeding.

What’s this all about?

See the first Maine Events

Happy trails!
The BaffinPaddler

Maine Events: Nature's Conversations

2012-02-11T16:24:00.001-05:00

Toadstool and animal skull on Gooseberry Island, Deer Isle Archipelago, Stonington, Maine, USA

Toadstool: Hey, Bill. How's it going?

Animal skull: Pretty good Sue. My contract has been extended.

Toadstool: Great news!

Animal skull: My client loves my work.

Toadstool: Awesome!

Animal skull: But I haven't done anything yet.

Toadstool: Keep up the good work!

What's this all about?
See the first Maine Events

Happy paddles!
The BaffinPaddler
(C) All rights reserved

Maine Events: Playing hooky from school

2012-02-09T19:08:00.001-05:00

5 Cormorants on a big rock somewhere in the Deer Isle Archipelago, near Stonington, Maine, USA

Cormorant 1: “This looks like a good hooky hang out to me.”

Cormorant 2: “Honestly, I couldn’t stand to look at one more “algaeabraic” equation! All that x and y stuff drives me crazy! 42y⁴ + 21xy − 14x³ + 42xy² − 42y² + 6 = 0”

Cormorant 3: “No offence Hank, but I think you spelled it wrong. It’s a-l-g-e-b-r-a-i-c. Just say algebra.”

Cormorant 2: “Why would anyone care about that stuff!?”

Cormorant 3: “Uh dunno, maybe Einstein’s Theory of Relativity can make some sense of it?”

Cormorant 4: “No one will notice us way up here, right Ed?”

Cormorant 2: “What about those kayakers down there. Are they going to be a problem?”

Cormorant 5: “Nah. They’re too busy dodging lobster boats!”

Cormorant 2: “WATCHOUT! Here comes that Jonathan Livingston Seagull wannabe freak! He's out to set another free-fall record!”

Cormorant 1: "Hey, what's the name of this big rock anyway, so we can put it on his epitaph!"

What’s this all about?
See the first Maine Events

Happy paddles!
The BaffinPaddler

Maine Events: I think my mother was really a giraffe who wore hiking boots!

2012-02-07T22:23:00.004-05:00

Dock in Stonington, Maine

That's the name I gave this post when I revisited this photo from last summer’s awesome kayaking trip to paddle the Deer Isle Archipelago from Stonington, Maine with Maine paddle buddies. I'm all legs, oh well. So are giraffes. At least I didn't get the neck too!

Maybe I spend too much time in hiking boots? I even wear them to curl! When people meet me they say, "Umm, your style . . . is (big pause) outdoorsy!"

I have "lotsa" heels. They get 'lotsa" closet time! And last forever.


Stonington, Maine

One of my favorite things to do on the Stonington trip was take pictures. And they’re still speaking to me. It is hopeless to resist. And fun to revisit.

Dock in Stonington, Maine, USA

Whether you are paddling, exploring an island, wandering around the village of Stonington, eating in a restaurant, or just hanging around on a dock, you’re going to discover and find all kinds of things.

And things will find you. There is something in this place that is hard to explain but fun and intriguing to discover and keep on discovering even when you've left and gone back home.

Even Nobel Prize winning author John Steinbeck remarked: "One doesn't have to be sensitive to feel the strangeness of Deer Isle.”

I just read, John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley: In Search of America. A story about his 1960 road trip across the USA in an overloaded camper he named "Rocinante" (the name of Don Quixote's horse), and he brought along a big black French poodle named Charley as his road mate.

Steinbeck’s agent told him, as part of his travels, he must go to Deer Isle.

But Steinbeck didn’t really like Deer Isle or find anything there.

Ok, it was the 60's when Steinbeck visited. Maybe it's hipper now. More art galleries. But when you visit Stonington, even today, you may feel like you stepped back in time. Before there were fast food chains. There aren't any in Stonington. It's so nice!

Come on John!, I was thinking as I read John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley: In Search of America. I was really looking forward to this part! When you visited Deer Isle.

But, he had little to say about the place and he admitted it. So I guess it's my turn. Maybe he didn't stay long enough, or had no other reason to go there other than to go there because someone told him to. I'd rather go somewhere for a reason. Of my choosing.

But then again, he wasn’t a kayaker! To each his own.

What’s this all about?
See the first Maine Events

Happy paddle planning!
The BaffinPaddler

Maine Events: Lobster Boats

2012-02-05T15:32:00.000-05:00

Working lobster boat "Tyrant", Deer Isle Archipelago, Stonington, Maine, USA, August 2011

"We eat kayakers for lunch!"

No, not really.

But the name of this Maine lobster boat: "Tyrant", freaked me out a bit when I saw it suddenly come round the bend close to an island where our group of four were paddling last August!

As kayakers, we often think it's safer to hug a shoreline when bigger boats are in the vicinity But a lot of lobster traps are set close to islands with enough depth to set a trap in the Deer Isle Archipelago, off Stonington, Maine, USA.

It was a surprising learning experience for me when padding in waters with a lot of actively working lobster boats.

You can see the lobster buoys floating on top of the water, and you know there is a lobster trap below. But you don't know when a lobster boat will show up to check the trap. They work fast! It will keep you alert in the Deer Isle Archipelago if you are a paddler!

Now, for the obvious. Maybe you should grab for the paddle instead of the camera when a lobster boat with a name like this suddenly shows up?

Too tempting! But, use the zoom! Not fate.

Lobster boats are working boats. While they stop and work the traps, the boat still moves. As a paddler, you have to watch out and try to anticipate their next move and stay out of the way.

What's this all about?

See the first Maine Events

More to come . . .

Happy and safe paddles!
The BaffinPaddler

Maine Events: Only $6 for a pint!

2012-02-04T18:34:00.002-05:00

A pint of draught for $6 at Fisherman's Friend Restaurant, Stonington, Maine, USA, last August

Well, well. Does it get any better than this for a paddler?

After an awesome day of paddling the chilly Atlantic Ocean, and dodging the lobster boats working around the Deer Isle Archipelago from the enchanting village of Stonington, Maine, USA with newfound Maine paddle buddies last August, this is what we had to endure.

Great company, good service, perfect weather, and Maine's tasty chow and brew! Yaaa!

Fish n' chips and cornbread!

Sorry. I took this shot of my awesome lunch after I dug into everything a bit, including the wine! But, did you notice? I'm saving the cornbread for last! I love it!

What’s this all about?
See the first Maine Events

More to come . . .

Happy memories of your best paddles and planning your next . . . !
The BaffinPaddler

Maine Events: Tugs!

2012-02-03T18:47:00.000-05:00

Tug boats in Belfast, Maine, USA

Paddle partner: “Where are you going now?”

Me: “I’ll just be a minute.”

Paddle partner: “It’s lunch time! We have to get a table!”

Me: “I’ll just be a minute.”

Paddle partner: “I’m hungry!”

Me: “I’ll just be a minute.”

Paddle partner: “What are you doing!”

Me: “I’ll just be a minute.”

Paddle partner: “Don’t you see the line!”

Me: “Why don’t you get in line without me. I’ll catch up. I’m only 10 steps away!”

Paddle partner: “Do you have a table for two?”

Restaurant manager: “We have a 2-hour wait. We’re short on staff!”

Me thinking: “HA, HA!!!!!!” (You wouldn’t dare say this out loud to a hungry paddle partner who has the keys to the car with two kayaks strapped on top and you’re 8 hours away from home.)

Paddle partner: “Hey, that’s a really awesome shot of those two red tugs. When did you take that picture?”

Me: “Huh?”

I’ll be posting a series of snippets called “Maine Events” inspired from photographs of an awesome paddle trip to Stonington, Maine, USA, last August.

We have lots of events in our lives. Things happen in little bits n’ pieces. Snippets! You can relate . . . ? Are these riddles?

This is the first snippet: Maine Events: Tugs!

I hope you enjoy it. It’s one of my favorites!

Later, when I resume my series of Stonington Stories, you may find some of the images in these Maine Events snippets woven into a larger story. Fun, eh?

Happy paddles!
The BaffinPaddler

Get to Know North Norway: Interview with Frode Wiggen, an awesome Greenland roller!

2012-01-27T23:38:00.009-05:00

Frode Wiggen, the Senjaroller from Senja, North Norway with the Boreal Baffin sea kayak and Northern Light Paddlesports Greenland paddle enjoying the Northern Lights!

Frode Wiggen is the Senjaroller, from Senja, North Norway. He's an awesome Greenland roller, and obviously much more judging from the photographs and videos I've seen on his blog: Senjaroller http://senjaroller.blogspot.com which is in English and Norwegian.

Frode Wiggen, "Dividing the waters"

And Sea Kayaker Magazine has taken note too. The February 2012 issue featured one of Frode's stunning photographs called, “Dividing the Waters”.

The Greenland rollers fascinate me. They are the ones I need to watch and study as they are the masters of rolling a kayak. They truly love it and they make it look so easy. It's the Greenland rollers and paddlers who have gotten me into Greenland paddles by letting me try the paddles, or given me one, and they are the ones who encourage me and others not to give up on learning how to roll.

If you are rolling challenged like me, you can understand the frustration. The Greenland rollers seem to be the most patient of all. They seem to believe that we will some day, get it too! Greenland rollers are great and inspiring teachers.

I was wishing there was a section on Senjaroller called, About Frode, but there wasn't one . . . yet. Or an interview I could read. So I asked him if he would tell us more About Frode. Here it is!

Interview with Frode Wiggen, the Senjaroller

Question: The February 2012 issue of Sea Kayaker Magazine featured one of your awesome kayaking photographs called “Dividing the Waters”. Can you tell us more about this image and why you submitted it?

Answer: I try to be creative, and take photos from special angles. I also want to put photos on my Senjaroller blog without explanation, so people can make up their own mind what the photo is about. “A photo is worth a thousand words . . . ”

My photo, “Dividing the Waters”, published as a full page in Sea Kayaker Magazine’s February 2012 issue was taken during a rolling session. I thought it was so nice that I wanted it to be in Sea Kayaker Magazine. I got a quick response from them that they would publish it. It’s nice that people like the photo. That gives me inspiration to take more photos.

February 15 update from The BaffinPaddler:

Frode learned the "dividing the waters" photo technique from Gnarlydognews. Gnarlydog is an accomplished paddler, paddle blogger, gear tester and reviewer, and Greenland roller in Australia who collaborates and shares information and technique with other paddlers. Gnarlydog is also an ambassador for Northern Light Paddlesports. Sincerest apologies to Gnarlydog for the oversight when this interview was first published.

Q: Why North Norway? What brings you there?

A: I was supposed to be in North Norway for 3 months during service in the Norwegian Army. This 3 months started in January 1992 . . . so I didn't really stick to my plan. I have worked several places in the North, and now I never want to leave. The nature is fantastic. You have steep mountains, great places to free heel ski (also known as telemark skiing), and it’s not so crowded here. Off course it’s a paradise if you are into kayaking. Best off all, you have the midnight sun in the summer, and the beautiful Northern Lights in the winter. It can be a bit cold in the winter, but you get used to it.

Q: What got you into paddling and in particular Greenland rolling?

Frode Wiggen "down under"

A: I wanted to try something new, and one day I decided to give Greenland rolling a try since I knew a kayak instructor. When I started the course, I was afraid of the water . . .

The same day I finished the kayak course, I was addicted, and I spent a lot of my spare time in my kayak.

I tried a Greenland paddle from a friend, and after that day, I almost never used a Euro paddle.

Greenland paddles are the ultimate for me because I have a bad shoulder.

I consider myself a rookie when it comes to Greenland rolling.

A friend of mine is a very good roller. Seeing him do it for the first time, I thought: “What is wrong with this guy? Why use so much effort learning all those rolls? What is the purpose? No, I just want to do one roll, that’s it!”

The year after, I was in the water with another kayaker friend who taught me how to do a C to C roll.

I was able to do it on the first attempt!

That was way more than fun. When I got home, I spent several hours on YouTube watching Greenland rolling. I just had to learn it!

I was on my way to becoming a Greenland roll fanatic . . .

So, I called my Greenland rolling friend Ørgen Karlsen. He spent a lot of time teaching me the basics. He is a great teacher, but very nitty-gritty when it comes to teaching: "It’s not a good roll if it’s not 100%."

So now, I am addicted to this strange phenomenon called Greenland rolling . . . Maybe too much? You have to ask my girlfriend about that. But then again, she is also a Greenland roller . . .

And, do I think it’s weird to learn all those Greenland rolls now? No!
I like it because it gives you very good control. It’s fun and gets you outside the box!

Q: How long have you been paddling Frode?

A: I am only in my fourth year paddling a kayak. Before that, I paddled a canoe for a couple of years.

Q: Do you compete in Greenland rolling competitions?

A: No. I think I need to practice a few more years before I can participate in competitions. I don’t think I’m good enough yet, but maybe in a few years. Who knows. . . ?

Q: Are you in the kayaking profession? Designing boats, paddles, teaching, guiding, a professional photographer, etc?

A: I am not a builder, but some day I think I will try to build a rolling machine. It’s on by bucket list for sure! I also want to learn more about photography.

I love to take photos to show the beautiful place where I live. I am not doing any guiding at the moment, but I think I will in the upcoming years, and I also want to teach Greenland rolling when I get better:)

Q: Do you have any sponsors?

A: I am an Ambassador in Norway for Northern Light Paddlesports for their “take-a-part” Greenland and Aleut carbon fiber kayak paddles, which are in 3-pieces.

They are beautiful, strong, light weight, and affordable paddles. The paddles are also modular, and you can convert them into a storm paddle. If you want to try one, (and you should), please visit their website and find out where the nearest dealer or ambassador is to you. Visit: http://www.northernlightpaddles.com

Q: How long have you been a paddle blogger?

A: I created my Senjaroller blog in August last year. The purpose of my Senjaroller blog is to show other paddlers where I live: Senja, in North Norway.

I hope my Senjaroller blog will inspire more people to come to North Norway, or at least get inspired to start Greenland rolling.

In the future, I plan to have some more mountain and ski photos on my blog as well to show other activities that you can do in the area.

Q: Can you tell us what paddling is like in North Norway?

If you plan to paddle in North Norway, it is a must to have a dry suit. The water is cold, but very clear, and in the winter it’s magic to be on silent water looking at the snow on the mountain tops. In some areas you have white sand and green water, and if you are lucky, you can see seals, an eagle, or even a whale. There are not many boats disturbing the silence.

Q: If I plan a trip to paddle and explore Norway, can you give me a few tips on good places to visit for the less expert paddler? The more accomplished paddler?

A: I think that you will find areas for less expert and accomplished paddlers wherever you go because of the coastline and the islands.

If you are a less experienced paddler, there are places near shore that have flat water.

If you want to surf or play in rough sea, you can head out to open sea. Sometimes in the same location, you can find both – calm and rough.

But, I recommend you get in touch with locals in Norway before a trip, so you can enjoy nice spots and find good launching sites without carrying your kayak too much.

There are some websites in my area for kayak guides, but they are in Norwegian. I’m working on getting some information available in English in the area where I live. If you follow my Senjaroller blog, I’ll post links to them when they are up and running.

Q: For travellers who can't haul their own sea kayaks to Norway, are there any outfitters you could suggest?

There are not many kayak outfitters up here in North Norway. There are a few in Tromsø. I will try to update my Senjaroller blog in the near future with phone numbers and people who can be contacted to rent a kayak, and who guide in the area.

If you want to visit Senja, Norway, where I live and paddle, you can visit: http://www.basecampsenja.no. (Please note, the site is in Norwegian.)

Q: What's next?

A: My goal for this year is to learn more of the Greenland competition rolls, to be a better photographer, and just have fun in my kayak together with my girlfriend Wivian.

I also hope to convince more people to use Greenland paddles and get started with Greenland rolling.

It is important to know that you don't have to buy a Greenland style kayak to get started. You can use the kayak you have. The only thing you need is a Greenland paddle!

And last but not least, I want to motivate the BaffinPaddler to carry on with the Greenland rolling:)

Thanks Frode, for telling us more about the Senjaroller! I'm looking forward to more photos, videos, and stories on your blog!

For more About Frode, you can visit Frode Wiggen's blog at Senjaroller http://senjaroller.blogspot.com.

For more about Norway and to see a video of the awesome Northern Lights that Frode gets to enjoy where he lives see Visit Norway.

Credits: Photos and links courtesy of Frode Wiggen.
Interview by Peggy Varner, The BaffinPaddler
(C) All rights reserved.

Happy paddles!
The BaffinPaddler
http://baffinpaddler.blogspot.com

Awesome Winter Wilderness Yoga - Why not?

2012-01-12T19:00:00.012-05:00

While the "must paddle in winter" diehards are still out there on the water, I prefer taking shelter in the protection of the woods. The winter wind can be so wicked. I love a good blizzard or two. It's great for dumping lots of snow that we need for better than perfect cross-country ski conditions in the National Capital Region of Canada (Ottawa, Ontario/Gatineau, Quebec).

And ski conditions have been awesome around here!

Another winter love of mine is trail running in the soft fresh snow

Since I've taken up yoga, I find myself bringing yoga along with me on paddles, hikes, and trail running in snow.

Yoga is always there with you wherever you go, once you start to know it. That's the neat thing. You don't always need a yoga studio, you don't always need a yoga mat.

But I am finding it tricky to balance and strike a standing yoga pose on an icy, snowy, fallen tree in big Merrell Col Mid Waterproof hiking boots with thick, sticky Vibram Soles! But they are awesome hiking boots.

Since I Paddled to Yoga all summer and fall with my Malestrom Vital 166 and Boreal Design Baffin sea kayaks in places like the 1000 Islands from Gananoque, Ontario in Canada, the Deer Isle Archipelago from Stonington, Maine, U.S.A., and the National Capital Region of Canada, I discovered how awesome it is doing yoga in the outdoors.

I plan to continue striking a few yoga poses in the outdoors this winter too, in whatever winter gear I'm wearing, in neat impromptu spots that I find along the way. This will be interesting in snow shoes!

I don't know why exactly. But a stump, a fallen tree, granite rock, shorelines and islands, sometimes make me want to strike a yoga pose in the outdoors.

Suddenly I see a spot that I like. It's not planned. It just hits me.

After I do a few yoga poses in the outdoors, sometimes, only one, the big rush of energy I feel surprises and amazes me. A feeling I can't seem to replicate in a yoga studio.

Hiking, paddling, and trail running warms my body up and I feel ready for a few yoga poses. And you can't beat the fresh air rush of the outdoors.

Winter is long in Canada. It can be wonderful. It can be wicked. It's great to have a long list of ways to enjoy winter instead of endure it! I hope you enjoy yours! And have your winter survival plan in full swing!

After a good trail run in the fresh snow and climbing up on a snowy fallen tree for a few "non-traditional" yoga poses, I've got very pink, tingly cheeks (yes, all of them!).

Now, it's time for me to try and catch up with a bunch of movies I've missed that are nominated for the Golden Globe Awards, coming Sunday, January 15, 2012.

Happy trails! Enjoy the best of winter.
The BaffinPaddler

Happy Holidays from the BaffinPaddler

2011-12-25T13:48:00.008-05:00

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I wish you the best, today, tomorrow, and forever!

I don't make New Year's Resolutions, but at this time of year I do take the time to reflect on some good things that I want to continue. It's a good time to do it - everything is closed for the holidays!

I've been a sponsor to children in developing countries through World Vision Canada for a very long time and I plan to be a sponsor for many more years. Currently I sponsor two children, a little girl in Africa and a little boy in the Dominican Republic.

I am also a supporter of Ottawa Riverkeeper, an organization that works to protect the Ottawa River and us from all the stuff that threatens its health and ours. I wish everyone who could, would support at least one waterway or at least stop polluting it.

We've got several inches of fresh beautiful snow here in the National Capital Region of Canada (Ottawa, Ontario/Gatineau, Quebec) and it's time to head out and feed the birds.

Best wishes for the holidays and beyond!

The BaffinPaddler

Turtles!

2011-12-03T20:40:00.012-05:00

What's your relationship with turtles?

Do you ever think about turtles?

Do other people ever make you stop and think about turtles?

What do you think about turtles?

Why am I thinking about turtles when I should be planning a ski trip or a trip somewhere warm with a beach?!

It's time to get this thing with turtles off my mind and into a post so I can move on to other things!

So here it is, my thing with turtles!

50 Baby Snapping Turtles: Adirondack Turtle Tails . . .

On a rainy day last September, our group of seven kayakers were headed to Big Moose Lake in the Adirondacks, New York, to paddle on a day I thought it would be much more fun to visit the Adirondack Museum!

On a steep sandy embankment along the road next to a creek, there was a gathering of about 15 people hovering around the same spot.

I thought there had been an accident. Was it a roadside vigil?

But, the people were all smiling. Someone called out: "Baby snapping turtles are being born! Come watch!"

I thought, "Do I have to? We're already heading out late for a paddle. It's just turtles!"

But the rest of the group stopped and I didn't know the way to the launch site.

So I dug out the camera, got out of the car, and hoped I could get a shot of baby snapping turtles.

Oddly enough, it's this 50 baby snapping turtle tale that finally made me think about turtles and all the turtle stuff I've been seeing and hearing about as a paddler over the years.

When I took this picture of the snapping turtle nest, I thought there was only one baby snapper coming out at a time. But no . . .


Snapping turtle nest next to a creek near Big Moose Lake, Adirondacks, New York, U.S.A. September 2011. How many of us are trying to get out of the hole at the same time? This nest had 50 eggs. A conservation group was watching the birth. They stayed and counted each turtle coming out of the nest!

A closer look showed that baby snapping turtles start their struggle for survival from the minute they hatch. They even battle with each other to see who can get out of the nest and to the water first.

Snapping turtle nests are in sandy embankments close to the water. Peak laying season is June and July. Eggs hatch in the fall. The eggs are a favourite treat of racoons, foxes, skunks, and opossums. So baby snapping turtles are lucky if they make it to hatching in the early fall. Baby snapping turtles make a beeline from the nest to the water. It's a race!

Three baby snapping turtles run from their sandy nest to a creek near Big Moose Lake, Adirondacks, New York, in early September.

They are hard to see. An onlooker stepped on one. If you watch baby snapping turtles coming from a nest, it is better to watch them from above the nest away from the direction they are travelling rather than below the nest or near the water where they are running to.

Weight: Older snapping turtle adults can weigh up to 35 pounds, sometimes more. You may want to think about how big snapping turtles can grow to, and how powerful a bite from their strong jaws and sharp beaks can be when you paddle, fish, or hang out in snapping turtle habitats like creeks, ponds, and shallow shorelines of lakes and rivers.

If you don't believe how big snapping turtles can grow, scroll down and take a look at the giant snapping turtle I paddled past one summer in Bon Echo Creek, Bon Echo Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada.

Age: This baby snapper is cute! If it survives, it will take 15 to 20 years before it reaches maturity. Wow! It's a long time before snapping turtles are old enough to reproduce, and a threat to their survival. Snapping turtles can live 30 to 40 years in the wild.

Size: How big are baby snapping turtles? Their shells are about the size of a 25 cent piece, about 2-3 centimetres.

Baby snapping turtles start out small, but if they make it to adulthood they can grow to a shell size of 9 inches to 19.5 inches long or 24 centimetres, up to 50 centimetres long.

After our group of kayakers watched some of the baby snapping turtles fight their way out of the nest and run to the water, we headed off to paddle Big Moose Lake.

When we got back to the muddy, silty launch site at Big Moose Lake at the end of the day, a woman from the conservation group was in the parking lot and gave us the baby snapping turtle head count and news update:

Maelstrom Vital 166 sea kayak, Big Moose Lake boat launch, Adirondacks, New York, U.S.A.

"50 baby snapping turtles hatched! Well, 49," she said, "An onlooker stepped on one and fell into the creek."

But then her tone changed and she said, "That's a lot of snapping turtles! From one nest! Of course, they won't all survive."

But her comment finally made me stop for a moment, stop loading my gear, and think about snapping turtles.

What should I do if I encounter a snapping turtle and it bites me . . . and it doesn't let go right away?

I paddle in snapping turtle territories all the time. Kayak anglers (people fishing from kayaks) and fishermen fishing in creeks, ponds, shallow lake and river shorelines sometimes report seeing big snapping turtles swimming up to their boats chasing after their bait or catch. And they don't want to catch a snapping turtle! Or get an accidental bite!

Snapping turtles don't attack you. Their bites are not venomous (poisonous).

But, if you do surprise a snapping turtle, or bother one intentionally, or try to help one cross the road and pick it up (you shouldn't!) and it bites you, the advice is to stay calm.

That will be tough!

Try counting to ten and see if the turtle has let go.

If you are on land when a snapping turtle bites you, and does not let go, and you can get it into the water, it may encourage the snappping turtle to let go and swim away.

Trying to rip the turtle's strong jaw and sharp beak from your body can make things worse and tear your skin. Killing the turtle apparently makes it harder to loosen its strong grip. A dead snapping turtle's jaw will constrict (get tighter) and make it even harder to remove.

After a bite, clean the wound and seek medical attention if necessary. Good luck!

The "Big Mother" of a Turtle: Bon Echo Creek, Bon Echo Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada

Adult snapping turtle. Bon Echo Creek, Bon Echo Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada

I paddled past this huge adult snapping turtle one summer while on a trip to Bon Echo Provincial Park.

This big snapping turtle startled me when I first saw it and amazed me by its size. It's a big adult and must weigh about 35 pounds. I started to look around the narrow creek I was paddling and pay closer attention. There were a lot more snapping turtles in the creek. Not the place to dangle fingers or toes over the edge of the boat.

The stretch of Bon Echo Creek here was fairly narrow and I didn't have much room to get past the snapping turtle with all the other fallen trees. While taking a photo, my kayak quickly drifted closer and closer to the turtle, and it stayed put. Usually, turtles crawl off into the water when you come close.

But this big guy didn't budge! And I backed off. Snapping turtles can't retract into their shells like other turtles. To defend themselves, they will usually swim away if they are in or near water, or snap and bite if you surprise or disturb them.

Look at the size of those feet and claws!

The snapping turtle was happy in the sun and didn't want to move. It was watching me. It wasn't going to bother me if I didn't bother it. But, I decided to put down my camera, grab my paddle, and paddle away so I didn't drift in any closer and disturb its sunbathing.

Turtle Crossings in Canada

It is a pretty cool sight to see a turtle crossing sign on a highway and then see a big turtle crossing the road animated by an excited human standing in the middle of the road waving their arms wildly to stop traffic.

I've driven home from paddles and seen these turtle crossing signs in the oddest places. On country highways in Ontario, Canada where there is no water in sight. When I looked left and right of the highway, I saw a mile of fields, and then after that, a long stretch of forest.

I laughed. "Is this some kind of a joke? How could a turtle possibly travel this far to lay eggs? Where's the water? "

Apparently, female turtles can travel up to six miles (10 kilometres) to lay eggs. That's hard to believe. It's a long walk . . . for a turtle!

Then, one day, on a country highway with a turtle crossing sign, I saw a woman standing in the middle of the road, madly waving her arms. Her car was parked on the side of the highway.

A big brown spot was slowly crossing the road.

I stopped.

The woman was smiling and excited, "A turtle is crossing!"

Wow! People like turtles! People love turtles! They have a thing with turtles. Even snapping turtles.

I had a pet turtle twice in my life.

Turtle Soup?

Should you eat wild snapping turtles? Is it legal to capture wild snapping turtles?

Turtles can have high levels of PCBs and other toxins in their flesh. Some farms raise them for consumption. Some restaurants serve turtle soup. I haven't come across turtle soup in any menus I've seen.

There are laws in many places to regulate snapping turtle capture or to protect them. Something I hadn't thought about or that I even knew about until now. I'm a paddler. I just look at turtles and snap pictures of them.

You may want to investigate laws and regulations in the area you're visiting if you're thinking of catching a turtle or making your own turtle soup.

Turtles have been around since the age of the dinosaur and have survived. Turtles biggest threats today are human activity.

For information about regulations in Ontario, Canada, you can visit:
Capture of Snapping Turtles, Fish Ontario, Fishing Regulations, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

My Garden Snapping Turtle

I have a plastic snapping turtle in my garden. Her job is to keep away garden pests, like the neighbor's cats. So far, it's not working! But she's cute.

Turtle Metaphors

You have some turtle metaphors? What are they?

What's a metaphor? It's a big word. Metaphors are the hardest and most interesting things to explore. Let's break it down.

Metaphors are simple symbols of things you come across in your life that relate to or represent other things in your life and connect you to the world if you take the time to notice. It can take years!

Confusing?! I know. When I was attending university and studying Communications, they talked about metaphors and I never understood metaphors!

Putting together metaphors is like connecting dots to yourself and the rest of the world. When you start to see life through metaphors, once in a while at least, it can be interesting, helpful, and life changing.

How about the Tortoise and the Hare, from Aesop's Fables? The swifter hare (rabbit) thought he could easily outrun a turtle. The hare underestimated the steady determination of the turtle. The turtle won the race. The arrogant hare lost. Can you relate?

When all the holiday hype or any other hype tries to drag you in, think turtle. Slow down. And give a turtle a chance.

The Durhamblogger, a paddle blogger in South Carolina, U.S.A. reminds me to, "Take life one stroke at a time." A good motto. Especially as the busy Christmas season rings in.

For more information about snapping turtles and other turtles or to donate to a turtle cause:

Ontario Nature: Snapping Turtles
Tortoise Trust: Snapping Turtles
Toronto Zoo, Adopt a Pond; Turtle Crossing Signs

Enjoy the holiday season and turtles!
The BaffinPaddler

November Surprises! Burrs!

2011-11-16T10:33:00.010-05:00

November paddle in the Boreal Baffin from Shirley's Bay to Pinhey's Point and back on the Ottawa River, Ontario, Canada. 10 kilometres each way. 20 kilometres (12 miles) round trip. About two hours of paddling each way. Compass bearings: North 0 heading out of Shirley's Bay, to NW 330 to Pinhey's Point . SE 150 heading back to S 180 into Shirley's Bay . Photo courtesy of KayakJock.

You thought I meant burrrr, it's cold? No, I'm talking burrs! Those prickly, clingy, sharp, spiny, bristly, thistle-like things that let loose in the late fall and get stuck in all your neoprene gear like your paddle booties and spray skirt and won't let go!

You don't even notice the burrs, lurking in the brush, until you're getting back into your sea kayak. You look down and see that you've suddenly grown lots of prickly hair on your feet and spray skirt. You're going to have to paddle back home like that. Covered in them! They are sneaky things.

This is the first time I've paddled in November in the National Capital Region of Canada (Ottawa, Ontario/Gatineau, Quebec). November weather around here is usually wickedly wet, cold, windy, and grey! Most years, by November, there is already snow on the ground and my paddle gear is put away in a warm, dry place.

But this year, November has surprised me. It's been warmer, drier, and sunnier than I can ever remember.

It's the first year I don't hate November!

And I've got November paddle burrs! All over my neoprene stuff. It's drying out and waiting until I've got the will, the courage, and the need to pick it all out. Which may not be until next spring!

Meanwhile, it's still a happy surprise to be able to paddle my Boreal Baffin in November. Even though we are sweating inside our dry and wet suits with the mild November temps. The water is very cold but the air temperatures are still fairly warm on days where we've seen 15-17 degrees Celsius (60's Fahrenheit), making dressing properly for a paddle a tough choice.

I fit much better into the big cockpit of the Boreal Baffin when I'm wearing that extra layer of Merino wool as a base layer, topped with a heavy duty Gul GCX2 breathable paddle jacket and dry pant combo. I need breathable gear!

I'm still paddling in a two-piece combo of gear. It's easier and more practical for me to get out of by myself. I'm afraid of those impossible to open monster zippers on one-piece dry suits.

Although, getting in to and out of my heavy duty Gul paddle jacket is a leap of faith. I never know if I'm going to succeed either way. I like to have a spotter near by in case I get hopelessly stuck in there! Once the jacket goes over my head, I never know what to do next. Do I pull here, push there, or just keep struggling and cursing until something works! I still haven't figured out the best strategy for getting my paddle jacket on or off. But it's an awesome jacket once it's on and everything is in place.

And when your paddle buddies ask you to help them with their zippers on their dry suits . . . they really do need help! Especially when they start turning green and purple.

More November Surprises

The dandelions are still in bloom.

The kite surfers are out and about.

The Last Sailboat is gone.

The forest, however, is still the same! The trees turn scary in November and look like they are auditioning for a starring role in a haunted forest movie!

Enjoy November Surprises!

Is November surprising you too this year where you live, paddle, and play?
The BaffinPaddler

Kite Surfing the Ottawa River in November! The wind shifts, a kite goes into the trees!

2011-11-11T18:07:00.019-05:00

WOW! The first week of November I saw 18 kite surfers negotiating the 15-18 knot wind from Parc des Cedres on the Lac Deschenes section of the Ottawa, River just off the Aylmer Marina in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada.

It was an awesome sight! It was 17 degrees Celsius, about 63 degrees Fahrenheit, which is really warm and nice around here as long as you are geared up in a good wet suit with a layer of insulation or a dry suit with ditto.

I've seen the kite surfers out in much bigger wind, but never in such great numbers. I couldn't understand how they managed not to run into each other or get tangled in each other's lines. Kite surfing is an extreme sport. You've got to trust who's out there in the water with you right? Or hope you can.

I didn't have my camera with me. It was 3:00 p.m. With the time change set back one hour, I knew if I went home to fetch my camera, they'd probably be off the water by the time I got back at 4:00 p.m. And, when the wind dies down, they're off the water relaxing, calming down from the adrenaline rush, and enjoying the setting sun before packing up. Sorry, I failed you here. They were off the water when I got back. Motto: "Always carry a camera!" But it's still a nice shot.

What's that commotion in the trees?

I caught up with the kite surfers again in the same location on Lac Deschenes on the Ottawa River the second week in November when a kite was caught in the trees. It caught my eye. I've never seen that before.

This time my camera was with me. I decided to talk to some of them for the very first time to get some insight on the sport and a little bit of kite surfer news! You can only catch up with them when they're on the ground!

Kite surf and lines caught in the trees, Lac Deschenes, Ottawa River. Gatineau, Quebec, Canada.

Me: "Hi there! Bummer. So what happened? New at the sport or the wind wasn't your friend?"

Kite surfer's buddie: "A little bit of both I think. The wind shifted."

Me: "What were the wind speeds today?"

Kite surfer's buddie: "About 15 knots."

Me: "How long are the kite lines?"

Kite surfer's buddie: "100 feet long."

Me: "Are you guys with a club?"

Kite surfer's buddie: "No, we're just a bunch of crazy maniacs who come out here when the wind picks up! But there is a local forum on Yahoo where we communicate."

Me: "There's a big tear in the kite. How much do you think it will cost to fix?"

Kite surfer's buddie: "About $300."

Me: "How much does a kite cost?"

Kite surfer's buddie: "About $1,000."

Ok, let's have a moment of quiet silence for the kite surfer. He wasn't injured and got his kite and lines down from the tree and was lucky to have some good buddies to help him, but he'll be off the water until the kite gets fixed, unless he has a spare.

I shot some video of the kite surfers that day, and may post it here later. In the video, I could see how easy it is for a kite with 100 foot long lines to get caught in trees along a shoreline when the wind is blowing hard or suddenly shifts.

The guys here were taking it all in stride and all working together.

I talked to another kite surfer who was enjoying the early sunset and in no hurry to pack up!

Me: "It looks like it's all guys doing this sport. Are there any girls around here who kite surf too?"

Ottawa kite surfer: "There are about four girls in the area doing it too."

Me: "Has the kite surfing been good around the Ottawa area this year?"

Ottawa kite surfer: "The wind wasn't that good this summer. But November has been great! Today (Monday, November 7), we had a good consistent wind around 15 knots. It's sunny, and it's fairly warm for November at 17 degress Celsius!"

Me: "How long have you been kite surfing?"

Ottawa kite surfer: "Two years now. It's replaced golf!"

Me: "How do you know when the wind conditions are right?"

Ottawa kite sufer: "We check the hourly forecast at Environment Canada."

Me: "So when the wind picks up and conditions are right, everyone just shows up? What about work and other things?"

Ottawa kite surfer: "I've got a few Get-out-of-jail-free cards!"

Me: "What are the favourite spots around here for kite surfing?"

Ottawa kite surfer: "Haydon Park and Britannia Bay in Ottawa, and where we are now at Lac Deschenes, Gatineau, Quebec."

Me: "I've seen some of these guys jump pretty high in the air. How high do they go?"

Ottawa kite surfer: "Some can go 20 to 30 feet in the air."

For Paddlers

When the wind is up off the Aylmer Marina on the big Lac Deschenes section of the Ottawa River in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, I sometimes head out with one of my sea kayaks to play in the water in the little bay next to the Aylmer Marina to see if I can catch waves big enough to surf a bit.

You need the right kind of wind that makes big enough and fast enough waves to do this. Sometimes the wind is blowing hard, but the waves are too small to surf. It's what I call annoyance wind that just makes paddling a pain or dangerous! (If you know what this type of wind is called, please let me know.) But it can still be good wind for a kite surfer. They prefer consistent wind. Like us in sea kayaks, gusty winds and unpredictable wind shifts can be dangerous and hard to manage.

When the kite surfers are out, I never paddle in to the area that they are kite surfing. They are moving at great speeds with high winds in their kites and are managing kite lines that are 100 feet long. I don't want to tangle with them or get in their way. It's the same for beach goers and bystanders.

If I go in to the water, I stay in an area I know that the kite surfers don't go in to, that I already know fairly well from paddling during calmer days and doesn't have shallow rock patches that the wind and waves will throw me in to.

Some windy days are perfect for me to play in my Boreal Baffin or Maelstrom Vital 166. Other times I realize, I'd just be dumped over in a second. But at least on days when I show up with one of my kayaks and the kite surfers are out and I know that I can't manage the conditions in a sea kayak, I can enjoy watching the extreme sport of kite surfing from the shore!

If you're a paddler, you may want to learn more about kite surfers and kite surfing. It's an awesome sport!

Enjoy the November images below of kite surfing on the Ottawa River!

More Information about Kite Surfing

Happy paddles and kite surfing!
The BaffinPaddler

The Last Sailboat - Images of November on the Ottawa River

2011-11-07T20:59:00.004-05:00

The last sailboat . . .

Coming Soon: Kite Surfing the Ottawa River in November! The wind shifts, a kite goes into the trees!

Enjoy fall. One way or another!
The BaffinPaddler

Poison Ivy and Your Pet!

2011-10-26T14:04:00.032-04:00

So, you've taken the doggie ashore on the mainland or an island for a little exercise. "Hey, you look so cute in the bush."

The final flowers of fall are still standing. You've got to get a shot of the beautiful field of six-foot tall yellow wildflowers before they're gone.

Suddenly, your early warning system clicks on and you remember to look down instead of up to see what you're tromping through on that barely there trail to the flowers.

Poison ivy starting to turn red in the fall along the Ottawa River, Quebec, Canada.

Ah, ha! Of course. There are a few strands of poison ivy creeping out under the tall stuff! And you manage to avoid it.

But where's the doggie?

She's romping right through all that poison ivy you've just avoided and now her fur, paws and collar may be full of the oil, called urushiol, from the poison ivy plants - the oil that can cause a nasty rash if it gets on your skin, especially if you're one of the many who are allergic to the toxin from the plants.

But you're not quite sure. Did the oil from the poison ivy rub off on the dog just because she ran through it?

Next up, the doggie finds another, even bigger patch of poison ivy turning a luxurious fall red and decides it's time for a long and joyful, "I'm so happy!" roll in the middle of it! And you watch in horror. Now, you're absolutely sure the doggie is covered in oil from the poison ivy patch. Absolutely sure!

Poison ivy patch turning red in the fall

Some dogs just love to roll. Riley is one of them. She loves to roll in rocks, dirt, mud, sand, leaves, grass, small bushes, and whatever else is on the ground, including poison ivy.

Our pets, dogs and cats, don't seem to be affected by the toxins from poisonous plants, like poison ivy, that make most of us break out in a nasty red and blistering rash that can last from 10 to 14 days of pure misery. It amazes me how Riley can roll in poison ivy and not be affected by it. If I did that, I'd be in trouble.

Once the oil from poison ivy or other poisonous plants like poison oak or poison sumac get on to your pet, it can rub off on to you and things they sit or lay on, like your car seat, furniture, or bed! Making it easy or inevitable that your skin comes in contact with the potent rash-causing oil.

The oil from poisonous plants can also get onto other things that come into contact with the plants, like your gear, tools, clothing, shoes, or bicycle, and remains active for a long time.

Recently, I saw a picture of poison oak, poison sumac, and poison ivy pasted on the wall of a doctor's office in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, so I asked him a few questions about poisonous plants:

Question: "We've only got to worry about poison ivy around here right?"

Doctor's Answer: Smiling with a wide grin and pointing to the picture of the poisonous plants on the wall, "No, we got lucky in the National Capital Region of Canada (Ottawa, Ontario/Gatineau, Quebec), we've got all three! Poison oak, poison sumac, and poison ivy! Recently a grandmother brought in her three-year old granddaughter with a bad poison sumac rash. She didn't know that "pretty little plant" in her garden was poison sumac!"

Question: "What should you do if your dog or cat gets into it?"

Doctor's Answer: "It's the oil from the plants that can cause the allergic reaction and rash when it gets on your skin. The oil from poisonous plants has to be washed off with something that will remove the oil, like soap and water. Rinsing with water is not enough. Water alone won't remove the oil. Shampoo the dog or cat thoroughly, then rinse well."

Question: "Is everyone allergic to the oil from poison ivy? If you already know you're allergic to contact with poison ivy, does that mean you're also allergic to other poisonous plants?

Doctor's Answer: "No, not everyone is allergic to the oil from poison ivy. Some people can rub their faces with the leaves and not have an allergic reaction. If you are allergic to poison ivy, it is very likely that you are also allergic to other poisonous plants like poison oak and poison sumac."

Question: "When my skin comes in contact with poison ivy or the oil from poison ivy on my dog or other objects, how much time do I have to wash it off?"

Doctor's Answer: "The sooner the better. The toxin from the plants penetrates quickly into the skin. You have maybe 15 to 20 minutes. You don't have time to wait until you get home from a hike and take a shower."

Poison ivy warning sign in the 1000 Islands, St. Lawrence River, Ontario, Canada

"Warning! Don't touch the dog. She just rolled in a big patch of poison ivy! What do we do now!?"

Good luck. Maybe keep her on a leash next time . . . you can't shampoo the dog at the beach!

If I drive to a location to run the dog (Riley does not walk - she runs!), I bring a big towel along to rub down the dog if she's run through or rolled in poison ivy to try and remove some of the plant oils, and place another big clean towel on the car seat for the dog to sit on until we get home and I can wash her properly. Then I put the towel I rubbed the dog down with into a plastic bag, and quickly and thoroughly wash my hands.

When I get home, I thoroughly shampoo the dog, rinse well, and towel her dry. All the towels that came in contact with the dog, or anything else that may have come in contact with the dog like her leash or collar, or my clothing, gets washed with soap and water, or goes into the wash with laundry soap, and I select hot water, not cold or warm.

If you take your dog boating with you and let the dog run loose on the mainland or along those charming wooded trails on islands, you may want to have a plan for what to do if your dog runs into poison ivy or other poisonous plants.

Island trail, 1000 Islands Region, St. Lawrence River, Ontario, Canada

Talk to your vet and ask for advice on what to do or what products may be available to you if you are on a boat or on a camping trip with your dog and don't have access to a safe place to wash the oils from the poisonous plants off your dog. You can't wash the dog in or near a lake, river, stream, or the ocean with soap. This is harmful to the environment and the creatures that live in it.

Dogs are so much work! :) But worth all your efforts . . . right!?

Be prepared. Don't wait until you or family members break out with a nasty rash from poisonous plants before you learn about them.

Find out where poisonous plants are found where you live and other places you travel.
Learn how to identify and avoid contact with poisonous plants.
Never burn poison ivy leaves or plants. Inhaling the smoke from burning any part of poison ivy plants and other poisonous plants is extremely toxic.
Learn what to do if you do come in contact with poisonous plants or break out in an allergic rash.

Poison ivy has three leaves. It is green in the summer, turns red in the fall, then the leaves fall off. Poison ivy can look different depending on where it grows and the time of year. This image shows poison ivy in August in the 1000 Islands Region, Ontario, Canada. All parts of the plant can cause an allergic reaction from mild to severe.

Get More Information About Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac

The U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Poisonous Plants, Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac provides information, advice, photos, and general maps of where these poisonous plants are found in the U.S. and Canada.

Now, what is your horse walking through and rolling in on those trails and fields?!

Trail riding in the southern California mountains in January. Watch out for poison oak in the woods. The leaves have fallen off the plants! Also look out for mountain lions, rattlesnakes, and big, hairy black widow spiders.

Happy trails without mishaps with poisonous plants or things that bite!
The BaffinPaddler
http://baffinpaddler.blogspot.com

Coming Soon:
Adirondack Turtle Tails . . . 50 Baby Snapping Turtles!

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Fall Peaks: Colours and Cold Water!

2011-10-14T12:38:00.012-04:00

Fall peaked during the Thanksgiving weekend in the National Capital Region of Canada (Ottawa, Ontario/Gatineau, Quebec). The air was warm, in the high 70's (27 C), but the water in Gatineau Park lakes has already become too cold to swim in without a wet or dry suit.

Even in a wet suit, it is not a comfortable five minute dip to test paddle gear or practice cowboy scrambles - not shocking, but not enjoyable either. It's a big change from water temps in July, August, and September - which were still cool at best. Next paddle, I'll bring a thermometer and plunge it a few feet down to see how cold the water is.

Gatineau Park set a record this year for the most beautiful fall colours I've ever seen along with record crowds and traffic jams in the Park to match!

No matter what the season, I find Maelstrom Kayaks beautiful both on and off the water. And so does everyone else. People keep coming up to me with the same comment: "What a beautiful kayak!" From the shoreline, the water, or a gas station as I fill up.

Maelstrom Vital 166

I never tire of looking at a Maelstrom Sea Kayak on the water . . . moving or not, especially in the fall. It is my favorite season to paddle in Canada.

Maelstrom Vaag 174

I love the feel of my Maelstrom Vital 166 in both flat and bumpy moving water. It is sleek, fast, and manoeuverable in flat water, so I don't get bored. When the water starts to move and get bumpy, the boat instantly picks up and gets playful. It reminds me it's time to get going. It's ready to play.

But I always marvel more at the design of my Maelstrom Vital 166 when it's strappped up on the car.

Why?

It's such a skinny, low volume boat. Every time I look at its narrow girth, I wonder how I can feel so stable and comfortable in something that sits with so little in the water. Although, in gusty wind and confused chop, I do sometimes feel waves sweep over the back of my boat and roll over the cockpit from behind or from the side. When I reach for the skeg slider on the left, it is sometimes completely submerged with waves rushing past it.

The September and October highs will soon be followed by the November lows in the National Capital Region of Canada.

Low temps and grey colours. November around here is when I park my Boreal Baffin and Maelstrom Vital 166 sea kayaks, unless the weather convinces me otherwise (it never does), and it's time to cook! Yes, eat and cook up some ideas for trips elsewhere!

Meanwhile, enjoy the rest of October's best!

Loon

This is what your Greenland Paddle (GP) looks like underwater in the afternoon October sun.

You can pick out deer from the water when they flick their ears or show their white tails. Otherwise, they look like tree stumps.

Coming Soon: Poison Ivy and Your Pet.
Yep, we have to think about this stuff in more ways than one, and year round, especially if you travel.

The BaffinPaddler

Paddle and Hike to Yoga: Whitefish Lake, Morton Bay, Rock Dunder

2011-10-11T14:45:00.018-04:00

A few more days remain for the best of Paddle to Yoga and Paddle and Hike to Yoga in the National Capital Region of Canada and nearby regions within a two-hour-drive.

Some spots are worth the extra drive and effort to get there. But I'm not so sure any more about the extra cost of gas! I made the exception again this fall for the 275 foot summit of Rock Dunder, paddling from Whitefish Lake, to Morton Bay, part of the Rideau Waterway, to get to the Rock Dunder trailhead with a group of independent paddlers. We assemble ad hoc.

It's like a pilgrimage. So many people do it every year. But this year, with the record Thanksgiving air temperatures in the high 70's (27 C) let's say that there were a lot more pilgrims making the trip!

Nevertheless, there is still plenty of space and rock up there to find your place and a spot or two to strike a yoga pose if you wish.

You'll be well warmed up after a paddle from Whitefish Lake to Morton Bay where you'll see Rock Dunder's Mate as you enter Morton's Bay, and soon after, Rock Dunder (see map link).

Dunder's Mate, Morton Bay, Whitefish Lake, Ontario, Canada

And the crowds don't mind if you practice a little yoga up there. If you bring your cameraman, they'll just think it's a photo shoot for something important. Your paddle buddies should be getting used to it by now. Maybe one day they'll even join you.

Stay well away from the edge of Rock Dunder. This is no rock to mess with. It's a 275 foot drop. Not a place to let dogs and little kids run loose. And there is always a wind up there, no matter how calm the day.

When you paddle and hike to Rock Dunder, rather than drive and park in the lot, the trick is to find a place to land your kayak somewhere along Morton Bay - do this on the same side of the bay where the Rock lives - you don't want to swim across the Bay at this time of year.

Take off your paddle booties and put on your awesome hiking boots without stepping on a bee or sinking into deep silty mud, secure your boat where it won't seal launch by itself off the steep shore while you're away, and find one of the well-marked trails with the arrows nailed on trees pointing the way up the steep path that will take you up to the Rock Dunder summit, and hope no one twists an ankle. Trust me, this really is fun!

The views of the fall colours from Rock Dunder are awesome.

Rock Dunder is part of the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve, a 2,700 square kilometer region that runs along the St. Lawrence River and valley and includes forests, islands, rivers, streams, lakes, and a wealth of fauna and flora. Along with a human population around 50,000 and many popular tourist destinations.

The Frontenac Arch is a 50 kilometer long ridge of exposed precambrian granite rock that runs through southeastern Ontario to upstate New York and links the Canadian Shield to the Adirondack Mountains.

The Frontenac Arch has been recognized by UNESCO since 2002 as a Biosphere Reserve . . . just in case you're wondering where you are and the significance of the location.

There are also numerous opportunities for needing to use your well-equipped first aid kit if you hurry the path to or from Rock Dunder, or just get unlucky with a little moss, mud, and slippery loose fall leaves on rock and exposed roots.

After seven years of hauling my first aid kit around mostly unused, I finally got to pull it out for Tylenol or Advil for pain, gauze, and yes . . . Duct Tape as temporary wrap for the sprained ankle of a paddle mate with a swell almost the size of a tennis ball from a nasty twist on a slippery rock along the trail. How many of you prefer "Duck Tape?"

I do review what's in my first aid kit each year to make sure things that need updating are up-to-date.

Morton Bay provided a free and easy supply of cold water to ice the swelling.

And the trip provided another reason not to paddle or hike alone. Stuff happens. Not usually, just sometimes!

Awesome paddle and hike buddies are not only good company and good navigators, they also lend a hand whether you need it or not.

The bee sting on the toe was mine.

After the hike to Rock Dunder, slipping off the hiking shoes to get back into the paddle booties for the paddle back to where we launched from on Whitefish Lake, the foot hit the ground for one second.

Another one of those, "Oh CRAP!" kayaking moments. A furry bumble bee was underfoot. What are the chances? Bees and Yellowjackets (wasps) are attracted to colourful kayaks and sometimes our lunch.

This provided the motivation to hop into the cold water to ice the toe and test what I wore for the paddle on a hot sunny fall day. It was a mere long-sleeve Rash Guard top, long nylon pants, ankle-high neo paddle booties and a well-fitting PFD. The extra warm gear was in a hatch: wetsuit, fleece, dry pants, and paddle jacket.

I walked into the water and went for a swim without submerging my head in Morton Bay close to shore on Thanksgiving Day in Canada (Americans celebrate in November). Within one minute, I turned around and headed back. I could already feel a light squeeze and pressure in my chest. It was my heart and lungs telling my brain that they weren't going to put up with this for long. "OK, I get it. We're getting out." But the toe was happy. "What bee sting?"

We live with the "Paddler's Never-Ending What-to-Wear-Dilemma" when the day is way too hot for warm gear, and the water is too cold to swim in. We know we're supposed to dress for submersion in the water. But if we do on a hot day, we're too hot to paddle. And if you can't roll to cool off . . . you can overheat.

Finding year-round water temperature information for local lakes and rivers isn't always easy. It's easier to find this information for oceans and the Great Lakes.

I test the waters I paddle close to shore once in a while to give me a real "wake-up call". It makes me think! Sometimes shiver. And reconsider my gear, or if I should paddle.

Next up, I'll go for a swim in my neo wetsuit and PFD close to shore in a local lake with similar water temperatures to Whitefish Lake, and see if it's really enough for fall paddling around here. Don't place any bets. Unless you bet on the side of failure for more than about 5 minutes in the water and total failure if I'm on a cool windy shore afterwards in a "wet" wetsuit.

Happy fall paddles and dry suit shopping!
The BaffinPaddler
Paddle to Yoga in the 1000 Islands Gananoque

Paddle to Yoga on both sides of the Ottawa River. Awesome!

2011-10-06T13:43:00.006-04:00

Maelstrom Vital 166

As promised, fall in the National Capital Region of Canada and other nearby regions I've visited has been perfect for Paddle to Yoga in the outdoors.

I'm discovering new places for Paddle to Yoga, and rediscovering places I used to think were just slabs of concrete, hunks of granite rock, or mere picnic shelters.

Waterfront gazebo on the Ottawa River

Paddle to Yoga has reopened my eyes and given them a new lens. It beats just paddling around. It transforms some places that had become a redundant place to paddle, into a place with a renewed and useful purpose.

I'm a fan of standing poses. They are challenging. If you can stand on one leg, just think of what you can do on two!

The Ontario side and the Quebec side of the Ottawa River have some nice spots for Paddle to Yoga. I'm on the lookout for good Paddle to Yoga spots everywhere I go.

But on the trip back yesterday, the big 20-25 km winds and following whitecapped waves sent my speedy Maelstrom Vital 166 sea kayak onto a big shallow patch of rocks sitting under just one inch of water. These rock patches are impossible to see in the middle of big water with lots of windy chop and whitecaps. Especially when you are moving at speed with the waves. But you feel it! I wanted to surf, not STOP!

The boat suddenly comes to a grinding halt. It's one of those "Oh CRAP!" kayaking moments. I used another four-letter-word but we'll go with "Oh CRAP!" here.

Me: "I'm stuck!"

No one can really come and help you either. You are surrounded by rocks. But they can sit in the deep water and monitor your situation and progress to get yourself out of it.

Paddle Buddy: "Are you free yet?"

Me: "NO!"

Paddle Buddy: "How about now?"

Me: "NOPE!"

Paddle Buddy: "Any better?"

Me: "NOT YET!"

It's time to pop the spray skirt, stick the right leg over the right side of the boat and feel for something solid to stand on, and ditto with the left. Stand up and get the weight out of the boat, lift the cockpit from the inside at the thigh braces, and waddle walk it over the rocks carefully to free water and hope it works.

Me: "I'm FREE!"

It's a good feeling. You never know how it's going to go when you're stuck on a rock or in a patch of rocks, especally out in the middle of a large stretch of lake in big wind and whitecapped waves.

This elated moment doesn't last long. Next up you wonder how much damage you've got under you, especially when you're paddling a fibreglass boat!

It's a bit hard to wander back into the plain hallways and walls of the indoor yoga studios as the best of fall and Paddle to Yoga around here is almost over.

I've been enjoying doing yoga while looking at lake, river, and ocean, clear blue skies, or fast moving clouds. Even stars and all phases of the moon. And listening to the sounds of the outdoors: singing birds, trees waving in the wind, bickering baby chipmunks, and water lapping or pounding on shorelines. Sometimes the outdoors also includes the sound of motor boats and jet skis, a lawn mower or a chain saw! The sounds of human over-development are just about everywhere you go.

People at the yoga studios ask, "Where have you been all summer!? We haven't seen you."

Me: "I've been Paddling to Yoga and doing yoga in the outdoors. It's awesome! It's more powerful."

And I'll need a little extra yoga this week.

I just looked at the bottom of my boat.

The rocks removed a big chuck of gelcoat and some fibreglass around the skeg box . . . again! But no leaks.

The first time this happened to my Maelstrom Vital 166, it felt like the end of the world.

But now, I just shake my head and it's just another one of those "Oh CRAP!" kayaking moments. "I know how much this is gonna cost!"

I almost made it through an entire paddling season without wrecking my boat! Will I ever . . .?

Happy paddling to yoga wherever you find it.
Strike a pose.
When the snow flies, I'll be cross-country skiing to yoga.
The BaffinPaddler
Paddle to Yoga in the 1000 Islands Gananoque

Look what glows on Maelstrom Sea Kayaks

2011-09-29T14:39:00.003-04:00

I know that the decklines on our sea kayaks reflect light, and appear to glow for safety reasons, but I didn't know that the logos on the nose of the Maelstrom Vital 166, and Vaag 174 were reflective too. The flash on the camera just revealed that in a dark garage.

In the daylight, the logo text on the nose of the boats is black.

The big "O" on the tail of Maelstrom Sea Kayaks is blue by day and reflective at night.

An added safety feature by Maelströmkayak to make us more visible out there when it gets dark.

Look at the difference from my yellow Boreal Baffin on the top rack. It doesn't have any reflective tape at the nose or tail. I think I may just add some. Something to think about.

And yes, fall also means time to clean up and reorganize the gear in the garage so the cars can squeeze back in this winter! The gear keeps taking over!

Happy paddles and discovering the features of your awesome boat!
The BaffinPaddler

Hey! What are you doing on my island!

2011-09-28T12:46:00.005-04:00

Looks like the gatekeeper of this little island I stopped at during my fall Paddle to Yoga trails wants to collect a toll?

Or is he a reincarnated yoga instructor that doesn't like the look of some of my poses . . . ?

The weather in September in Canada's National Capital Region (Ottawa, Ontario, Gatineau, Quebec) and the 1000 Islands region on the St. Lawrence River has been exceptional. The fall colours are already in bloom. Let's hope October is even better.

I'm still out there paddling to yoga in destinations near and far and shopping for more good spots to practice, relax, or strike a pose.

Maelstrom Vital 166 on the Ottawa River, Quebec, Canada looking at a bumpy cement block.

Have you paddled to yoga yet?

It's awesome! With proper warm up and qualified instruction of course.

Happy paddle to yoga trails.
I hope you are enjoying a great fall.

The BaffinPaddler
Paddle to Yoga in the 1000 Islands Gananoque

Stonington Stories: Fog!

2011-09-15T10:35:00.012-04:00

Webb Cove fog

On my recent trip to paddle the Atlantic Ocean from Stonington, Maine's Deer Isle Archipelago, I came back with a large volume of photographs that made me see the trip in a series of stories:

Fog
Lobster Boats
Guls
ThingFinders
Paddle Bloggers and Buddies
Granite
The Stonington Cat (This one was published while I was in Stonington and is one of my favorites.)

Here's Fog. It's a big one!

I mean fog is a big and important topic, especially on the ocean and even more so when you are paddling around Maine with the large lobster industry out there. The Maine Lobster Council has an excellent website for more information on just how big the lobster industry is, how it operates, when the harvest season is, and much more.

And guess what. You can wait for hours for the fog to clear and when it does, you think it's gone.

Turn your back for 30 minutes, and it has suddenly reappeared. "Say what?! I thought it was gone for the day!"

Maine fog is impressive! And it is no stranger around here. Conditions are ripe for it often enough. It may take you by surprise if you aren't used to paddling in areas known for it.

Fog forecasting is tricky. Fog is a pain. Fog can be beautiful, depending on your perspective. I prefer being on the mainland when it rolls in.

It suddenly made me understand why the dewpoint is important, besides a heavy dewpoint making your tent drip as if it had rained, it can also make fog more likely.

I don't usually pay attention to the dewpoint. I normally look up the air and water temperature of places I paddle and wonder why I should care about the dewpoint.

Fog is likely when the surface air temperature and dewpoint are equal or within a degree and the air becomes saturated. There are other factors too. OK. Now I get it. Now I care, and I'll pay more attention to it.

Here's one of my favorite Web resources

Rod n Reel: Tides, Currents, and Weather Reports for the United States. This site takes NOAA spreadsheet data and illustrates it with easy to read and scan graphics all on one page. I like that! It also includes the air temperature, water temperature (It's in the 60's in Maine in August! That's cold.), and the dewpoint.

But here's the NOAA Tide Predictions for Deer Isle-Stonington if you'd like to compare and see how much harder you'll have to work to gather all the data you need to make decisions on paddling conditions for your day paddle or longer trip!

Maine lobster boats head out in all kinds of weather - good, bad, and windy!

While camping and paddling the Deer Isle-Stonington archipelago in August 2011, we awoke to thick fog one morning.

Correction, we were roused by the usual 4:30 a.m. wake up call of the first lobster boat heading out for work in Webb Cove. The lobster boats always head out at this hour. Trust me. You can count on it, and you can count how many boats head out each day from the comfort of your waterfront tent.

On this particular morning, we only heard four, instead of the usual 19 or more. So we poked our heads out of the overly-damp-with-morning-ocean-dew Eureka Bon Echo Air tent to see what was up. "Uh, oh!"

Other kayakers were waiting for the fog to clear before heading out . . . or see if it would clear.

I decided to sit it out in the Webb Cove outdoor Internet Cafe at Old Quarry Ocean Adventures up on the exposed second floor, unwisely . . . thinking I was enjoying the beautiful misty views.

You'll find out why it was unwise when I publish the Stonington Stories: Gul post. But I'm guessing you've already figured out what's to come on that score!

Old Quarry Ocean Adventures has an awesome boat! The Nigh Duck.

I found it one of the most beautiful boats on the water while there, both in clear and foggy conditions. And it was comforting to know it was nearby. It has state of the art navigation equipment.

Old Quarry Nigh Duck

I hope you file a float plan with them if you paddle out from their well-run and very kayak-friendly facility and make sure to have their contact info handy or a VHF radio to call for help if you need it. Hopefully you know where you are for pick up! Another good reason to learn navigation, carry a map, and I'm thinking - GPS!

Old Quarry Nigh Duck

I did see them bring back a few paddlers and their boats when conditions were too difficult for them to make it home.

Enjoy fog!
I hope you don't get caught in it.
The BaffinPaddler

Here's what you look like in good weather. Can you find three kayaks . . . easily?

Portaging Adventures in the Adirondacks, NY with the awesome Malestrom Vital 166!

2011-09-05T14:48:00.006-04:00

You do need to lift the boat and well-strapped on kayak cart over the tree! Don't try pulling it over. Everyone already knows that . . . right!? It's easier with two people. Paddle buddies are awesome for this. Another reason not to kayak alone.

Here's proof that the sturdy Yedo Paddleboy kayak cart comes apart easily, and fits into the small back hatch of a Maelstrom Sea Kayak! I had my doubts!

Awesome! The Malestrom Vital 166, and the Yedo Paddleboy kayak cart! They work well together.

And here's the kick.

I didn't test the cart and rear hatch space to see if they fit before the Adirondack trip and lost a night of sleep the day before the portage trip wondering if it would.

Usually I test gear before a trip, but this time my attitude was: "The cart is going into or onto the Maelstrom Vital 166 one way or another. So why bother."

Now you don't have to wonder.

The Maelstrom Kayak back hatches are pretty small, but they did design them large enough to function as awesome day paddle boats. I wouldn't even attempt to kayak camp with one though.

Maelstrom Vital 166 on Yedo Paddleboy kayak cart after a successful canoe trail portage

Both the Yedo Paddleboy kayak cart and the Maelstrom Vital 166 hauled really well on a fairly easy 1/4 mile portage in between lakes and a connecting river.

Why am I telling you this this?

When it's time to portage in the wilderness, that's not when you want to find out that your kayak cart and sea kayak don't fit well or perform well together!

If your boat is wide and your kayak cart is too narrow, or collapses on you - this equals NOT GOOD!

So shopping for a good kayak cart that is easy to assemble and disassemble and that packs into a hatch and hauls your kayak well on uneven bumpy trail with some rock and exposed tree roots is important. Maybe even mud!

It will save you and all your paddle buddies time and energy.

I'd go for a sturdy, reliable kayak cart model, even if it is a little heavier than a lighter weight model.

This lets me spend my time and energy where I'd rather put it! Paddling, eating lunch, taking pics, and doing outdoor yoga.

Paddling Adirondack's lakes and rivers with my new red cedar GP (Greenland Paddle). A gift from PenobscotPaddles during my recent trip to paddle the Atlantic ocean from the Deer Isle-Stonington archipelago, Maine, U.S.A. I'm guessing Mark will want to see where his awesome GP is traveling to.

I'm in the Adirondacks, NY shopping for more awesome Paddle to Yoga spots.

And so far, the one I found in the 1000 Islands Gananoque, in Ontario, Canada on the St. Lawrence River is lookin' pretty good right now. It has a beautiful, historic, protected gazebo.

It's raining here in the Adirondacks for the next couple of days and I'm doing indoor yoga in an old crooked cabin with floors that are not level. But at least I have a protected waterfront view of a lake with Adirondack mountain backdroppings.

However, in the "Dacks", some hiking to rocky points with views will be necessary here. It will be paddle and hike to yoga. Awesome! I love that too.

The locals, and a few maps are helping me locate a few good spots to explore for outdoor paddle to yoga. Rainy days are excellent for planning good-weather trips, and visiting local museums and outfitters.

To let you know just how outback this area is, they only sell beer around here! It's a long drive just to find a bottle of wine. No complaints. I'm just sayin'!

All we need now is the weather to cooperate. Seems rain and storms want to be the boss for a few days!

Even though we're all well-equipped for paddling rain and light wind, exploring the other things the Adirondack region has to offer is way more interesting!

The Dack ducks are happy though!

Rainy days here means more time in an outdoor Internet Cafe - which today is a gas station parking lot with free Internet access and a Porta Pottie for a restroom.

Ahhh! The joys of quasi-wilderness blogging and finding your way around in a new place!

I'm also shopping for a better Internet Cafe!

Happy paddles!
The BaffinPaddler

Greeted with Ginger Brew, maps, and goodwill . . . Paddling Maine's Deer Isle Archipelago with PenobscotPaddles

2011-09-02T13:37:00.015-04:00

BaffinPaddler meets up with PenobscotPaddles team in Stongington, Maine, U.S.A.

Thanks first, stories later

Baffinpaddler paddle partner and PenobscotPaddles in Deer Isle Archipelago. Hey, why is there still one non-convert to the "stick" (Greenland Paddle) amongst us? When will we convert her? She is surrounded by GPs.

I've come home with so many photos, memories, ideas, inspiration, and stories from my paddling and camping trip to the Deer Isle Archipelago, Stonington, Maine to meet up with fellow paddle blogger PenobscotPaddles, that my head is spinning and I don't know where to start.

Or at least I didn't until now.

First things first.

A big thanks to awesome new Maine paddle buddies, the PenobscotPaddles team for spoiling us rotten while we were there with all things good and fun: Maps, Maine Root Ginger Brew, good company, an awesome new red cedar Greenland Paddle, guided tours, and unforgettable memories.

Greeted at the Webb Cove basecamp and kayak launch site by PenobscotPaddles team with Maine Root Ginger Brew, custom maps of the Deer Isle/Stonington Archipelago, and perfect ocean paddling weather!

Paddling to Yoga in the Deer Isle Archipelago from Stonington, Maine with PenobscotPaddles and an awesome new red cedar GP made by Mark

Hey! Whatcha lookin' at!

Across from the noisy and busy Crotch Island granite quarry

I'm so glad you know the way!

PenobscotPaddles awesome bright yellow and blue Maelstrom Vaag 174 always steals the show both on and off the water!

PenobscotPaddles knew I was working on a Paddle to Yoga project in the 1000 Islands Gananoque, in Ontario, Canada, and took me to some great Paddle to Yoga spots ocean front in the Deer Isle Archipelago, from Stonington, Maine that I will never forget, and hope to return to one day.

Gooseberry Island

Russ Island rock


The tree pose is not easy on uneven rock, and you can get a bit dizzy doing this up high. I'm not recommending this and this is not what Paddle to Yoga is about. It's just something I do once in a while . . . climb up on trees, stumps, and rocks, and strike a yoga pose - or try to. Mostly I do yoga on flat, safe ground in the outdoors, or in a yoga studio like most people! The BaffinPaddler is a bit unconventional though. Both as a paddler, and as a yoga student.

Doing yoga in the great outdoors is awesome.

Gooseberry, Sand, and Russ Islands quickly won my heart as favorites and stole many shots.

In only a couple of days, I had hundreds of shots to happily wade through, share with you later, and revisit this winter to warm my heart!

I really needed PenobscotPaddles to remind me when it was time to leave an island.

I paddle lake and river more than ocean. I kept getting lost in the beauty of the islands and ocean views and forgot about the tides. Especially the low tide. My lingering did make us take a bit of a mucky walk back out to sea at least once.

It is definitely better to wear tall paddle booties here! I kept getting the hard shell beach particles and muck into my only ankle high booties!

An hour later, these boats on Sand Island were fully beached and we had to walk out in a bit of muddy muck.

There are many more Stonington stories to tell. But I'll have to let them trickle out slowly.

Every time I create a big, long, loaded post of text, links, and images, Blogger rewards me by going "Bloop" and all my work suddenly disappears and is lost - and so is my motivation to blog!

Next Paddle to Yoga Trip - Adirondacks, New York, U.S.A.

Now it's off to Paddle to Yoga again next week. This time with a group in the Adirondacks in New York State, U.S.A., only a week after Hurricane Irene chased us off the Maine coast a few days early. I hated to leave. I wanted to stay and paddle more!

And the "new" New York paddle buddies I'll be meeting up with, have no idea I'm Paddling to Yoga.

But they'll soon find out when they see a bright green yoga mat strapped onto the back of my white and blue Maelstrom Vital 166 - a mat in which I never need anyway when striking a pose on uneven ground or rock in the great outdoors. But bringing it along somehow brings me comfort, and I think, makes some kind of statement. Or at least makes people pretty curious . . . "What is that?!"

When they suddenly see me climb up on something and strike a yoga pose and ask, "Hey, will you get a shot of this? I'm working on a Paddle to Yoga project!" They'll find out soon enough . . . how much I love this combination of paddling to yoga. It beats just paddling to lunch! Although I love both - paddling to lunch and yoga!

A funny thing is happening with the Paddle to Yoga in the 1000 Islands Gananoque project I'm working on.

People want me to do all the work, planning, and organizing for them.

Hey! That's not how Paddle to Yoga works guys! You have to boogie and organize a group of 8 paddlers who want to Paddle to Yoga first. Then you're on your way.

Meanwhile, I'm out there Paddling to Yoga all over the place. In places near and far from my home in the National Capital Region of Canada (Ottawa/Ontario-Gatineau/Quebec).

It rocks! It's awesome. It is something I can easily do. I'm equipped for it. I'm trying to make it available and affordable to others who can discover and enjoy it too!

I'm also noticing that Paddle to Yoga is attracting the soft-adventure tourism crowd more so than the studio bound yoga crowd. It will be interesting to see how Paddle to Yoga progresses and where it goes.

Now back to my last bottle of Maine Root Ginger Brew! My temperature is definitely rising! This non-alcoholic beverage really packs a hearty ginger punch! One sip and YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALIVE!


Maine Root Ginger Brew, wild Stonington apples, Reed's Crystalized Ginger

The BaffinPaddler
Happy paddles and paddling to yoga!

Lots of Maine's awesome fish n' chips, cole slaw, and crab stew are starting to put some extra meat on my ribs!

The Stonington Cat . . . A day off from paddling Maine's awesome waters.

2011-08-26T08:44:00.007-04:00

Have you met the Stonington Cat?

I just did.

The Stonington Cat is a real cutie. Very friendly, and roams the upper reaches of Maine's Stonington harbor along Main Street.

You might want to slow down if you're driving along this street and watch out for this little kitty!

Paddling the islands from Stonington, Maine, U.S.A., with PenobscotPaddles has been AWESOME.

I'll blog about that soon when I can get a better view of my computer screen and can do more justice to a blog post. Writing this with outdoor glare from the sun is not easy.

Maelstrom Vital 166 and Maelstrom Vaag 174 on Gooseberry Island, Maine

Today, the Stonington Cat and his harbor haunts are on my mind, so I'll go with a few pics of that for today:

Fisherman's home on the Stonington harbour

The real working McCoys

Lobster trap debris

Lobster buoy cliches

Beached at low tide. Tides are about 11 to 12 feet here.

A local rooster scratching for worms.

Stonington harbor life

Stonington harbor flower arrangements

Lobster lunch meat

A hardy and serious tie-down view of the Stonington harbor.

Stonington apples. Small, tart, and tasty!

Wednesday night and all day Thursday, the wind was AWESOME . . . about 25 miles per hour or more!

Some kayak campers out on the islands off Stonington, Maine called in for a ride back home on a motorized boat.

In Webb Cove, at 4:30 a.m. each morning you hear a crew of lobster boats heading out. Not many on Thursday.

The Malestrom Vital 166 and Vaag 174 were beached yesterday too. The crosswind was way too wicked.

The paddle partner was bored, and the new Eureka! Bon Echo Air tent and storm shield is being fully-tested by Maine's ocean winds and evening thunderstorms and is still standing . . . the last time I checked! Although the large vestibule on these tents definitely leak from the ceiling, but the interior of the tent stays dry.

The outdoor Internet cafe at the Webb Cove basecamp at Old Quarry Ocean Adventures and the 350 pics I took in the last two days are my best friends on non-paddle days during this trip.

Basecamp is ocean waterfront.

The long blond hair in my ponytail got shaken loose every couple of hours yesterday, and my eyes feel eternally puffy from the ocean air. Or is it the camping!

One mosquito won't leave me alone and I can't catch it!

I guess I could have headed inland or indoors!

Buy why? This is the ocean!

And today is a totally different story. Calm and sunny on the ocean front and a much better day to head out and paddle and we will!

Hey kitty, where are you off to now!? . . . The Stonington Cat.

Happy and safe paddles!
Sometimes it's just best to stay home, wherever that is!
The BaffinPaddler

Back to Maine to paddle Stonington, meet up with PenobscotPaddles, and see if I can learn to navigate water with lots of islands!

2011-08-20T21:35:00.015-04:00

These are some of my best Maine memories . . . so far!

Here's a pic paddling Seal Cove, Maine, U.S.A. a few years back. This little "island lunch spot" disappeared 10 minutes later when the tide came in.

It's always better to have more than one guarding the boats and posing for pics before they try to take off with the incoming tide!

I love Maine! Lobster boats and traps and all. These working boats move fast. Look out!

If you see a bay in Maine filled with colorful lobster buoys, there is a lobster trap underneath each one, and a lobster boat that will soon some to fetch!

You have to watch out for them! They don't look out for you.

Since my last trip to Maine years ago, I wake up each morning to a framed picture of colorful lobster buoys hanging on an old wooden shanty wall.

Now it's time to head back to Maine to paddle Stonington, and meet up with fellow paddle blogger PenobscotPaddles - starting tomorrow! Navigation is on my mind.

It's a 10-hour drive from home in the National Capital Region of Canada (Ottawa, Ontario/Gatineau, Quebec) to Stonington, Maine, U.S.A. The Mitsubishi Outlander is packed to the "gunwales" with kayaking gear and camping stuff!

PenobscotPaddles and her paddle partner are awesome navigators of the area, and post beautiful photos and detailed trip reports of their paddles in Maine, and have posted an excellent article on route planning at: PenobscotPaddles - Magnetic North Lines - The Path to Happiness

To be honest, trying to learn navigation at this level makes my head and compass spin!

I'm still trying to get past basic navigation with a kayak compass on the kayak deck and a map. This just isn't enough when the landscape, the water, and lots of islands make figuring things out way more complicated. Then there's the possibility of fog. A GPS is in order soon. Even though they aren't always reliable.

Navigation is important

I just got back from a short kayak-camping trip with my well-packed Boreal Baffin to visit potential spots for a Paddle to Yoga project I'm working on in the 1000 Islands region off Gananoque, Ontario, Canada.

Cruise ships are as big as some islands - but they move! You have to learn to look out for them from a distance.

I quickly learned how easy it is to get mixed up (and a little stressed) when you are a novice to navigating in more complicated areas with bigger water and lots of islands, even with maps, a compass, numbered buoys in boat channels, and a mainland you can find fairly easily.

Lucky for me, experienced navigators were also along on the trip, otherwise I would not have headed out there without a guide. It was a good and safe trip that saw nothing but perfect weather and moderate winds.

When you get churned around and a little confused in spots, you may find your way eventually, but you will need time, energy, and good weather on your side. These things can run out.

I prefer knowing where I am and where I'm going . . . all or most of the time! And to have the energy and equipment to get me there!

In the 1000 Islands, there are cottages on many islands, and often motor boaters docking or sail boats mooring along some islands who know the area well and can help with directions or at least that can tell you where you are - but don't count on it.

The boats out on the water are moving at speed, the cottages may be empty, and you are on your own to find your way. Bring your cell phone. The cell phone connection out there is pretty good!

Stonington, Maine, U.S.A.

Now, it's off to another week of camping and paddling in Stonington, Maine, this time with my Maelstrom Vital 166, and more of my custom made trail mix for lunch: roasted soy nuts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, raisins, dried papaya, apricots, and apples.

You have to love this stuff. It is the most convenient, compact, and healthy source of energy on the water.

Last minute preps that I didn't think about earlier mean sunscreening the kayaks with 303 Aerospace Protectant out in the grass in the front yard just before you put them up on the car after the sun has gone down and the mosquitoes are out in force.

Bad planning! And a bunch of mosquito bites I didn't plan for. But, hey, sometimes that's the way it goes!

As night falls, the decklines on the white Malestrom Vital 166 and red Maelstrom Vaag 174 begin to glow.

I'll also be hauling a yoga mat on this trip and strapping it onto the white Maelstrom Vital 166 as I continue looking for more awesome Paddle to Yoga spots! I love it. Paddling to yoga rocks!

Happy paddling!
The BaffinPaddler

The magic of Bon Echo! Mazinaw Rock, Ontario, Canada! Get your bug suit on!

2011-07-26T21:12:00.004-04:00

This is one of my favourite "easy to paddle" little magic spots

Bon Echo Provincial Park is in the south central part of Ontario, Canada. It's a pretty nice place to camp! You have amenites here. Even on the back country sites - where you'll have more bugs - but more privacy. Take your pick. More people or more bugs? It's hard to choose sometimes!

Mazinaw Rock is on picturesque and easy to paddle Mazinaw Lake.

Mazinaw Rock is 100 metres high. If you call out, it echos three times - hence the name, "Bon Echo". In French it means, "good echo". I'll agree! I tried it - three times. It's true!

Mazinaw Lake is the second deepest lake in Ontario, Canada. It averages 135 feet deep, and its deepest parts are 476 feet deep. Wow! Suddenly, I feel so small.

You might want to think about a float for your camera here! If it goes overboard, you'll never find it again.

I'll admit - I love rocks. Doesn't everyone?

Sorry for all the rock pics if that's not your thing.
But Bon Echo rocks have great moods when the sun starts to set.

Reflections

Bring your bug suit!

It's summer in Canada. The bugs just love you!

Consider making breakfast at the beach instead of the woods!

Enjoy your breakfast without any bug bites!

And make it back to shore safely before that afternoon thunderstorm hits in July! Remember to bring the cockpit covers!

I'm short on words here for one reason

I know you're shopping for ideas and just want to plan a trip, get out and paddle and have fun. Me too!

For you climbers out there who may just want to climb the rock, visit: The Alpine Club of Canada
For more information on camping, backpacking, paddling, hiking, and climbing at Bon Echo visit: Out There - Bon Echo

Enjoy!
The BaffinPaddler

It's HOT! Swim with your boat!

2011-07-21T18:17:00.228-04:00

That's my gloved hand on the tail end of my Maelstrom Vital 166.

Wow! It's way too hot around here in the National Capital Region of Canada (Ottawa/Gatineau) and lots of other places. We're in a heat wave. I would call it an oven! A sauna!

The only place to hide is in some cool water, air-conditioning, the woods, a cave, or in a friend's basement.

This isn't weather that motivates me to head out to paddle unless I can jump out often and swim with my boat.

How to Stay Cool with your Boat!

Swim with it. It's fun.
Why should your boat have all the fun. It's in the water. You're not!
I'm swimming with my boat in a pretty little lake in Canada and loving it. But I don't want it to get away.

Come back here boat! Wind takes it away quickly when I snap a shot from the water.

Although, when you jump overboard intentionally to cool off and start snapping shots from the water, your paddle buddy may ask . . . "WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW . . . !?" And people on the beach may wonder if you need help. I just hope they get used to me.

Then I Cowboy Scramble back into my boat. It's so easy for me now. I do it just about every time I paddle or five or six times per paddle if I need to hop out and cool off.

Some people roll to cool off, that's great!

Just make sure to stick your paddle deep into the water underneath you before rolling to make sure your head isn't meeting up with rocks and dead heads. You do that right? Something to think about. And something I'll also have to remember when I start rolling. I'm still learning. Or rather, I should book a lesson soon and start trying! I get lazy in the intense heat of July.

Balance brace your kayak

This is something I just learned a few days ago from a local Greenland roller and kayak instructor and I love it! I'll be posting more on this with pics and video of me doing it too in my Maelstrom Vital 166.

It is so relaxing, fun, and a great way to cool off.

When you balance brace (if you are flexible enough), it allows you to stretch out your body without getting out of the boat. You can gain tremendous confidence in yourself, your body, and your boat handling skills, especially if you are still "Rolling Challenged" like me, or if you just plain don't like the feeling of being upside down in a kayak!

Don't worry if flexibility is an issue. Be patient with yourself and work on things slowly. Don't force what's not there. Your right side may be awesome! Your left side efforts may feel like it's not your body at all! Yep, that's me. Even if you do yoga!

Wear Rash Guard (get it wet before paddling), a hat and lightweight paddle gloves

When it's hot and sunny, I do the opposite of most people, I mean the people who paddle in swim suits and T-shirts!

I wear long sleeve, crew neck, body glove, UV Rash Guard and swim in the water with it to get it wet before I paddle. I do this in lakes and rivers. In the summer, I don't paddle water I don't consider clean enough to swim in. I don't know if I'd want to do this with salty sea water.

This keeps me cool, comfortable and protected from the sun for an hour or two before I need to cool off in the water again.

In this grueling heat, a paddle buddy complained about being too hot paddling in a T-shirt! And he could roll.

The next day I said, "Go to the paddle shop and get yourself some long sleeved Rash Guard with a crew neck. I'll show you how to stay cool in this heat!"

Sometimes on hot days, you are in long stretches of river water that is too shallow to swim or roll in, has too much current to dunk into, has unfriendly shorelines, or is too rocky to get out and swim or roll in.

You need another way to stay cool when paddling.

The hot sun hitting your skin or a cotton shirt is not the way to do it. And paddling in soggy, baggy cotton is not comfortable!

In the summer heat in Canada, and especially when I paddle heat I can't stand in Florida, I wear long sleeve Rash Guard with a crew neck. What's that?

It's great gear for paddling made out of Polyester and Spandex and has UV protection from the sun. I like the long sleeve shirts that fit like a body glove. The shirts have flatlock stitching that doesn't rub on my skin while paddling and are very comfortable and cool.

What did my paddle buddy say the next paddle? "Hey, this stuff is amazing!"

I've been paddling with my white and pink Rash Guard for years and love it even though it is slowly turning a soft shade of gray in spots where my black spray skirt hits it. Buy a light color for summer. The bugs are attracted to dark colors and light colors attract less sun. A light color makes for a winning combo!

I always wear a hat - it's amazing how many people don't! Sometimes it blows off and I have to retrieve it. A paddle hat that you can dunk and wet in the water can keep your head cool for a good long while.

Paddle Gloves - I've also taken the habit of wearing lightweight neoprene paddle gloves in the hot summer to keep the sun off. The gloves stay wet when I paddle and keep my hands cool.

You can pick up a lot of sun on your hands year after year. Waterproof sunscreen only goes so far, and I don't like it on my hands when I paddle.

If I want to catch sun, I wait until I hit a beach and can get it evenly.

Sitting in a boat only gives you odd burn lines!

I hope you manage to stay cool and hydrated! It's way tooo HOT!

Yep! It's another bad hair day when your hat blows off and you practice balance bracing!

Happy paddling!
The BaffinPaddler

How not to haul your sea kayaks! Caught in the 96 km winds that brought down the Ottawa Bluesfest main stage, July 17, 2011

2011-07-18T15:42:00.015-04:00

Can you see what's wrong with this picture? If not, read on.

On July 17 at 7:00 p.m., the summer sky went dark and I could see I was driving into the storm. It hit my red Mitsubishi Outlander with the Maelstrom Vital and Vaag sea kayaks strapped on top all at once 30 minutes later.

Of course, there's no pic of that! This is back home safe and sound.

My first thought was, "There's a tornado hitting somewhere, I hope I'm not in it!" Or, "I'm in a micro-burst! What do I do?" There was no gradual build up of wind. Just a sudden burst of 90 km or plus wind! It was like a punch in the face. "Whoa."

When you have two 17 foot long sea kayaks strapped on top of your car, you are very vulnerable to high winds, gusty winds, cross winds, and sudden storms!

Just an hour earlier while packing up and strapping down the Malestrom kayaks on a hot, calm, sunny day at a lake up in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, my paddling partner said, "I don't think these front and back tie downs are really necessary . . . "

I said, "but this time, for the first time, we're going to do it anyway. This is how we're supposed to tie down the boats . . . so let's practice."

It was the same widespread and vicious storm with 96 km winds that instantly brought down the Ottawa Bluesfest main stage like a deck of cards at about 7:30 p.m. on July 17, 2011.

The storm also caused widespread power outages in Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec - my house too! There were a number of large trees that fell into the street. I had to dodge a few to get home.

I was an hour and half away from Ottawa/Gatineau on an open winding country highway returning from a weekend of paddling lake and river in the Mont Tremblant, Quebec area when the storm hit me. Suddenly, I was in high wind, pounding rain and lighting.

My car, even with the kayaks well battened down and not shifting on top of the car, were really catching the wind on the highway, even at a very reduced speed.

I felt I needed to get off the road, and pulled off the single lane highway into a long driveway of someone's home, turned off the engine, and waited 20 minutes for the worst of the storm to pass over before I hit the road again. I felt better and could relax a little. Your heart can't pound too hard for too long!

This also allowed all the faster moving traffic to keep going. The other people on the road were doing all kinds of crazy and dangerous things to pass me, like passing at high speed over double lines, and blind curves in driving rain and wind.

Geez people! Don't ever do this! Never pass any slower vehicle on blind curves and double yellow lines, especially under these conditions, or for any reason! At least 50 people did just that before I found a spot to get off the road. I couldn't believe it.

Talk about ending a relaxing and enjoyable trip with a BIG BANG and an adrenalin rush of fear!

This is how I used to haul a sea kayak

With spongy foams on a car rack and straps, with no tie downs in the front or back.

"Tisk, tisk!" My beautiful and beloved Boreal Baffin is literally a "sitting duck" on my vehicle. Or rather, it would be a flying torpedo if I had to stop suddenly or worse. In a strong crosswind, the nose would quickly blow sideways.

What was I thinking?

I wasn't thinking! My boat was not very secure. And, my plastic Boreal Baffin oil-canned where the straps held it in place every time it was hauled any kind of distance in the hot summer or fall sun. Luckily, the newer plastic boats have a "memory" and usually go back into shape unless you abuse them too much or too often.

I hate to admit this today, but I hauled my boat this way for several years on long trips from the National Capital Region in Canada (Ottawa/Gatineau) to many lakes and rivers, and ocean in places like Seal Cove, Maine, and the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior near Bayfield, Wisconsin. Combine that with many short and long hauls in Canada, including a trip to the Saguenay River near Tadoussac, Quebec, and much more.

All with no problems other than oil canning. I was lucky, but luck usually runs out at one point.

I don't even want to think about what might have happened if I had been caught in the July 17, 2011 storm with sea kayaks strapped on to my car like this.

Other kayakers who were "well-attired" and tying down their boats properly started to shake their heads at me. I took notice, and took action. Sometimes, peer pressure is a good thing!

I did research, compared notes with other paddlers, and bought good quality car racks for my new red Mitsubishi Outlander, kayak saddles (I love them!), and two strong tie down ropes for each boat. I already had good, strong straps for kayaks.

Now, in addition to strapping the kayaks down on to the racks, I use rope to tie down the front and back of EACH kayak and attach it to something solid on the car frame or tow bar. I tie down using the toggles or through the well-battened down deck lines on the front or back of the boats. Never tie down using a bungee and never tie to a bungee. They stretch!

I also tie a knot on each buckle of the straps to prevent slippage while driving.

Luck or fate?

The first time I finally tied down our sea kayaks properly was the first time I really needed to on July 17, 2011. Luck or fate? Or rather, it was time to stop testing fate and good luck.

And I'm so happy I did! I was just taught a good lesson.

I think I just went through a pretty good test of why it's a good idea to learn how to properly haul a sea kayak. And this is why I'm sharing this story with you. Maybe you need a push, just like I did.

How do you haul your boats? The right way or the wrong way?

Hauling your boats properly is not just about your safety, or protecting your gear investment. It's also about the safety of others on the road with you. You wouldn't want your racks and boats suddenly ripping off the top of your car and flying off behind you. In our paddle chat community, we do hear tales of this happening.

Happy and safe travels!
I guess you could say I was just in a maelstrom (bad storm) with two Maelstroms (two terrific boats!).

The BaffinPaddler

Watch video of the Ottawa Bluesfest Main Stage going down and read more about the story:

Ottawa Sun

Bluesfest storms to early end, July 17, 2011

The Globe and Mail

Storm brings down main stage at Ottawa Bluesfest July 17,2011

Yahoo News
Bad signs of more nasty weather to come by an Environment Canada Climatologist: The freak windstorm that toppled the main stage at the Ottawa Bluesfest, July 17, 2011.

Paddle Glass

2011-07-15T23:05:00.000-04:00

Find your paddle glass!
The BaffinPaddler

The World's Best Kayaking Recipe!

2011-07-12T11:24:00.010-04:00

1. Pack up to the light of the moon. Any moon will do.

I'm hauling my Boreal Baffin this time. My other boat is a Maelstrom Vital 166. What a choice I've got! It's hard to decide which boat to take sometimes. A lucky problem that all sea kayakers should be afflicted with.

2. Take one of your sea kayaks somewhere.

You have more than one right?!

3. Bring friends!

4. Enjoy!

This is a simple, no fat recipe. You can indulge and enjoy as much of it as you like, as often as you like.

What's your favourite kayaking recipe?
The BaffinPaddler

Paddle with a puppy! How do you haul your dog?

2011-07-09T23:42:00.005-04:00

Well, here we go. Let's take the big 45 pound puppy to the lake. Where do we put her? On the back deck of my Boreal Baffin.

Why not? It should work, eh?

All these brilliant ideas sound great when you test them out at home with your boat parked on the grass in your front yard while you train the dog to get on to the back deck of your kayak and lay still for a few minutes.

But when I get out on the water with her parked as close to the back of my cockpit as possible for stability, I quickly find out that a 45 pound doggie - this cute blue merle Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mix named "Riley", can move a bit, shift her weight, turn her head, whine a bit at first, and decide to suddenly sit up tall while I'm paddling instead of laying down. Plus the water doesn't sit still either, even on a calm day.

All this makes for a tippy kayak.

This is interesting! A new challenge.

And this is something we're just having fun with on an warm, sunny day with no wind in a small warm lake we know very well, staying close to shores with mostly sandy bottoms where we launch and land, and the doggie is wearing a PFD - a doggie life jacket, even though she is an excellent and very fast swimmer! And there aren't any motor boats or jet skis on this lake. I wouldn't want my dog off swimming anywhere with motorized craft in the area. Me neither.

We had no expectations for any kind of success. I wasn't paddling alone. I had a paddle partner nearby for help and to watch what the dog was doing behind me, and take a few pics!

If you have taught your doggie to crawl on land, and she can crawl up to the back end of your kayak's cockpit - that's going to totally rock! And your boat may rock less!

This is not an easy way to carry a dog. Trust me!

I wouldn't go far and I don't recommend this.

We were just having some fun for the day on a lazy summer day close to shore. And Riley is probably an exceptional dog. We managed this three times on the same day with Riley getting up on to the back deck of my Boreal Baffin, laying down quietly while I paddled, and waiting until we hit shore to jump off.

We also used encouraging voice commands along the way to keep her in place, happy, and secure. Doggie cookies help sometimes too, but not while paddling.

I put a wet towel on the back deck of my Boreal Baffin under the bungees to make it softer and less slipperly for Riley to lay on and to allow her to get a good grip with her body. My Boreal Baffin has a flat back deck, and was wide enough to support her body - barely though.

Riley is pretty smart and independent for a one year old dog. I'm a decent paddler with some balance . . and, I was thinking "I may need to brace or bail" a few times. But didn't need to.

But, this is definitely a short term thing!

I'm looking for a better boat for hauling a dog, like a stable canoe or a tandem kayak with proper seating!

Some dogs really love going to the lake with you. And I really love taking the doggie along.

Finding a safe and enjoyable way to do it is a new thing for me as a kayaker. I love sea kayaks. I don't like canoes!

"OK, we're going to do this again tomorrow, I promise!"

Happy paddling with your dog!

Keep them safe. They are so special!

The BaffinPaddler

City life with a kayak. . . sigh!

2011-07-08T16:37:00.002-04:00

Take your boat (without a motor) somewhere grand!

The BaffinPaddler

Lazy Summer Days . . . the epitome of kayaking!

2011-07-03T13:14:00.008-04:00

Ahhhh, the lazy days of summer. This is what kayaking and life is all about . . . sometimes! The good times!

Do you see the two little white eyes at the top of the first picture? Click on the pic twice to enlarge it. Cheeky bug. Not afraid of the camera either. This is not a zoomed in shot. I was taking a picture of the nose of my boat when this guy showed up and stole the shot. The camera lens focused on him instead. A nice surprise.

My feet are underwater here. Pretty nice stuff! I mean the water . . .

This one (or maybe most of them) is for love of boat. I love this boat so much! The Maelstrom Vital 166.

Ahhhh, the lazy days of summer. And I just learned that all those pesky big black "picnic hungry" ants can't climb up beer cans, so at least part of my lunch is safe!

So many nice spots!
Enjoy finding yours!
The BaffinPaddler

Watch how Nanook of the North packs a kayak! This is amazing!

2011-06-11T11:11:00.007-04:00

This is pretty unbelievable! I thought Nanook's kayak was a really tippy boat. But take a minute to watch what comes out of it. Are they playing a trick on us? Or is this for real?

I stumbled across this post, "Nanook of the North" on Kayak Yak and had to share it too! It made my day. Thanks Kayak Yak.

Nanook of the North: A Story Of Life and Love In the Actual Arctic is a 1922 silent documentary film by Robert J. Flaherty. Flaherty filmed the life of the Inuk Nanook and his family in the Canadian arctic.

The video clip above is just that, a clip from the film on YouTube. I've never seen the full movie.

The film is considered the first feature-length documentary, though Flaherty has been criticized for staging several sequences and distorting the real life of his subjects.

I wonder if that's what he did here in this sequence of video?

A documentary is supposed to be something that tells it like it is, but like any filmmaker, they shoot from their own perspective and can be tempted to sensationalize the facts.

Happy pondering and paddling!
The BaffinPaddler

Paddle to Yoga with the Maelstrom Vital 166! This is one mission I love!

2011-06-02T20:24:00.011-04:00

Need I say more? Strap a yoga mat to your fab sea kayak. Find a spot. Strike a pose.

Notice the bright green yoga mat under the bungee on the back deck of my Maelstrom Vital 166?

That's not a bed roll but maybe it could function as one under a sleeping bag. It doesn't get any better than this!

I'm out shopping for Paddle to Yoga spots in the 1000 Islands region on the St. Lawrence River off the quaint little town of Gananoque in the province of Ontario in Canada.

I'll never tire of it . . . shopping for great places to get out of the yoga studio and do some yoga outdoors once in a while.

Don't get me wrong. I love my yoga studios and teachers! I just can't wait to Paddle to Yoga with them.

You really don't even need a mat to Paddle to Yoga. Just yourself and a boat!

It really rocks. I love it and I'm going to keep doin' it! . . . Paddling to spots to do yoga.

Where have you paddled to yoga?

Where would you like to go?

Happy paddling to yoga!
The BaffinPaddler
Paddle to Yoga

P.S. I'll be adding a video to this page soon. So you may wish to check back.

People who make your day . . . in a good way . . . and the Greenland paddle connection!

2011-06-01T13:54:00.004-04:00

Ever have someone really make your day with something so simple? Like one little innocent comment that really makes you laugh and think? I just did. It made me wonder why we work so hard to have fun sometimes.

I was out tooling around some water with my "skinny stick" (Greenland paddle) in a sweet sleek sea kayak when a guy in a parked houseboat sipping a beer with some friends called out, "Hey. What's that thing you're paddling with? The stick I use to stir my cake mix with is bigger than that!"

"Ha! It's a Greenland paddle", I replied.

"Can you get anywhere with that!?"

"Yep!"

"Why do you paddle with it!?"

"Well, lots of reasons":

"The long narrow blade of the Greenland paddle doesn't catch the wind like a big spoon, and spreads the pull on the water over a longer area. A big bladed paddle has a bigger pull on the water over a shorter wider area and puts more strain on your body."
"My Greenland paddle let me keep paddling when my injured right shoulder was healing and I haven't reinjured it as long as I stick with my Greenland paddle." (See: Let's talk yoga, a Greenland paddle and healing a wrecked shoulder.)
"These paddles were invented by the Inuit people of Greenland propelling their kayaks through big seas and wind, sometimes with a harpooned walrus in tow! They knew what they were doing!"

After I gave him a few reasons why I paddle with a Greenland paddle, the real reason hit me and it was the most important one:

"When I paddle with my Greenland paddle, it makes me feel connected to the water and my boat."

Now here's the funny, ironic part of this whole Greenland paddle thing, a skinny stick that always stirs curiosity to newcomers to the "stick", and the thing that made the guy and his crew laugh out loud:

"Plus, you can make one of these things for about 9 bucks! Now my expensive $500 Werner fiberglass paddle is my spare paddle!"

I've probably got one of the longest skinniest Greenland paddles around at 8 foot 8 inches long, and 2 3/4 inches at the widest part of the blade. And I love it!

More and more, I see people making their Greenland paddles with wider and wider blades for more power. Hey, is that cheating? Is it still a Greenland paddle?

Learn more about Greenland paddles from : The Weathered Paddle or see: Greenland Paddle Makers

The Greenland paddle movement is growing! They are making a big comeback and there are more and more converts to the "stick"!

The GP connects you to so many things

Yourself
The Water and what it connects to
Other people
Great things you keep discovering

You can add to this list I'm sure!

Have you joined the GP community . . . yet!?

Happy paddling!
The BaffinPaddler

Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Test Your Gear. I Did in May. A Good May Day for Me!

2011-05-07T21:04:00.060-04:00

Cold Water Rescue Practice. Do it safely. Test your gear before heading out. I finally did!

Today some experienced local paddlers and kayak instructors got together on Canada's Ottawa River to do cold water rescue practice. I joined in. I was glad I did!

Whatever gear you are paddling in when the water is cold, it is a good idea to test your gear close to shore before you head out further. Some days, you choose your gear well. Other days, you wish you've dressed differently.

I've been paddling for several years in different types of gear, and combinations of gear, and never got completely into the water to test all of it in cold spring waters before heading out. Today I did. And I'm so happy I finally had the courage to do it!

Everything I wore today performed well for me in the conditions I paddled and practiced in during cold water rescue practice. The water temp was probably 10 degrees Celsius or warmer, but I can't be sure. The thermometer we plunged into the Ottawa River was impossible to read. The air temperature was about 16 degrees Celsius at 2:00 in the afternoon, but there was a fair wind blowing in the bay and I felt chilled on land in dry fleece as I geared up.

I had to go by feel. How did I feel in the water with my gear. How much time will it give me to get back into my boat and be comfortable. I didn't plunge my unprotected head completely into the water today. I'll try that another time, with a neo hood.

Of course, how much time you spend in cold water or on a cold shore is another matter. The point of the rescue practice is to see how well, and how fast you can get back into your boat unassisted or assisted, and how you can help others.

The gear I wore today to practice cold water rescues worked for me. I can't tell you how happy that made me feel. I couldn't believe how buoyant I was in all my neo, paddle jacket and PFD! You may be in neoprene, a dry suit, or a T-shirt and shorts. What matters is what you wear, what works for you, how it performs for you, and how well you can perform in it. Then it matters to the others you are paddling with!

Gear Up

You can see in the photos, that I'm geared up. I was wearing a long sleeve neoprene top and long neo pants, a Merino wool layer underneath, a Gul paddle jacket over all that, a very well-fitting PFD of course with the straps on the shoulders and waist battened down securely but still comfortable, a neo skirt, neo socks and neo booties, and Gul 4mm Flexor Gloves. I don't have a drysuit yet.

I started slowly by walking out into the water to see how my body reacted and how my gear choice performed. Then, when I was comfortable with my gear in the water for a few minutes, I got into my Boreal Baffin unassisted from the water. Then I felt ready for rescue practice.

I know that if I'm in really cold water and get dumped over suddenly, I can still suffer from cold water shock and gasp reflex. But today I'm testing my gear after the spring water in the Ottawa River has warmed up a bit and the ice has completely thawed several weeks earlier. I don't ever want to intentionally throw myself into water that is 4 degrees Celsius or colder. And I'm thinking I may want to avoid paddling water that cold.

Cowboy Scramble into the Boreal Baffin - This boat rocks! I love it!

When you are suited up in gear: Neoprene or a dry suit, gloves or mitts, booties and your PFD, that's when you're going to find out just how much tighter you fit into your cockpit, whether or not you can grab your decklines with your gloves, if your hands and feet are warm and comfortable, if you can still maneuver with what you are wearing, can you get back into your boat with all that stuff, and find out if you can still assist others.

You should be comfortable and able to paddle with ease in your gear. You want to have fun right?

I did today. Another day could be different. I know that. And when I'm not in the mood to hit up all that gear, I grab my bike or my yoga mat!

Why do Some People Paddle Cold Water in T-shirts and Shorts?

There is nothing like being suited up properly for the spring cold water conditions in May on a warm, windy, sunny day in a beautiful bay on the Ottawa River in Ontario, Canada, with a crew of experienced paddlers and instructors, only to see several people heading out from shore in rec boats wearing shorts and T-shirts, but at least a PFD.

Wow! They have no clue what they are doing. And most times, they will head out and come back just fine. I'm happy for you who do - you're lucky. They put their feet into the water to launch and say, "Yikes, the water is cold!", and head out anyway.

Get gear. Test your gear in a safe way.
Learn about hypothermia.

Visit Coldwater Bootcamp and watch the videos of real people and what happens to them in cold water.
Visit Cold Water Survival by the United States Search and Rescue Task Force.

Learn about the water you paddle and what temperature it is. It is probably way colder than you think!

Learn how to get back into your boat. Practice. Have fun!

Don't Forget the Sunscreen

Despite all the great gear I wore today, I still forgot one thing! The waterproof sunscreen. I've got a nice little red sunburn on the only part of me that was looking at the sun for two hours. My nose!

Thanks to Local Paddlers and Instructors

Thanks to the great crew of local Ottawa paddlers and instructors who continue to share their experience with us and who put on today's practice! You rock!

Happy and safe paddling!
The BaffinPaddler

Have you tested your gear?

First Spring Paddle with the Boreal Baffin: Paddling on Clouds and Testing the Gul 4mm Flexor Gloves

2011-04-10T16:59:00.017-04:00

Camera Failure - What a way to start an epic first spring paddle!

The absolute bane of the blogger has to be camera failure when you set out for your first spring paddle on an epic weather day with exceptional environmental conditions that offer rare photo ops that won't be there tomorrow or maybe ever again.

When I set my Boreal Baffin down on a nice solid ice ledge near a big rock on a sunny spring afternoon with a perfect view down the Ottawa River's mirror reflection of both the azure blue sky lightly dusted with soft white clouds and the surrounding landscape, I knew I had a perfect shot! You couldn't tell what was sky and what was water or which way was up. They both looked the same at that moment in time. But my orange Olympus Stylus Tough camera had other ideas!

It had a dead battery and no spare was on hand. You can relate, yes? Even though I'm a girl, that didn't stop the barrage of four letter words that escaped me for a good long while. I had to give up on pressing the "GO ON YOU #@&;* CAMERA!' button and resign myself to just paddling the boat and enjoying what I can't share with you on film.

Paddling on Clouds

I'll try to describe the incredible effect that certain water and weather conditions can have on your paddling and wonder if you've ever experienced it yourself - because it's a rare moment when the mirror like reflection of the sky on a big stretch of perfectly flat water gives you an out of the world feeling that your boat is no longer on the water. You feel like you are paddling above the water in the clouds that you see both above and below you. You don't even feel your paddle moving through the cold dense water. It's a mind game played with you by the optical illusion of the environmental conditions, and it's offered to you, if you want to go there.

Been there yet?

When I looked to my right, all I could see was the muddy brown colour of the Ottawa River in its full spring glory. When I looked to my left, the water was the sky. It was the same beautiful blue, the clouds and the sun were there. It was a perfect and surreal reflection of the sky gleaming on the water. Wow!

When you are surrounded in this odd effect, it is an amazing experience. You could call it an "Out of this World" feeling. You don't want to stay there too long as it gets eerie, yet at the same time, you want to stay in it for a while longer, as it is only a temporary experience brought on by those rare moments when there is nothing disturbing the water: no wind, no boats, no big current, or any debris floating on the water, the sun is just right, and so is your position on the water. And you still wish your camera battery had juice!

The Blackberry

Later down river, my patient paddle mate offered to take a pic from his Blackberry to appease me a bit. "OK, it's better than nothing," I pouted. And this blog post pic is from a Blackberry taken in the glaring sunlight so bright that I could not even see without my sunglasses. Pretty amazing for a cell phone pic I think! Two thumbs up for Blackberry.

The ice shelf I'm leaning on in the pic in this little bay to show off what I think is the best side of the Boreal Baffin was still about five inches thick in spots. It's April in Canada. We still have some snow and ice here in the woods and along some shorelines.

Rules not to forget

I broke a bunch of my own paddle rules today that I won't do again. But the first paddle of the season always sees me forgetting or neglecting something important.

One year it was the paddles! I arrived at the launch, unloaded all the boats and gear - and no paddles! That only happened once. Now I check! Are the paddles in the car?

Today I didn't check everything in my gear bag. I just assumed everything I needed was in there from last year's paddling season - my neo skirt wasn't. That's an important item but not a deal breaker on a calm day in flat water. I didn't check the camera battery - it was dead. No harm done, I'll just kick myself forever for that one. I didn't bring an energy bar and later wished I did. I needed it. I didn't throw my paddle jacket or any other warm gear into a hatch to put on when the sun dropped and the beautiful day fell into something about 10 degrees colder as I paddled back in what was "way too warm neoprene" when I started.

No harm came for any of my broken rules today and it was still a great day, but I need to remember to pack and plan better for those short two hour paddles close to home, especially in the spring. The distance I normally breeze through in the warmer summer, was more effort than I expected to paddle through in the colder denser water of spring thaw. Surprise, surprise! How easily some of us, like me, forget things over the long winter.

Gear Testing - Gul 4mm Flexor Liquidseam Neoprene Gloves

Spring is my favorite time of year to test gear. Especially gloves. My fingers freeze easily and this keeps me off the water - especially in winter, and sometimes in the fall, and usually in the early spring.

Every pair of gloves I've tested over the past 4 years have failed in late fall and early spring. They were either too thin, leaky, and cold, or too big and bulky that you couldn't feel the paddle. Why bother?

But this year success! I paddled for two hours in spring conditions with new gloves that I love and can recommend: Gul 4mm Flexor Liquidseam Neoprene Gloves.

I found the Gul 4mm Flexor Liquidseam Gloves very comfortable, finger and hand flexibility is excellent, no slip on my skinny Greenland paddle, the seams really are waterproof and don't leak or rub, they were warm but not hot, and fit just long enough past my wrists to prevent water from running down in to my hand while padding. When my fingers or hand glanced the water on some paddle strokes, I didn't feel the icy cold. I bought them big enough so that I could add an insulating layer if needed on colder days.

After two hours of paddling spring water with very happy hands and fingers I asked my paddle mate, "How are your hands in YOUR gloves?" They were a different Gul model: His response, "Terrible, wet, and cold!"

So, if you're not happy with your fall or spring paddling gloves, you may want to give the Gul 4mm Flexor Liquidseam Gloves a try. I love them!

Happy spring paddles.
Stay warm and safe.
The BaffinPaddler

Plan a Paddle from a Tree! Petite Nation River, Ripon, Quebec, Canada

2011-03-29T18:27:00.005-04:00

I did a little Spring paddle planning from a tree today. Spring for those of us in colder climes, like Canada, means we start getting major paddle itch when we see open water and start dreaming about where that first paddle is going to be after a long cold winter. Finding new water to paddle, meaning water you haven't paddled before, is always more exciting than thinking about plopping your sea kayak in the same old beautiful river, lake, or stretch of ocean you've paddled time and time again. Right!

On my way back home from a visit up to Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada, my GPS Tom Tom One "Lori" suggested a small highway I didn't normally travel, and I had the great pleasure of discovering a much better route that took me along beautiful stretches of the Petite Nation River through the little town of Ripon, Quebec.

When you stop and fall in love with a spot, it's a great day. Especially when you vow to come back with your boat. I was wishing my Maelstrom Vital 166 or Boreal Baffin was with me. But the Vital was still in bubble wrap at home waiting to be unravelled after spending most of the winter with its maker, Boreal Design, to fix all its leaky hatches and repair the gel coat that I busted on some nasty lake rocks.

Finding new stretches of river to paddle are my thing right now. I'm thrilled to have discovered more stretches of rivers close to home that I want to paddle: Parts of the Petite Nation River (at Ripon, Quebec), and long stretches of the Riviere Rouge/Red River in the Mont Tremblant, Quebec area. I'll be posting more on this later in the paddling season.

Today, I had to dream of paddling this stretch of the Petite Nation River from a tree suspended over the water. Trying a little yoga in a tree over the icy water was the best I could do to tease the water and hope I didn't fall in. And it rocked. But I'm not suggesting anyone else try this.

Where will your first spring paddle be?

Happy spring paddles.
Stay warm and safe.
Find a new river to paddle!
The BaffinPaddler

Sunscreen your kayak! 303 Aerospace Protectant, time to think about it!

2011-03-06T22:01:00.026-05:00

To sunscreen your kayak or not to sunscreen your kayak. That is the question.

It may sound like a modified quote from William Shakespeare, "To be, or not to be . . . that is the question." And it is. An opening line from Shakespeare's play Hamlet. That's about as much of Shakespeare as I can comprehend. And it's a big question. To be or not to be? To sunscreen your kayak, or not to sunscreen your kayak?

We know that we have to protect ourselves from the sun, either with sunscreen, shelter, or clothing. In Florida, cycling the long stretch of white sandy beach along the Barrier Islands in the Gulf of Mexico, I use SPF 60, a hat and sunglasses, along with common sense. I don't stay out there too long.

We expect that the factory paint jobs on our cars protect their finishes from the ravishes of the sun, but I didn't know that I needed to think about sunscreen for my kayak.

I owned two plastic sea kayaks for a few years before someone told me that you could sunscreen your boat to protect it from fading by using a product like 303 Aerospace Protectant. By then, the red Current Designs Storm was much less than its original red, and my eye-glaring yellow Boreal Baffin, was still pretty yellow! It was hard for me to decide if I wanted to take the time to make the Baffin brighter than it already was, even after a year of fading.

Sometimes I think (and know) that we just like to spend time with our boats when we can't get out and paddle, and this is just another way to do it - spending time with them in the garage sunscreening them and bringing back a little lustre before we show up with them at an event. But, when you've seen what the sun can do to a boat, you start to think about protecting it at the beginning of the paddling season.

We sunscreen ourselves to guard against skin cancer. With kayaks, it's about keeping them looking pretty and protecting the finish. Let's call it vanity or the pleasure of looking at your beautiful boat gliding on the water in front of you.

There is no before or after picture of sunscreening my kayaks here. I learned the lesson with my plastic sea kayaks. I 303'd them after they faded from some time in the sun and was happy with the results after using the product.

Now that I own a new fibreglass Malestrom Vital 166, I contacted the 303 product people for more information and advice. "Can I use it on a fibreglass boat?" Yes, the product can be safely applied to the gelcoat - the outer protective coating of the fibreglass boat. Hey, I didn't know if I could 303 my fibreglass sea kayak. I'm not fond of pulling out my glasses and reading the tiny fine print on product labels, I'd rather call someone.

But with any new kayak you buy, (plastic, fibreglass, thermoform, etc.) you may want to ask the manufacturer if protection from sun fade is a built in feature or not.

303 Aerospace Protectant - SPF 40: Is it environmentally friendly?

A good question. And I'm not the only one to ask. According to 303 Products Inc, as I contacted them last week, the product is environmentally friendly and passes American, Canadian and Euro regulations.

However, if you do not apply the product properly, some of the unbonded product can wash off into the water you paddle. So if you do use this product, make sure to apply it properly. The product bonds with the surface of your boat and does not soak in. People have seen excess product wash off into the water. And that means that the product was not applied properly.

How do you apply 303 Aerospace Protectant to your kayak?

According to 303 Products Inc., proper application is: Spray on, wipe COMPLETELY dry. Wiping completely dry, which requires finishing with a DRY cloth, not a damp cloth, removes all excess un-bonded 303 and makes the bonded 303 bond better and become more repellent, which also means better longer lasting performance.

At what temperature should you apply the 303 Aerospace Protectant to your plastic kayak or gelcoat of your fibreglass kayak?

According to 303 Products Inc, this product uses distilled water as the carrier, so you have to use it above freezing. This product is destroyed by freezing (when in liquid form in the bottle). So you have to store the 303 Aerospace Protectant and other topical treatment products such as wax and specialty cleaners at room temperature.

Uh, oh! I left my bottle of 303 Protectant in my freezing garage all winter! Now I'll have to buy more, and store any leftover product in the house next winter.

As for applying it, "it doesn't matter if the surface being treated is in the sun, but it DOES matter if the surface is hot to the touch. Don't use on surfaces which are hot to the touch. Warm to the touch when applying 303 to the surface of your boat is good."

Thanks to the 303 product people for getting back to me so quickly and answering all the questions I had. Hopefully, this post can save you some time and money as well by using and storing the product properly if you purchase it.

To sunscreen your kayak, or not to sunscreen your kayak . . . that is the question!

Even though I'm still waxing my skis and enjoying hitting the snow where I live in Canada, I'm thinking about sunscreening my boats for the upcoming paddling season. Are you?

Happy preps for your upcoming paddling season!
The BaffinPaddler

Paddlers who don't know they love cross-country skiing yet . . . but will!

2011-02-06T16:09:00.027-05:00

Trust me. You may be a paddler who doesn't know you love cross-country skiing! How do I know? That was me a few years back.

What are the signs of a paddler who does not know they love cross-country skiing . . . yet?

You are a paddler (OK, that one is obvious.)

You tried cross-country skiing once and hated it! (That was me too. I tried it in the wrong place at the wrong time. Let's call it Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada! I love you Manitobans but it was flat, too cold, windy, uncut trails with crappy rental equipment across a somewhat frozen lake that went "crack" in spots, zero amenities, and I had no knowledge of technique. It wasn't my idea, someone invited me.)

You hate winter and how long it lasts! (That used to be me too. I immigrated to Canada from California. Yes, I know that Canada is a country and that California is a state in the U.S., despite being a true blue-eyed blond with a few highlights. No, I was not thinking when I did it - meaning immigrating to Canada! And I had no clue how to dress for winter.)

You lament the sight of your beautiful sea kayaks, Greenland and Werner paddles, and other sweet gear packed up for 6 months each year. (It means deep regret and sorrow! I still go there sometimes too when I look at my Boreal Baffin and Maelstrom Vital 166 sitting in the garage. The sight of them gives me comfort, good memories, and a sense of wonder where they'll take me next.)

You think you'd rather "stay in" and build more and more beautifully crafted Guillemot Kayaks and Greenland paddles. (I'll admit I could lose my argument here! I have never been to this place in time myself. But you know who you are, and you still have the potential to be a paddler who loves cross-country skiing, but doesn't know it yet, so stay with me for a bit longer. It gets better.)

You'd rather "stay in" and read endless sea kayaker magazines, watch paddle videos, and hit up every good paddle blog you know. (You can still indulge in this behavior in between cross-country ski bouts. It's allowed, even recommended, and great for paddle blog Web stats!)

There are a lot of us "converts", paddlers who live in winter climes with frozen water that seems to last forever. We gave in (sorry die-hard paddlers, forgive us) and decided to make peace with winter by hanging out on the other side of water - in the snow on land.

I'd never be one to say to anyone to spend time on snow that is on top of a frozen waterway. I don't go there. At least, not knowingly. If you've ever skied across a lake that goes "crack" in spots, I can tell you it's not a happy sound or a good feeling.

When the third person who tells you that you should get out and cross-country ski (if you are able), is a paddler - you might just listen, and do it.

That's what happened to me. Third time's the charm?

So, if you still need that third person who is a paddler to tell you that you should take up cross-country skiing, let it be me.

Here's a tribute to the paddler who did it for me.

Thanks to you paddler!

And thanks to Gatineau Park, Quebec, Canada for being a world class cross-country ski destination close to home!

Just one more thing: Taking up cross-country skiing in optimal conditions, in a beautiful place, with good equipment (maybe even a lesson or two) is the best way to start in my opinion! You'll have to decide if you prefer skate skiing, classic or both. I started with classic and still like it. I've tried skate skiing. It is hard! But I haven't given up . . . yet.

Winter 2011 is looking like a great year for paddle buddies to give cross-country skiing a try.
Go for it!

Join us! Be a "convert" to the other side of water in winter: SNOW!
A few reasons why:

Wide open spaces, fresh air, nature, athletic activity, requires technique, trail maps, weather checking, planning, water, energy food, and gear. Lots of smiling faces on the trail. Just like kayaking. And the "after ski" feeling is just as great as the "after kayaking" feeling or better. There is less gear to put away and it doesn't weigh as much!

If you must find virgin snow, it is there.

This guy is pretty friendly. Or is it a girl? Maybe antlers are a clue.

I'm guessing it's a girl. She had a few shy "youngins" looking on deeper in the woods.

In California, where I'm from we say, "Hey, you guys" to mean pretty much everyone. Guys and girls.

A Hairy Woodpecker and more Chickadees than you can count. The Chickadees don't sit still for a minute, and love to tease your camera by taking off just before you click, so use your imagination here.

Fresh cut trails. You are the first to hit them after the grooming machine passes by and doesn't run you over. I'm sure they wouldn't.

Romantic amenities. His and Hers.

Exciting trails you'd like to explore. Is a Black Diamond equivalent to white water?

Day and overnight cabins you can ski to. Are you converted yet?

A closer look inside heaven.

Steaming mint tea and honey, and a spot for candle light at night.

Back out to catch the view before sunset . . .

And dodge the grooming machine again.

Kudos to the makers of these tractors! They don't disturb you in the park. The engines purr and murmur . . . like the gentle waves lapping the shore as you kayak camp. (Not really, I'm stretching the metaphor a bit here.)

I don't think the next picture needs a comment. You can make up your own and imagine yourself here.

Red squirrels look friendly, but I think he just wants my sandwich.

Oh come on, this is such a cheesy squirrel pose, but they really do this.

A little more wide open spaces, then it's time to head for home, the cabin, yurt, or the tent.

Lots of room to improve your technique and fitness level . . . just like paddling.

So when will we see you out there too!

Happy and safe winter travels wherever you go with them!
The BaffinPaddler

Newfound Lake, New Hampshire. But the tourist brochure said pristine and no commercial development!

2011-01-08T19:50:00.022-05:00

I should have known not to believe it when the tourist brochure said "Newfound Lake is pristine and has no commercial development." I came through the city of Bristol, to the southern-most beach and said, "Oh s*#t!"

All around me and as far as the eye could see were wall-to-wall cottages and rows of docks packed with hundreds of ski boats, those ultra-expensive mega party boats with the monster speakers and lights. Of course you don't see them in the photo. I made sure to hide them from the view.

So what do they consider no commercial development around here I wondered? This looks way OVER DEVELOPED to me! And this is just the southern tip of the lake! It was the first thought running through my mind when the lake came into view.

The next thing running through my mind was making a decision. Do I get out and paddle this thing anyway or head somewhere else? I'm on vacation in a new place I don't know very well and I only have a few days left. Every day needs to bring something new.

I'd already paddled a section of the Connecticut River from the Comerford Dam and Reservoir, which had plenty of water in between dams. It wasn't on my list to do again.

Then there were the stretches of the Saco River I saw in the Crawford Notch area that looked more like rock beds.

So, rather than try to research and figure out where to paddle on another river I didn't know, I decided to paddle Newfound Lake. It was a weekday, early in September when most of the motor boat crowd was back at work.

There was plenty of water to swim in and Wellington State Park on the south west shore has a boat launch, or was just a short paddle west of the public beach I launched from . . . but wasn't supposed to.

When the temperature is going to hit 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit), it's not a bad bet to be in a lake you can swim in more than paddle.

I was looking for a fair-sized lake that was pristine and swimable, no-motorboats, with views of the White Mountains within a hour's drive from my vacation basecamp near Lyman, NH.

Some of the larger lakes in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire are known motor boat tourist havens, so they were immediately off my list. According to the tourist brochure, Newfound Lake seemed to fit the bill . . . until I got there.

If you're someone like me with a paddle and a kayak, you may want to avoid this lake in the high vacation season when all the speed boats are out in full force.

Despite all the development, the water in Newfound Lake looks amazingly pristine. It's the third largest lake in New Hampshire at 4,450 acres, and its deepest parts reach 183 feet.

So be careful out there. People do drown in this lake and some have never been found because of its depth. See Newfound Lake news report: WMUR 9 Swimmer's Body Reecoverd in Newfound Lake.

Newfound Lake is fed and refreshed by underground springs. It really does have crystal clear waters and sandy bottoms in spots that make you think you might be paddling somewhere in the Caribbean. It is easy to fall in love with it.

But don't get too lost staring off at those distant mountains. There are also patches of large rocks that come upon you suddenly in between those sandy stretches, and they are just waiting to meet you and your kayak. And you can see them! Lots of them!

Awesome . . . when you glance down and see a big jagged rock a split second before you are about to run into it with the nose of your fiberglass boat and manage to miss it by a millimeter!

Without all the motor boats and cottages, Newfound Lake could be a little slice of heaven. But I guess that's exactly why everyone is there. It's a bit too nice. An affliction. Everyone wants a piece of it. Isn't that what happened to California?

As a paddler, I hate to give up water we want to paddle on just because the motor boats out number and out power us. And intimidate us, and threaten our safety.

In one of the crystal clear shallow spots of the lake, where the water was between two and three feet deep, some big-bellied motor boaters were hopping off their decks with their boats in tow. Leading them like pets on a short stretch of 8 foot long rope and wading in the water. Their beautiful 22 foot long, 4,000 pound docile pets floating behind them in calm water without wind or boat wakes.

I thought it was a funny habit, until I saw one looking back nervously to see where his big pet was. It wouldn't take much of a boat wake, or a moment of inattention to send it on top of you in a second.

Back at the launch, I asked a local how a lake that was only 2 1/2 miles wide and 6 miles long could stay so clear while supporting so many cottages and motor boats.

"God keeps it clean," he said.

"Oh, I guess he's doing a good job then," I replied. "But, I'm wondering if he might need some help."

He had no reply to that. Just a friendly chuckle and an offer of some lawn chairs to sit on to enjoy the views from the public beach I had just parked my boat on.

Seems having Canadian license plates and beautiful Maelstrom sea kayaks strapped onto the car makes you very welcome.

Everyone loves kayakers right? Well almost.

I keep forgetting that we are governed by rules just like other boaters with motors. Another local came over and kindly warned me that someone regularly calls the police when people launch from this stretch of public beach, and this visit could cost me $100 in fines.

With this news, you've never seen anyone pack up a boat and gear faster! So here's another pic of what not to do with your boat in this location.

I never made it to the northern shores of Newfound Lake. Anyone with news about this section of the lake and where to launch from if I ever head back, please let me know.

I love New Hampshire!

Happy paddling and finding your way without fines when you are a tourist!
The BaffinPaddler

Cowboy Scramble up the Maelstrom Vital 166 - Find its sweet spot!

2010-12-30T21:29:00.013-05:00

Does a boat have a sweet spot? I think so. Especially when you are doing the cowboy scramble.

Ok, I'm in the water in a nice warm Canadian lake in July in my cute new Maelstrom Vital 166 that I bought in May without really testing if I could get back into it unassisted. I just assumed I could. "Of course I can, I can do it in my Boreal Baffin in 5 seconds." I count. It's a game in warm flatwater when I'm doing it for fun and rescue practice.

In the first pic above, look how far the nose is sticking out of the water. This boat has one very upturned kayak nose!

The Malestrom Vital 166 is 21 inches at the beam and is 16 feet 6 inches long. The beam is the widest measurement across the kayak. That has to be at the cockpit. It's where we sit. Makes sense, especially after the Christmas holidays, we need to fit in there. Everything gets skinnier from there. Yes, after Christmas we work to get rid of what we gained, and from the cockpit, everything gets narrower. So when you think beam, think widest part. In a sea kayak, it's somewhere around the cockpit, the middle. On us, let's hope our middle is not our widest part!

The wider the kayak, the more stable it can feel. And, at 21 inches at the beam, the Maelstrom Vital 166 is starting to get skinny and very responsive. Which is what I wanted, and it is designed to be that way. But getting back into it from the water as a 5'6", 125 pound vertical being hanging low in the water and trying to hoist yourself up onto a light, floating, horizontally oriented sea kayak is starting to feel a little different! Like tippy and I have to think about it. I'm not complaining. I'm going to figure it out.

Let's see. Each time I try to get up on the back deck of the Malestrom Vital 166, I pull the kayak on top of myself. A common problem with a lot of people who try this manoeuvre with their kayaks. And a problem I got past with the Boreal Baffin with the help of an instructor.

Now what did he tell me? "Try it farther back on the back deck, away from the cockpit, over the back hatch." Well, I was trying to come up over the back hatch of the Vital, but I needed to find its sweet spot a little further back. And once I found that sweet spot, I could cowboy scramble up it each time (in calm water). If you can't do it easily in calm, warm water on a nice sunny day . . . it could be stressful in other conditions. Practice is fun.

So here we go, grab a breath, pull yourself up and kick those legs at the same time to get horizontal with your boat.

If you make it up and over the back deck, it's the first moment of truth in the cowboy scramble. Getting up on your boat without tipping it over. Not cute, but this is a skinny boat to balance over. Now all you have to do is swing your leg over your boat and ride it like a horse. That's why they call it the cowboy scramble, right?

This is a nice moment. Up on your boat. Wow. I'm a pretty light, small paddler at 5 foot 6 inches and about 125 pounds sitting on the back deck of the Vital. Look how high the nose is!

Next is what I call the "grunt work". Pulling yourself up the back deck of the boat to the cockpit. Normally I would be low pulling myself up from the decklines, but I'm finding I get stuck on the fiberglass and don't slide easily along it like I normally do on my plastic Boreal Baffin. And those skinny edges of the Maelstrom Vital 166 on my thighs feel very hard. I'm thinking "Ouch". I'm also thinking, this is so much easier and more comfortable in my Boreal Baffin. But I like the Vital, so I'd better get used to it and make it quick.

When you make it to the cockpit and slide yourself in, it's a great feeling! And before I do, I can't help but take a moment to claim victory with my beloved GP (Greenland paddle) and do some nice torso rotations and stretch out a bit.

Now it's time to play and do it all over again!

Happy cowboy scrambling and figuring out your boat!
The BaffinPaddler

And you can watch someone else do it in another boat on YouTube who will make it look easy, but nothing beats practice. It's all about you and the boat you are paddling!

Top 50 Kayaking Blogs - BaffinPaddler made the Rest of the Best

2010-12-26T09:41:00.022-05:00

Wow! It really pays to pay attention to your Web stats and see where your traffic comes from. Mine is small but very cherished. I'm so surprised where it comes from too.

I just noticed that Guide to Online Schools, Top 50 Kayaking Blogs was linking to my BaffinPaddler blog, so I went over and took a peek. How cool!

Guide to Online Schools reviewed a number of kayak blogs and ranked the Top Five and the Rest of the Best.

BaffinPaddler is listed 5th in the Rest of the Best (that's because they are listed in alphabetical order so it helps to have a blog that starts with a "B") and this is what they say about BaffinPaddler, "Most of these blog entries are personal reviews of various sea kayaking routes. This kayaker makes sure to put safety first and always reviews the weather conditions and safety concerns of sea kayaking."

Hey thanks Online Schools! It's an honor to be reviewed and ranked. And a great motivator for a blogger. I'm a big fan of blogs and bloggers. And now I've just discovered yet another great resource of some kayak blogs I didn't know about that I can also share on my blog. Some of my favorite kayak bloggers are listed on my blog roll in the right column of my blog.

There is a kinship amongst kayakers in general and with kayak bloggers in particular. It is great to stay connected to other kayakers this way. They are the ones who motivate me to get out there and discover something new and maybe paddle with some of them one day.

This review is great for us bloggers..Looks like great photos and videos are an expected hit along with the stories and adventures that we all manage to find and share along the way. And readers do appreciate the balance of including the mention of safety aspects and technique when it comes to our sport. I'm glad to hear that. That's what makes our sport more fun! When we come back safe, sound, and in one piece so we can head out time and time again.

People want to know how much fun we're having, where we're having it, and what kind of gear we like. We love our gear! We need our gear. We rely on our gear as much as we rely on ourselves. When you think about it, we're a team.

It's winter, and in Canada and a lot of other places around the world, winter means cold! Which can also mean fun or freezing your butt off whether you are on or off the water.

Gear is really on my mind right now. The freezing wind running up my belly early in the season made me stop and think in between shivers. So, I indulged in one of my other favorite sports - shopping (at gear stores of course)! I'll be talking about some pretty simple gear soon. The most important gear to think about first but we often think about last, the foundation. The base layer!

Happy blogging!
The BaffinPaddler

Happy holidays from the BaffinPaddler

2010-12-24T15:32:00.003-05:00

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I wish you the best, today, tomorrow, and forever!

Cheers.
The BaffinPaddler

Let’s talk yoga, a Greenland paddle and healing a wrecked shoulder

2010-12-21T12:27:00.088-05:00

Wrecking yourself is pretty easy. It can be sudden or come upon you over time from chronic overuse or stupid abuse. I’ve done all of the above with yoga and paddling . . . all things that are supposed to be good for you, right?

All of the wrecking part was my own fault though. None of it was an accident.

I’ve wrecked my back with yoga and I’ve rebuilt myself with yoga.

I’ve wrecked my shoulder paddling and later found a path to rehab and prevention that included a Greenland paddle and yoga. A good combo!

Don’t you just love sports!

According to all the physios I’ve frequented, it’s those of us who do sports that they see most often. And it seems that shoulders and knees could win an award for being the parts of our bodies that we mess up the most often.

I’ve learned a lot from my mistakes. The path to learning is sometimes long and painful. Some may say, “always!” But, it’s amazing what you can discover when you really need to.

Misery does not love company – you will hang out there alone.

My perception - how I viewed my injury and how I learned to deal with it had to change for me to get well and stay well. It is really easy to reflect back on a hard-to-heal injury and talk about it in a positive way when you’re well. It’s a lot harder being there – injured – for a long time and wondering if what you wrecked will ever heal. It always seems like forever. And one year seemed like a very long time for me to heal a wrecked shoulder, but it’s amazing how many people will help you along the way.

I’ve been reading a few chat posts from paddlers near and far talking about injuries, especially shoulder injuries, as they wonder about recovery times and treatments, and what they’ll do with themselves in the down time while all their buddies are out there having all the fun.

When it happens to you, you need support. Not just medical support. It can be a long road to recovery, and people without the same injury can get tired of hearing about yours!

Keeping a positive attitude can be tough when you don’t feel like you’re making much healing progress, suffer a few set backs, and start to wonder if the injury and the pain it’s causing you may become part of your everyday life. It is difficult to be patient, but I learned that finding ways to keep a positive attitude and not giving up was one of the most important parts of healing for me.

Everyone is different in their path to recovery or not recovering, but sometimes it just makes you feel better to hear someone else’s story. Here’s mine.

How I wrecked myself with yoga

You know the drill, “Hey, I’m athletic and in good shape. I used to do those full back bends all the time a few years ago. I’ll buy a power yoga video and go for it.”

Rip, tear. “Uh, oh, this can’t be good!”

No, it wasn’t. It was the sound of my back muscles ripping out. I was pretty wrecked for three months, could barely move or get out of bed without pain, and had to take a lot of heavy duty anti-inflammatories and pain killers.

I learned (kind of but not totally) that over-estimating myself and trying to learn yoga from a TV screen and a video wasn’t a very good idea. Sounds obvious.

I didn’t know much about yoga and figured it just wasn’t for me. There were lots of other sports and activities I could do. So, when I healed, I left yoga alone for a few years.

The next time I really wrecked myself was paddling and it was my right shoulder

I brilliantly combined trying to learn how to roll (incorrectly by pulling my head up first instead of my shoulder, a common beginner mistake), with being seduced into paddling distance in wind with big powerful Werner Cyprus spoons. And if you paddle with guys, it is harder to keep up. So you work harder. But I like that anyway. Girl paddlers can relate! I likely used more shoulder power than torso rotation for stroke. So many of us paddle this way, even when we know better. It can become a habit you don’t even notice until you start to get sore.

I could feel things were straining in my neck and shoulder on both counts – from the rolling practice mistakes and paddling distance with the big spoons, so I gave up trying to learn how to roll that summer, took a little time off, then kept right on going . . . paddling distance with big spoons.

By the end of the paddle season that year, I couldn’t use or raise my right arm. The muscles and tendons of the rotator cuff of my right shoulder were extremely strained and inflamed.

The rotator cuff is made up of four muscles and tendons that help move and stabilize the shoulder joint. Unless you’ve had this injury, or a good case of tendonitis, you can’t believe how painful it is and how difficult it is to treat and heal. The shoulder is a complicated joint!

Somehow, when all the practitioners who helped me heal told me that shoulder injuries are very common for paddlers, I felt better. It’s amazing how stupid you can feel in hindsight.

You fluctuate between the dull and annoying deep ache to the more painful muscle spasms, and the hard knots that don't seem to go away, especially in the muscles that run from your neck to your shoulder. The rotator cuff muscles and what they connect to do not seem to want to heal, despite time off, rest, drugs, and a lot of expensive physiotherapy. And set backs or relapses to recovery seemed to come along often enough for me. The pain was always worse at night. So you miss out on sleep too. That’s always fun when you are feeling pretty miserable - it gives you even more awake time to feel your discomfort!

The problem with an injury to one part of your body like a shoulder is, that the rest of you is well and ready to go. You are not sick. You need to figure out what to do with yourself, especially when everyone else you know is out there enjoying all the things you normally love to do.

The next thing I did wrong – immobilize myself

When my right shoulder was completely unusable, I stopped activities and didn’t raise or use my right arm. I just left it alone and took some pain killers. “I’ll just wait until it heals,” I thought. This was two years ago, just before Christmas.

Then, as I was dropping someone off at the physio for knee rehab from a basketball injury, the physio said hi to me and reached out to shake my hand.

“I can’t do that,” I replied.

“Why not?” She asked.

“I can’t move my arm.” I said.

She asked me a few questions, then gave me an order.

“You go see the receptionist right now and make an appointment with me tomorrow. If that shoulder freezes up you’ll be in real trouble, and I’ll have a heck of a time trying to fix you!”

“Ummmm, yes maman.” I replied.
You could not say no to this woman. She was absolutely sure of herself, and that’s just what I needed at the time.

I’m very lucky I ran into her. Luck is on your side sometimes, and timing is everything!

So I was off to a long race with all types of treatments to reduce inflammation and pain, heal what I wrecked, rebuild strength and flexibility, and then wise up and plan to not make the same mistake twice!

Types of therapies I used to get to the recovery stage

I decided to go for everything that might help

Regular trips to the doctor

Proper diagnosis is important and getting the right types of medications if you need them. I had to take a lot of meds for awhile. If homeopathy works for you, great!

I worked with qualified physiotherapists

I had to work with therapists and listen to what they told me. Sometimes I don’t. Sometimes we forget or don't realize how important simple things like icing or doing an easy exercise for 5 minutes is. A good therapist is good at scolding and reminding you to do your homework! Ever wonder why, at each visit, that they always ask you if you're doing what they told you?

They’ll discuss the options for treatment of the trauma and exercises to incorporate along the way as you recover. They give you lots of moral support too! You’ll be treated in a place with lots of other people at different stages of recovery from injuries. It made me feel better and less alone with my injury, as there were lots of people going through the same thing I was.

Listed below are the treatments my licensed physio administered to me and that I found helpful

I had to request the acupuncture. Although, in North America, acupuncture is becoming more and more mainstream, I was actually surprised that my “traditional” physiotherapist had also studied acupuncture. I thought I would have to go elsewhere for that. But like any practitioner, some are better than others, and the results you get usually speak for themselves.

Ultrasound
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Manual manipulation
Acupuncture

Diet and fluids

Eating healthy foods is pretty much a year-round practice for me (I’m not perfect, I dive into cookies often enough), but when I am injured and trying to heal, I start to think about foods and fluids that can help me rebuild a little faster. I made sure that protein was not forgotten in my diet, along with all kinds of fresh vegetables and carbohydrates. But I added some natural fresh fruit like pineapple, which contains the enzyme Bromelain, that is said to have potent anti-inflammatory properties.

I also had to remember to drink lots of water to help flush out the extra toxins I was ingesting as I had to take a lot of medication for awhile to get me through the “pain I couldn’t stand stage”. This can be a tricky stage for your stomach and digestion to handle. I’m a big fan of herbal teas too. Lucky for me, as I had to give up coffee for a bit. I’m not here to recommend anything to anyone, I’m just recounting my own experience. Everyone is different and has to listen to their own body.

Ice!

Icing my shoulder helped reduce the pain and inflammation. It just felt good. I used a bag of frozen peas or corn, which fit nicely over my shoulder and stayed put pretty well. Then I re-froze and reused the bag 2 or 3 times a day for 20 minutes of icing. I marked the bag, “DO NOT EAT” to make sure no one used it for food, as you can’t eat foods that you have thawed and refrozen.

Weaning myself from spot therapies and going more holistic - treating the whole body and self

As I started to progress in my healing, which seemed really slow and included several painful set backs, I also felt I was stalling in the same cycle with my neck and shoulder muscles tightening up and getting painful.

What the physio called a set back, was a big and sudden flare up. It felt like I was right back to the beginning and all the healing progress I had made over months of time was lost. But when the physio calmly said, “It’s only a set back,” it made me feel better and changed my perspective from “this is hopeless”, to “ok, it’s just temporary”.

And my physio was right. I recovered more quickly from the set backs, and kept on healing. There are lots of reminders from your body that you are trying to do too much too fast, even when you are being careful and seemingly not doing much at all.

Physiotherapy treatments can be time consuming and they do get expensive over time. After five months I began to wonder if just treating the traumatized area was the best approach. I knew there would be a break point, where I would have to stop physiotherapy and find a way to continue healing, avoid relapses, and practice prevention.

When I felt I was in the recovery stage these are the therapies and activities I moved into carefully

Active Release Therapy (A.R.T)

A friend who worked for a chiropractor who practiced ART recommended I give this therapy a try. It seemed to help me continue healing. ART is related to deep tissue massage and myofascial release, which is the release of the network of soft connective tissue in the body. It is a technique that treats tightness and problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. ART is based on the fact that muscles do not work in isolation. Muscles only work properly if the surrounding connective tissue is healthy and functional, and vice versa.

My shoulder injury from overuse and misuse caused me extreme tightness in particular muscle groups, which in the long term could also mean scar tissue in the problem area. And when you are very tense and sore in one particular area, this affects other parts of your body, both mental and physical.

Other Sports and Activities

Elliptical Trainer

My shoulder was still not up to par for much use but the legs still worked. So I used my elliptical trainer to work the legs and lungs, ignoring the upper body handles of my machine. Doing some form of cardiovascular workout really helped me feel better physically and mentally, and I figured improving my circulation and taking in more oxygen would also be good for healing my shoulder. This also got me in shape for the winter season and cross-country skiing.

You can usually find elliptical trainers at most gyms. They are super popular. But if you buy one, it is really important to research and test them out before deciding.The good ones can be pretty expensive, but can be a worthwhile investment in time and money. I learned this by experience.

Cross-country skiing

Over the winter I took up cross-country skiing on hilly green trails using only my legs. I was the armless skier that season. I worked my legs, glutes, and improved my cardiovascular health. It made me feel great and has became part of my normal winter routine. Although, when my shoulder was still healing, I did worry about the risk of falling on it and causing another painful set back. I was careful and very lucky that no harm came of it, and it was the risk I decided to take.

Yoga

After the winter season, and spring was on it's way, I took up beginner Hatha. Actually, at first, I jumped right into a rigorous Ashtanga class before I was ready and it was too much for me. Old habits and bad habits die hard. I started to reinjure my shoulder. Ouch! I still couldn't raise my right arm over my head. I could only move it half way up. All those downward dogs hurt my shoulders and wrists which hadn't done much all winter and seemed to be atrophying at a surprising rate in just a few months. I loved the Ashtanga teacher and the class, but had to leave it behind and start with beginner Hatha.

It was April at this point and I wanted to be back on the water by June. I didn’t like beginner Hatha at all for at least two months. I wondered how these simple poses and all this breathing could possibly be doing anything for me, but it surprised me. I saw results in the tone, strength and flexibility of my body. I gained better lung capacity and my posture improved. Little by little, with some wincing along the way, I could start to raise my right arm over my head. And today, I can do it with no pain, and have regained strength and flexibility in both shoulders.

The mental aspect of yoga is very holistic. And it is said that a person’s search for more holistic healing approaches and a way of life often comes from the experience of physical discomfort. How true for me!

From this point on, yoga became part of the rest of my life. And I love it! All yoga classes in a studio are an hour and a half though. It takes some time-management to work it in sometimes, but once you learn the basics, it is really easy to make your home practice or away from home practice flexible to your own needs.

Knowing how to practice is one thing, knowing when and where to practice is another matter!

My ongoing rehab and prevention strategies

It seems that once you wreck something, it becomes your Achilles’ heel. It is more prone to reinjury. It may be a part of your body that you don’t use properly due to bad habits or how you are naturally built. My right shoulder is my Achilles’ heel.

Now I use yoga more wisely and a Greenland paddle for ongoing rehab and prevention.

I find combining different forms of yoga give me better mental and physical balance, flexibility, and health. And a little variety always rocks! Finding the yoga forms you like, and the yoga studios and instructors who can teach and motivate you may take a bit of time and patience. It took me awhile, but I found it very worthwhile.

And it’s the same thing with Greenland paddles! Not all Greenland paddles are made the same! They are made from different designs and materials. And if you are trying one that is custom designed for someone else, (or one of their mistakes that they are trying to get rid of!) you may not like it at all. You may need to build or try several before you find one you really like, then learn the techniques to get the most out of it. Well, that’s what I did. I’m still learning and I like it!

Hatha yoga

This is the base and heart of yoga. It’s good to start here at a beginner level and properly learn the poses, breathing techniques, and philosophy of yoga. From a good and safe beginning you can tailor your practice to your needs and wishes. Hatha is my base.

Ashtanga yoga

Ashtanga is a very athletic flowing form of yoga. If you don’t have a good base and knowledge of the yoga poses and breathing techniques already, and some core strength and balance, it can be very tough, if not impossible to keep up with an Ashtanga class! And Ashtanga practitioners chant at the beginning of the class and at the end of class. The opening chant is only 8 lines of Sanskrit. When I was new to Ashtanga, it made me uncomfortable, but now I’m trying to learn it. And the way the chant sounds in each class is so different, I find that interesting. The chanting has its own purpose and benefits as well. You can feel it. If you're not already an avid chanter, you may want to research the benefits of chanting and give it a try. Some family members may think you are odd, though.

I always warn newbies to yoga if they want to tag along in a class with me. I say, "I think you'd be better off starting with beginner Hatha, but ok, come along. They're going to chant. Are you ok with that? Will that freak you out? Also, please make sure to tell the teacher this is your first yoga class so he or she can look out for you."

Ashtanga pushes me a bit but I like the challenge.

Yin yoga

Yin yoga uses longer more deeply held poses (usually 3-5 minutes) that helps to stretch and release the deeper connective tissues of the body, the fascia, among other benefits. Breathing techniques are part of every form of yoga. Yin yoga is harder than it looks and may surprise you. I sometimes gravitate to certain yin poses that I like to relax and gently and carefully stretch out some body parts that can feel stiff or sore after doing some other sports like paddling, cycling, hiking, or cross-country skiing.

Yin yoga seems to focus a lot on opening up and stretching the hips and shoulders, and these can be good spots, especially for paddlers, to work on.

Greenland paddle

Now I paddle mostly with a skinny stick that puts less strain on my shoulders as the resistance from the water is spread out over a longer thinner area than my big Werner Cyprus blades, which grab a lot of water all at once and sometimes wind! I still love the power of the big spoons. I just use them a lot less now.

It took me time, patience, dedication, and a number of conversations with myself to figure out how to get yoga right for me, but the less straining Greenland paddle had a nice conversation with my shoulder and the water every time I used it.

You can also visit Adanac Paddles, Dover, Ontario, Canada. They are GP paddle makers and provide a lot of information about GPs. They also talk about how a GP might be of help to you if bladed paddles are causing you some pain.

Impromptu yoga

Yoga training can be very disciplined and systematic. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be flexible and fun. Yoga is always there for you, wherever you are, whenever you need it. It's in a class of its own.

Paddlers who do yoga have a lot of advantages, both physical and mental. Plus, we can get out of the studio to some of the neatest places on the planet to strike a pose in the great outdoors!
I'll be looking for some yoga/paddle trips next season. Some outfitters incorporate this combo into trips.

One of my favorite things is what I call Impromptu Yoga.

Find a moment.

Find a place.

And strike a pose!

It doesn’t have to be perfect. There won’t be anyone there to adjust you, unless you’ve brought your yoga instructor along!

And if you’re stuck in the city, you can still grab some mall graffiti and have a yoga moment.

Best wishes for your rehab if you’re on that path, and learning how to prevent injuries that you don’t deserve.

Whew! This is a monter post. But it will at least serve as a reminder to me to be more careful about wrecking stuff!

The BaffinPaddler