BaffinPaddler - http://baffinpaddler.blogspot.com

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 ...

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...

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! 2012 Update:  Maelstromkayak and Boreal Design are no longer manufacturing and distributing the Vital 166 or ...

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

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!" Main...

You do need to lift the kayak and well-strapped on 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 this skinny kayak 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 ...

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 basecam...