Headed For Greener Pastures

Kayaks all tucked in the garage. I am headed to Arizona to give a CME course on Cardiology. It is supposed to rain there on Saturday. No matter. I will be delivering 6 one-hour lectures to medical professionals. I love the interaction and energy at these courses.

Lady Linda's nephew is there, and I hope to have dinner with him and his fiance.

It will feel good to feel warm air on the old body. Meanwhile...

Paddle safe...
DS

I Got Nothing

It's winter. I have a neurological sleep disorder the treatment for which has given me cardiac arrhythmias. Last night was my best night sleep in months, and it wasn't enough to make up for all the hours I spent tossing.

We are iced off the lake, and my Cetus still takes on water in the rear hatch (we are honing in on the source). I don't get enough exercise, and I don't have anything new and stimulating to photograph. What to do?

Go up into the attic or down into the basement or into the archives and revisit some old photos to post, repost and share.

So, that's what I did.

'nough said.

Paddle safe...
DS

Michael must be proud.

I watched the opening of the olympics yesterday. Impressive and sadly darkened by the death of a bob sled athlete. Still, the olympics seem to be the one place where the world's nations seem at peace with one another. The games are the thing, and who you are and where you are from is not the issue. Seems there is a model there for a way of coexisting. We can only hope.

Paddle safe...
DS

Take Another Bow

A ways back, I posted about having the bow of one's kayak appearing in pictures. At the time, I thought it was an over done cliche' and challenged folks to think of ways of getting good images without the bow of their boat appearing in the photo.

Recently, Stan McKenzie had an interesting post on the same subject. Unlike myself, he took the approach that the presence of the bow gave a sense of self and a chance to show off one's boat. After all, he pointed out, we are generally proud of our crafts and have a close bond with them. His articles (and his always excellent photos) got me to rethinking this entire idea. That's when I pulled this image back up (taken earlier this year).

I realize that I had intuitively stressed the presence of the bow of my kayak in order to give perspective to the image. The proportionally large presence in the fore ground helps make Sherri and her boat look smaller and, hence, the water bigger. It almost succeeds, although I am not 100% thrilled with the result. I am, however, grateful to Stan for stimulating my thoughts.

Paddle safe...
DS
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Predicting Winter Weather With 100% Accuracy

 Here in the states, we have a silly tradition of having a ground hog come out early in the year to look for its shadow. If he sees it, so goes the tale, we will have 6 more weeks of winter. Turns out, there are better, more scientific ways to handle this. The bench test, for one, is far more accurate.

This scientifically designed bench just happens to sit in my back yard where, as it turns out, is the only important place to consider when it comes to weather. If the bench is covered with snow (as it is in the picture taken this week) we know that there will not only be lots more winter but that the temperature is currently below freezing. This simple, yet elegant, observation can be made through the window without having to exposing one's self  to the miserable elements.

Although reliable and 89.77% accurate, when it comes to life and death decisions, we turn to The Oracle Of The Tree for uncannily accurate information. This old wood sprite has been with us for several years now, and he has never failed us. We believe that his wisdom continues to grow as evidenced by the fact that his eyes are farther apart than when we discovered him over a decade ago. But I digress. 

Rooted deeply in mythology, he sees all and almost never blinks. His gaze is fixed on the north west, from where our weather emanates and, it is said, he can see over the horizon to the other side of the world. It is told that he blinks when the end of winter is 24 hours away. Since this usually occurs in the wee early hours of the morning, no one has actually seen or been able to photograph this sacred happening. Rest assured, however, that is eyes remain wide open as I type this and that winter surely will not end in the next few days. Is that a snow blower I hear?

Paddle safe...
DS

Silbs in Wonderland

You've seen pictures of the pond behind Rutabaga in Madison. Usually, there is the dock where folks who want to demo a boat get hang out.

And there is the usual teaching activities around paddle sport. When I went up there on Sunday (see last blog), I wasn't surprised to see snow on the pumpkins (read hulls).

What I didn't expect to see was the teepee that is usually set up for the Door County Sea Kayak Symposium. It is usually part of the kids' program and seemed like an apparition in the early morning dreary light. No one was around to explain why it was there.

The pond did have some activity, even though it was 7:30 am., but those guys weren't paddling.

I didn't see my shadow. No matter.

We're under a snow storm warning here in Milwaukee, and it doesn't expire for 24 hours. Oh, well.

Paddle safe...
DS

Learning about Learning

Yesterday, I had a unique opportunity to be part of a team teaching a rolling class. It was unique in as much as I was a sort of third wheel there to learn how this class is usually run. The course has usually been taught by Dan

and Jeff

both excellent teachers and accomplished paddlers.

Yesterday, having little responsibility, I got to watch and listen a lot. Having my own way of teaching rolling and, thus, not starting from scratch, I was free to listen to the words, to watch how much was show and tell and how much was doing, and to see how the time was used for each stage of the learning process.

I love teaching, and I hate being an educator. I am, for instance, likely to quit teaching my college courses as I cannot stand setting up a syllabus or meeting other paper work requirements. I just want to teach. That experience, however, has led me to listen and observe differently, and I am slowly getting the Gestalt of some class methods.

Most rolling classes do not produce students with a roll. After 4 hours, it is not uncommon for no one to have a roll...and this is after a rolling class.

Most accept the fact that learining to roll is a process and that is just how it is. But, like the song says, it ain't necessarily so. I have had any number of students roll after a single half-hour lesson. In fact, the majority do. My method, like all good methods, consists of bits brazingly stolen from other innovative teachers.

So, I learned a lot by watching. I learned a lot about what works and what doesn't. I hope it makes me a better teacher.

Paddle safe...
DS

Goals

My sense of paddlers, in general, is that they are affiable, of above average intelligence, interested in the world around them and goal oriented. They come from all walks and all sorts of job descriptions and tend to well at what ever they do. Aside from the once in a blue moon recreational paddler, the whitewater and sea kayakers are always working on their skills and trying to improve. Some of this motivation comes  from having goals.

There are more possibilities (read: goals) at the start than at any other time. It is like taking a hike. Every time you take a fork in the path you have eliminated (at least for now) all the forks in the roads of the paths not taken. The first time in a kayak, that first lesson, holds out to the imagination all sorts of possibilities. There is so much to practice and such a great urge to get up to speed.

Jump (or paddle) ahead and we all arrive at a place where we have the basics. Our forward stroke is getting decent, our braces are pretty much working and we hit our rolls the majority of the times. Unless we find something new to work on, the future may appear to only hold out repetitious outings during which we do the same old, same old over and over. This is when those of us really who are really into the paddling game look for new goals.

For some of us it is becoming an instructor and then working on becoming an even better instructor. Some will go on to be instructor trainers while others, eschewing the instructor path, will plan longer and longer trips. For some this may be conquering the shoreline while paddling to the next city 5 miles up the coast. Others eventually paddle around Australia.

So, in addition to planning and looking forward to the spring events, it is time for me to start laying out new goals. Since teaching is my passion, I want to learn more about it and about teaching teachers. At my age, I have no plans to become an instructor trainer, however, I do want to learn those skills as I believe it will make me a better teacher and a better paddler.

Then I need to work on a plan to maintain conditioning. I am going to lose some this winter in spite of getting out there on the lake and frequent visits to the gym and pool. It's just that it's harder as I get older. Finally, I need to sit and contemplate how I can best serve my sport going forward.

I have pretty much eliminated the idea of an Olympic try out, but I will continue to teach. I am on another board here in Milwaukee, and it involves paddling indirectly. I need to do more. Perhaps my next goal is to find my next goal.

Paddle safe...
DS

Long Days

I know, the days are actually getting longer; but they seem that way aside from their actual length. Perhaps it has to do with my age. Or, maybe, it has to do with my temperament which needs to constantly entertain both my left and right brain.

Today is a Wednesday, so my teaching day started at 8 am (waking at 5:30) and ends around 9 pm. This week only, yesterday I ended up teaching double classes for another instructor. Top this with the fact that Lady Linda is away for a few days leaving me with house, garbage and large dog. I look at the phone hoping the governor will call.

I am already looking forward to Sunday when I will be up in Madison helping with pool instruction (kayak rolling class). We constantly talk of moving to warmer places, but our magnificent cohort of family, extended family and friends are all here.

Common sun, make the days really longer...and a hell of a lot warmer.

Paddle safe...
DS

What is This?

I get, and see on other blogs, comments composed of these symbols. Michael thought they may be another language that did not translate via Google. Do you know what they are? (symbol has been removed from original  post)

Paddle safe...
DS

From the Upper Left Hand Corner

That's an old musician's expression to mean from the beginning. And so it is with rolling a new boat, especially if one is going from a Romany (which almost rolls like a SOF) to a Cetus (which does not).


I was in the pool yesterday rolling the afore mentioned Cetus. First I used a Greenland stick so I could work slowly and with control. I wanted to just concentrate on how the hull moved and how much in control of it I felt. Then I inserted my rectangular neoprene portable Masik to bring my thighs more in contact with the boat. After a while I switched to a Euro paddle, and things went well. 


Sherri (pictured above) watched and told me I was sweeping too fast and that the boat didn't have time to finish. I slowed things down and things improved even more. I soon found my self practicing the sweep motion while sitting upright as if starting to learn from the beginning. To be continued.


I have successfully made a rodeo re entry twice on this boat, something I haven't been able to do with the Romany. This is surprising since the Cetus is Swede form and the entry requires sliding past the wide part of the boat located behind the cockpit.


Perhaps I will take the Romany to the next pool session and just play.


Paddle safe...
DS

The Other (under) Side of Rolling

I've been trying to watch and capture what goes on under water when someone sets up to roll. The set up is the start of it all, and mispositioning here can kill the entire deal.

I am looking to see the position of the paddler, especially their shoulders and how  perpendicular they are to the surface. I also look to see if the paddle is above the surface and, thus, not visible in the image. Eventually, I want to use video mode to follow the path of the blade during the final stage of the roll.

I am sure others have done this and have done it better than I will. but, hey, it's winter and a guy needs something to pass the time.

Paddle safe...
DS

Bureaucracies

Organizations

Disorganizations

ACA

Some body or some group has to do it. If we want water trails and rules and guidelines to get things done in a safe way, we have to have little mini-governments or organizations that are...well,...organized to get these things done. Enter ACA and BCU to organize training and testing for instructors and to establish safe guidelines for all.

As an ACA certified instructor I must maintain my instructor trining reuirements, belong to the SEI (as a safety committee) and be a memeber of the ACA. Well, imagine my surprise when I got a notice saying that my ACA membership had lapsed and would I send in the dues please. This, I was informed, could be done on line. Yeah, right.

Ever try to get something done on their site? After a few days of no joy, I received another notice that my SEI dues were due and, wouldn't you know it, they could be paid on line. So I tried again with a curious success result. I was able to pay, but the site then thanked me for joining the ACA. Argh.

I e mailed and got in contact with a nice human being who looked things up and said there was enough in my account to take care of everything, would she like me to do so? Yes, I answered by e mail; and thank you.

So far, no further response, no cards in the mail. I know the site has been updated and give them all the benefit of the doubt while they work out the bugs. But work them out they must.

Paddle safe...
DS

I Want/Need to Camp

In a few minutes (I have been up since 4:30am) I will leave for a day of teaching at a nursing school. I will finish about 9:00pm. I love teaching or I wouldn't be doing it, but I want to go camping. I want to be off man's schedules and away from freeway noises.

I want to wake and go to sleep with the sun. I want to eat only when I am hungry and not because the clock says it is time. In fact, I don't want to wear a watch.

I want to read a book when I feel like it, paddle when I feel like it and even take naps. I want to notice the light and take my camera for a walk of discovery. I want to sit and stare.

Meanwhile, anyone interested in the adenohypophysis?

Paddle safe...
DS

Getting the Image

Ken showed up for a paddle wearing one of those new cameras (this isn't about the camera, per se). I am anxious to see how his shots turn out.The struggle to get good images on the water is complicated by the wet environment and the need to have both hands on the steering wheel just when some of the best images appear.

The better our cameras the less likely we are to take them out onto the water, especially in conditions. Then, if we do take a good SLR out there, there is the problem of changing lenses, lack of the stability of a tripod and so on; all the things that keep us from getting excellent images (when is the last time you brought a polarizing filter out with you?).

Another challenge is to get an image that really shows what you are experiencing. For instance, I rarely see an image that shows the dynamics of waves. It just never looks like it really was out there. This, in part, may be due to being unable to use the camera in dicey conditions. It's hard to compose a picture while bracing. Another problem is shutter lag, that seemingly infinite time between the pressing of the shutter release and the actual click of the shutter. This is especially true in many of the water proof models.

Still, folks do get magnificent images (Stan McKenzie and others, to mention one) out there and, happily, are willing to share them.

Paddle safe...
DS

Apologies

Because I was getting comments from folks who wanted my readers to visit their sites...and the sites were smutty...I began screening comments. Some of your comments did not come to me but went to the blogger page and were only recently sent on. I apologies for the delay in getting them posted. We should be up to date as of now.

Paddle Safe...
DS

Heads Up...or not

Remember Rick and his scull from a few posts back? Well, he was back in the pool last night, and his scull is now looking good. Good for Rick.

Now, let's work with Carl.

Paddle Safe...
DS

At least we got out...

Hard to tell from the pictures, but we paddled into a 15-20 knot wind and were greeted by 6-8 foot rollers when we got to the end of the break wall.

It was damp and dreary, but at least we got out.

Paddle safe...
DS

Coping, Can Cope, Canoecopia

I have a few ways to help me cope with the dreary winter months. One, of course, is to get out paddling whenever the lake will let me. Two other techniques I use are looking back and looking forward. As the next thing to look forward to is the massive trade show, Canoecopia in Madison, I am also looking back at images from the 2007 and 2008 events.

They are images that bring back fond memories.

They are images that remind me of the ambiance of the whole event.

They are images of the wonderful people I have met there.

I look forward to working there again this year. I continue, as well, to look forward to being out there.

Paddle safe...
DS

Just Get Out There

Many, if not most, of the local sea kayakeers put their gear away when the temperature approaches freezing. Some don't have a dry suit or other appropriate clothing and don't want to make the dollar investment. Some have trepidation around the icy water and floating ice. Others simply don't like the cold. A few of these folks will show up at a pool session, but most of the pool goers are the same folks who paddle during the winter.

For us, it is all about the unquenchenchanable desire to just get out there. Once  proplery dressed and on the water, a little exertion supplies all the heat our bodies need.

Sherri checks out an ice flow overhang

More over, we get to see things the land lubbers don't even know exist.

 Rick emerges from behind a flow

This all leads to bonding and trust as someone calls out, "Where's Bob?" And, there he is coming out from behind an ice flow.

 Bob checks out a formation

We explore like little kids. Mature adults suddenly have to paddle under that overhang or into that cave-like formation.

 JB enjoying the outing in his Explorer

Finally, on a subconscious level, we are in the environment that birthed these boats some 7-9000 years ago. We are part of something bigger than ourselves...and we're out there.

Paddle safe...
DS

My Bad

So, after locking the first lady out on the balcony of a cruise ship at sea, I have been on my best behavior. I had no idea why there was plater board on the hallway floor or why there was a hole in the wall.

On closer inspection, there was something poking through from the garage on the other side. I then remembered hearing a thump when I backed into the garage earlier that day.

Seems I dromve the SOF I had made right through the wall. I pointed out to my wife that she should be proud that her husband had built, with his own hands, such a strong boat. She didn't buy it.

Paddle safe...
DS...