9-22-13 Lamoille with Dad

You would say, Kendall, another kayaking trip?  Of course.  Round 2 with my Dad, this time from the Lamoille launch point.  Again the winds were quite strong.  So strong that all the kite boarders were out having a blast.

I had no idea there were so many.  It was amazing to watch them fly over the waves. I do not need another hobby... I do not need another hobby...

The air foils they use have inflatable skeletons so they can keep their shape.  We watch a couple of times when they dropped into the water and thanks to the skeleton got them back up.

When I was a kid I was a book-reader. not so much an outdoors person.  That has changed a lot.  and when you look out on the lake, where else would you rather be?

9-21-13 Winooski with Dad

My Father came up for the weekend for a visit and due to my insane need to kayak I dragged him out with me.  

I spent much of my childhood in canoes and kayaks.  It is why I enjoy it so much.

Heading towards Lake Champlain.  What you can't see is that the wind was 20-30 knot and the wave 3-6 feet.  We did not go much beyond the bridge.

I do need to come back with these winds and a wetsuit so I don't freeze while I try to surf.

The return.  the smile is because the wind was to our backs.

Replacing the Skeg Cable and hardware

When I bought my kayak for a steal it was partially because the skeg cable was missing.  I figured out I could replace it myself and make all the hardware myself.  It took a little planning and seeing what worked but in the end it lived again.

What a skeg should look like, instead of taped into the box.  The stainless steel 1/8" wire was bought at the local West Marine store for $12

A piece of copper pipe used for refrigerator and an electrical connector make this how thing work.

I think it looks cool and in total cost about $25.  To buy the same kit from Dagger?  $75.  Done and done, and the cool thing is I know exactly how this one works so if it breaks it is easier to fix.

9-19-13 Winooksi Delta

See?  More kayaking.  This time I went out for a  9 mile kayak trip from the mouth of the Winooski down to Appletree Bay to scope out possible surf spots.  There was no wind but I was checking to see where there were sandbars.

A really nice Criss Cross boat moored near the point.  I love those old wooden boats, even if I know how much work they are.

Another sunset.  It is good to be the king.

9-17-13 Trying to Roll

I can't stop kayaking.  This time I went out with Craig in Burlington Harbor/North Beach to see what it is like to try to roll my new boat.

I have never had a sprayskirt before.  Sure it is nice to throw your legs over the edge as you paddle but with this I can actually get a lot better as a kayaker.

Craig got out, with his wetsuite underneath, so I could practice rolling and he would pull me up if I got stuck.  I did.  Get stuck.  Every one of the 12 times I tried.  He then got in my boat and tried to remember from his whitewater kayaking days but did not succeed.  The water was cool it was a truly awesome challenge to see if we could figure it out.  At no point did I feel panic and despite not getting it I am excited to go back and try again.  Oh and totally cleaned out my sinuses.

What then happened was we kayaked out to the middle of the lake for the most amazing sunset and moon rise I have seen for a while.

The moon was full, these pictures don't really capture it.  The colors were so vibrant and we sat, the only boats outside of the Spirit of Ethan Allen, watching the night fall.

Finally when a Coast Guard boat said we had to going in because we did not have a light we retired.  It was only when I got home did I realize how properly tiring that whole time was.  I want more though...

Building a Kayak Rack

At some point when you, as a single person, have made and acquired four, that is right, four kayaks that you realize it is time to build a new kayak rack.

And here it is.  All made from recycled wood from other projects including a remodeling scraps from next door.

All the boats loaded.  I had to stack the back two on their sides because I did not want it sticking too far out on the lawn.

Another perspective.  It works really well, is fairly light to move, easy to load and unload boats and not the worst thing to look at.  A good result from something that was entirely in my head.

9-15-13 Lamoille and Lake Champlain surfing with Kate

I grabbed Kate for yet another kayaking adventure.  A bit more complicated to put the two plastic boats on top but managed it.  Not graceful though.

The launch on Lamoille.

The way out was nice and peaceful.  There were these cool mushrooms on the logs.

Drifting through the Lilly pads.

What you can't tell is how rough the water was.  Kate has only been out in a kayak a couple of times but she charged into the task of surfing the windswept waves like a champ.

The return trip from Lake Champlain.  The turtles were everywhere.

We even watched a Blue Heron try to eat a live snake.  It was... complicated.

Back to the launch...

9-11-13 CAT Trail

I have been so distracted with kayaking that Sal was getting annoyed with me.  So, I dragged him out to the CAT trail for a short walk.

The light was perfect, a late summer haze with green everywhere.

The falls where I wander every time.  The water was flowing, we had some rain previously and it was in full force.

Yes, that is right, I found raspberries out there.  And not just one or two. there was a good handful of ripe ones I enjoyed.

Something very satisfying about this picture.

Summer.... before Fall claims its due.

9-11-13 Burlington Harbor with Craig

I have been on a bit of a kayaking binge after getting the new boat.  I grabbed Craig and we launched from the Coast Guard Station.

Under the pier.  Craig is in my Wilderness Systems kayak.

The sun starting to set... ish.  It wasn't completely close to done so we had daylight for a little more time.

This huge yellow ball marks a shipwreck.  It was our turning around point, Craig seems to hug it out of relief

9-9-13 Dager Alchemy 14.0s

For the first time in about 3 years I got a new kayak.  I managed to get a used rental Dagger Alchemy 14.0S for a good deal from EMS.  I was looking for a short, narrow beam, surf and rock garden kind of boat and this is an excellent fit.

I am 6' and about 200 lbs and while I am on the higher end of what this boat is made for it is a blast.  Here it is with my Greenland paddle and my normal paddle on Shelburne Bay.

While I will go back and review this in detail in a couple of months the feeling of it on the water was perfect for what I wanted.

Even while so narrow the boat is still stable enough to pull out my iPhone for pictures of all the turtles on the log.

The next day I went out as well to Sand Bar/Lamoille River so I could wander out into rougher waters on Champlain.  This boat, while not as graceful, or dry, as a sea kayak was awesome in the surf.  There was a steep learning curve but once I got a feeling for it I can honestly say I have never had so much fun in a kayak.

You can see the rocker (i.e. how much the bow and stern are up from the surface).  It is fun to run and spin in-between waves and quite responsive.

This is a new kind of cockpit for me.  A low backband means I can lay back on the hull and knee pads give me a degree of control I have never had.

Sunset over New York.  And excellent way to end the day

9-6-13 Art Hop

Art Hop comes around every year and this year I was able to put some pieces in Dealer.com where I work.  I made a couple of new watercolors for the event.

I also put my kayak up to show it off after updating the paint on the well used hull.

I wandered around after work, before the light prevented further photos, and got this shot of a cool rhino.  

Happy dancing air people

Honestly it was a hell of a lot of fun.  The event grows each year and the food, art and people filled the streets.  I spent about 3 hours making it barely two blocks and still did not feel like I missed much.  And the food was awesome, all the food trucks that are in Burlington were spread out through Pine Street.  If you haven't, you must go next year.