7-28-12 Busy Day Painting

Teuthida

Teuthida, the scientific order of Squid, the new name for my kayak.

The newest Kayak, "Phoenix Reborn" or maybe something else

I had started this one about a year ago.  The frame sat out in the winter and finally I decided to make it complete with a new skin. $43 later and a bolt of ripstop nylon under my arm I was on my way.  I soaked it in a bucket of water to expand it so it would shrink in the heat after I had sown it.

 It took one long night to get to this point, including sitting outside in the bugs with a headlamp until around midnight.  The next day during my lunch break I applied the first coats of polyurethane.  There were a couple of places where the extremely hot day had shrunk the nylon to the point of tiny rips appearing, but that is what the polyurethane is for.

 I have always loves how the ribs show through a nylon skin.

 This is with a cockpit rim made from a plastic garden edging.  Since it wasn't long enough it was two pieces that I had to wire together with a piece of wood and it hinged in an odd but good way.

 After an overnight backpacking trip I finally got to launch her.  This is with the green land paddle I use.

 I paddles some of the bay and pulled up on a beach further along to assess how everything was holding up.  Basically for a 12'6" boat with a narrow 22" beam it handled pretty damn well.  Like the previous kay from whom I had stolen ribs it was tipsy but didn't want to flip me and the waves always tried to turn me into them, which is good.  If I am not paying attention it will prevent getting broadsided.  And when the waves were following it kinda surfed which I need to explore more.  I am looking forward to learning this boat and its character.

The mini bottle of Maker's Mark which I used to christen it.  I am very happy with it overall.  I need to paint a cool design on it and add a couple of rub rails and some more polyurethane to protect it but I think I will have a lot of fun in it.  No fishing though, a solid hook on a powerful fish could flip me in this.

6-30-12 to 7-1-12 on Little River

So a mere week from my first overnight solo I joined a fencing friend for an overnight on the northern extremes of Little River.  I have spent a great deal of time on the southern end exploring Little River State Park in the winter but had never tried the norther entrance.  After about a mile and then half a mile bushwhacking through steep hill I got to the point where we would be camping.

 The whole thing was very scenic and busy.  At one point there were 7 boats and 20 people in direct eyesight from here.  Sal had a great time playing with my companion's dog Hugh running up and down this wet, muddy sand bar while we stood knee deep and warm water fishing.

 He had arrived by canoe, much easier than my root.  We pulled the boat further upriver to make camp as the sun started settling in the horizon.

 We camped on a dirt island which had been washed out on both sides by the tributary stream.  It was a perfect stop, easy to set up camp and start a fire with all the super dry wood.  The night proved to be almost daylight from a very bright moon.  The fire went out and it was hard to notice a difference.

The next morning was a beautiful one, up at 5:20am thanks to the dogs.

 The walk was out, I found a less bushwhacking intensive way out on this old dirt road.

Found this on the way out, not sure what it is suppose to be.  Blair Witch Project anyone?  I got home and after launching my new kayak for the first time I crashed and slept for 4 hours. A brilliant trip.