Maine Paddling Connection Blog
We had 26 teenagers out on Tomales Bay this week and were treated to four days of awesome weather with sun, warm temps and favorable tides. This was a really fun trip stacked with three other incredible guides and rounded out with four adult chaperones from the school we were guiding. For three nights and four days we explored the waters and trails around Point Reyes and Tomales Bay.
Read More12 kids aged 12-15 for 5 days of kayaking and camping on Tomales Bay. Yes, I have some funny memories of the week. That's what you get with full teenager immersion. I got a healthy dose of what it's like to be a kid these days and enjoyed almost every minute of it. Almost.
We discussed literature - have you read the new book by Flip Dover titled The Beginners Guide to Sea Kayaking
Read MoreLast weekend I assisted an ACA Kayaking Instructor workshop in Redding, CA hosted by Headwaters Adventure Company. Joe & Terri opened Headwaters 4 years ago and have helped foster a wonderful community of paddlers in the area. Most participants in the course had really solid foundation skills to work from and were able to progress significantly in a short time.
Read MoreI measure the success of GGSKS by the amount of fun I have and I had a ton of fun this year. So I guess that makes the 2014 event very successful. At least by my standards.
GGSKS is a subset of the sea paddling community and a damn fine one. Sean Morley and I receive lots of feedback (positive and negative) and probably way too much praise. But, here's the reality. If you enjoy the event, you can't blame us.
Read MoreSunshine and warm weather can sure help you have fun. I spent the weekend in Cape Kiwanda on the Oregon Coast for the 5th annual Lumpy Waters Symposium hosted by Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe. That crew operates as a true team and does a fantastic job delivering a fun & safe event for all.
Read More9 paddlers, one panga and 5 days of Sea Leader Training. While in Baja this week, I sat in on a BCU course run by Ginni Callahan and Santiago Burreuta of Sea Kayak Baja Mexico. As an observer, I had the best job - no responsibility, no stress. I helped when they asked, when they were set, I simply paddled.
Read MoreAs many trips do, this one had a goal. It wasn't clear, but it clearly involved spending time on myself & resetting for a major change. I recently left my job in search of something more meaningful and more fulfilling, and a trip to Baja seemed a good starting point. So far I'm feeling way more 'in touch' with myself and am taking the time to listen to my body.
Read MoreMy favorite summertime paddling workouts are upwind downwinds. We get such good wind in the San Francisco Bay Area that it's easy to forget the morning flatwater and save the workouts for the late afternoon when it's blowing... I paddle straight into the wind for a set amount of time or distance and then surf my way back to the start for another lap.
Read MorePaul Kuthe and the crew at Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe go far out of their way to make sure everyone has a good time and I'm pretty sure that was the case. For me, it was 4 solid days of paddling this, paddling that. Talking about paddling, actually paddling, reconnecting with other paddlers & meeting new ones. There was a wonderful fresh energy this year dominated by first-time attendees, some of them having only gotten into kayaking this summer.
Read MoreI recently spent four days SUP paddling in southern Nevada/Arizona with my sister and a friend. Rather than sit here and write a detailed account of our trip, I've decided to write about my experience on the SUP. This was my first multi-day trip on a standup paddleboard and served somewhat as a test trip for me. I've completed this trip at least five other times using sea kayaks and canoes and had some basic guesses as to the paddleboards performance.
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