Chine bLog - 4A. Paddling

A death in the kayaking family - Timothy Gutmann, 1967 - 2007

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 03:59:09 +0100

As 2007 draws to a close, we can take stock of the year in many ways, and thinking about those no longer with us is one piece. There have, of course been many in our little sphere of interest to think about, and I won't try to go back. I will call out one, though: I recently learned that the brother of a good friend of mine from college died while kayaking off the coast of Maine last May. I was able to find an article about the incident, as well as a letter from his companion and some chatter in a discussion board. I never met Tim and I knew of him only distantly. I can't really count myself as one he touched. He was family of a friend, though, so for that alone I will remember him.

Tim was also a kayaker, though, and was thus a brother of sorts to all of us who, to crib from the Gloucester (MA) Fisherman's Memorial (and therefore from Psalm 107), "go down to the sea in [little] ships." As I suspected, there seems to have been an ample bit of Monday morning quarterbacking around the accident - they were unprepared, showed poor judgment, etc. As many pointed out, however, the "mistakes" the two paddlers made were common, especially for one with many years of experience. It strikes me that it is pretty easy to pick off things that would have been helpful after-the-fact, but how many of us routinely do not bother considering every possible case before setting out on a quick paddle? There are some things I would have done differently, sure, but I have done, and will continue to do, other things that would receive frowns if I ever suffered misfortune (e.g., I prefer paddling alone). I don't dismiss the "should / oughts," but I think they are a bit cheap.

The fact is that whatever spirit one chooses to identify with as master of the seas can basically take you whenever he/she/it deems fit. We all go forth onto the water we love knowing this, and I see no evidence Tim did not set out with similar understanding. There is, in fact, much to suggest things suddenly got hairier than they had been. The distinction of how we tend to view these kind of events was driven home last night as I began reading Frank and Margaret Dye's Ocean Crossing Wayfarer, one of my Christmas presents (more on this in another post). Even in the first chapter, and I believe the Dyes' would support this statement, it is clear that Frank Dye was, in many cases, incredibly damned lucky. The book cover touts his seamanship and courage, praise which IS much deserved, but for all his preparation, I already see many cases where if things had gone only slightly differently, he would have gone down in history as another unfortunate example of someone being 'a bit arrogant in the face of nature.'

In the spirit of messing about in boats, therefore, let us plan, prepare, and be mindful of the ocean's (or lake's or river's) power in the year ahead, but let us not, in the name of caution, squeeze out all the fun and adventure that makes our time on the water so special. Tim, I hope those who knew you will remember you for how you lived and I hope, wherever you are, you paddle continues taking you forward.

The right attitude - screw it and enjoy kayaking in Alaska

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:50:36 +0100

I liked this post by Jim Adams of the National Wildlife Federation about a kayak in Alaska. Always nice to hear about someone who has their priorities straight:

Mom was coming for a visit to discuss the wedding plans. And we were starting a long-overdue remodeling project. And Meg's night classes would begin again Monday. The sensible thing to do was to buckle down and get things done at home so Meg and I packed the car and headed south to Seward and Resurrection Bay for some kayaking on what could be the last sunny weekend of the short Alaska summer.

The 2007 Peace Canoe project - an index

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 04:31:20 +0100

I decided it might be helpful for folks that are coming to see info about my Peace Canoe, PEACE OF THE PUZZLE, to have a little better overview page for the project. Below, therefore, please find a list of all the related posts, along with the topics covered.

Walking the walk - a wooden boat (Peace Canoe) for Chine bLog! - Rationale for choosing to build this boat right now.
Beginning work on the Peace Canoe - Materials, making seats, and cutting the chine logs.
More on the Peace Canoe - scarfing sheer clamps and chine logs - Some pointers on scarfing the sheer clamps and chine logs, but please read this one in partnership with the entry below on issues I had.
The Peace Canoe progresses - have plywood, will start cuttin' - Cutting out plywood side panels and using butt-blocks to create the full panel length. Includes problems with the butt-block method.
The Peace Canoe gets seats and gets closer to full sides - Seat unit construction and fitting chine logs to stem and sternpost.
Building the Peace Canoe - time on the Moaning Chair - Problems in scarfing; problems with stems / sternpost bevels; repairing sheer clamps.
Back in business - the Peace Canoe - Fitting the bottom.
Structurally complete! The Peace Canoe gets a bottom - Pictures of the boat before final finishing.
Getting closer - ready to paint the Peace Canoe - Picture of the boat pre-painting.
And that's a wrap! The Peace Canoe is complete! - Pictures of the completed boat in the yard, with better close-ups that the ones below.
Successful christening and launch of the Peace Canoe! - pictures of the boat on the beach and underway.
Initial performance thoughts on the Peace Canoe - What is the Peace Canoe like as a boat?

I hope this series is fun and useful! Enjoy PEACE OF THE PUZZLE!

Northern Forest Canoe Trail benefit auction

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 03:08:40 +0100

I mentioned the Northern Forest Canoe Trail a bit ago. I see in Paddling.net's newsletter today that they are holding a benefit auction online. Check it out.

Second outing in PEACE OF THE PUZZLE a success

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 03:28:10 +0100

We had a nice second outing in PEACE OF THE PUZZLE on Sunday. We went down to Piscataway Creek in Maryland. Its a nice, protected spot, which, given a brisk Northwesterly, was a good thing. As it was, we pretty much had to come back into the teeth of it, but at least the water was calm. The boat performed well, and the kids seemed to enjoy the outing.

View Larger Map

Some thoughts on the first paddle itself

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 22:48:11 +0200

Having shown off the boat, I wanted to jot down a few thoughts on our first paddle in PEACE OF THE PUZZLE. We had been doing a bit of sailing on the Potomac nearer to DC, and paddling in this creek, Kane's Creek, was such a pleasure. It was clean! Kane's Creek emerges from a national wildlife refuge and is thus relatively pristine, given its proximity to developed areas. The water was fairly clear and full of life. My kids were dangling the feet and hands in it - a true pleasure of childhood boating - and we had no concerns.

Not so, just downriver from DC. Off Alexandria, we run into a decent amount of C-R-A-P (we saw the figurative kind, but apparently after a good rain...) in the water and on the shore. There, my wife and I couldn't pull the kids' appendages inboard fast enough. I know we have made a great deal of progress, but we need to do more to make sure our urban riverscapes are treasures for boating of all kinds, not just the "nice view, but, dear god, don't flip it" kind.

Of course, I prefer the quiet of a creek like Kane's anyway. There are many little "islands" of aquatic plants to weave around, low bluffs, and just a bit of foliage (its been so hot here...). There is a good trip report for this paddle on Paddling.net.

By the way, thanks to our friends at American Rivers for suggesting we all focus on the joys of clean rivers on this day and others. October 15th is Blog Action Day for the environment. Please join me in helping out.

Successful christening and launch of the Peace Canoe!

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 21:36:00 +0200

Gorgeous October day here outside DC, a perfect day to be on the water. Gulls and an osprey wheeling about, gusty nor'wester keeping things clear and cool, the pleasant surroundings of Mason Neck State Park (map) - just the environment to christen and launch the Peace Canoe. So christen it we did (the kids helped), using the very nastiest champaign I could inadvertently pick up. She is now PEACE OF THE PUZZLE. Enjoy some pictures of her first outing (we were lucky enough to come upon some friendly kayakers, one of whom took our picture and was kind enough to send it).

Thank you to all who have read about PEACE OF THE PUZZLE's birth and provided encouragement along the way. It was a blast and I look forward to some great family adventures ahead!

Excellent paddling - Summer vacation at Cuttyhunk Island

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 05:04:00 +0200

Ah, and so comes to an end our Summer vacation, but what a good one it was. Highlights included some excellent paddling, as seen in the pictures below:

You can also see these plotted on a map.

C IS for Canoe - Green Hour gets a little blue

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 03:14:00 +0200

I have mentioned National Wildlife Federation's Green Hour site before. I was pleased to see the site say the possibilities of getting on the water as an avenue for getting kids involved in nature. Last week's entry was titled "C is for Canoe" and encourages finding a rental place nearby and getting the family out on the water. Here here!

By the way, NWF friends, we are nautically precise here at Chine bLog: the driving tool for a canoe is a paddle, not an oar.

And while I am thinking longingly of destinations... The Northern Forest Canoe Trail

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:15:22 +0200

The American Rivers blog found this enticing idea - The Northern Forest Canoe Trail, a paddling trail from upstate New York to Northern Maine using traditional routes.

On my list - paddling Baja

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:00:19 +0200

In case you haven't tried it yet, among the benefits of Paddling.net's newsletter is the weekly dollop if insiration in the form of a paddling photo of the week. Some are predictably generic (another sunset over the bow of a canoe / kayak, anyone?), but some are nice. Here is a recent favorite of mine, from Baja California. Mmm-mmm-mmm - got to get there.

Paddling with legendary spirits - a nice story from Paddling.net

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 04:25:31 +0100

Paddling.net put out a nice story the other day. The writer uses a canoe trip through Ontario's Quetico Provincial Park to explore a fascinating, if luckless, man named John Tanner. Its worth a read.

...To me, visiting a place such as Tanner Rapids perfectly exemplifies a canoe trip in Quetico Park. It's the rich history that first draws you there; to be in the very spot where something unique had once happened. But the real thing that indulges your sense is to be at a place that's just as wild now then it was when John Tanner past (sic) through.

True, witnessing areas are rare in our day and age, but camping out beside Quetico's Tanner Rapids brought me back to a time when wild areas were the norm, and to me that's what a canoe trip is all about.

Beautiful audio essay / podcast from Nature Conservancy on canoeing Maine's Merrymeeting Bay

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 04:41:13 +0100

This is a really nice audio essay / podcast, done while paddling in Maine's Merrymeeting Bay, where the Kennebec and Androscoggin Rivers, among others, meet. It describes the Bay's features, fauna, history, and prospects while paddle blades dip and swing in the background. Thanks to the Nature Conservancy for distributing this.

Kayaking the magical waters of China

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 04:10:48 +0200

I loved this piece about kayaking the Li River in the region around Guilin in China. This one is high on my to-do list.

Finding the ivory-billed woodpecker - please pack a kayak

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 03:54:37 +0200

I love that the key tool for finding the previously-thought-not-be-extinct,-now-maybe-not ivory-billed woodpecker is a kayak. In this piece, Auburn group discovers elusive bird in Florida, they describe another team's use of the craft in their work. And therein is demonstrated the beauty of a kayak - quick, quite, maneuverable, portable - we owe a great debt to the Arctic "engineers" who came up with this concept.

The Lake Superior Project - two kayakers take on gitche gumee

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 03:39:00 +0200

From our friends at Paddling.net comes this interesting tidbit: under the auspices of Wilderness Classroom Organization (WCO), two kayakers, Dave Freeman and Amy Voytilla, are circumnavigating Lake Superior in order to draw attention to its myriad assets and challenges. Paddling.net will apparently be running stories from the trip; the first one, with an overview, came out in their recent newsletter.

As I have noted in the past, Lake Superior ("the big lake they call gitche gumee," in Gordon Lightfoot's immortal words) is stunning. Being the largest body of fresh water on the planet and being butted against many industrial areas makes for challenges, as its siblings to the South can no doubt attest. Good luck to Amy and Dave on this voyage, and may it inspire others to care so much for this great boating ground.

Mass. may pass Kayak safety law

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Fri, 19 May 2006 05:47:37 +0200

I was interested to see Sweet Home Massachusetts may soon have a kayak safety law. According to this article:

Kayakers would be required to wear life jackets and be equipped with a compass and whistle under a kayaking safety bill moving through the Legislature.

The measure, which passed the House this week, would also require kayaking schools to teach and practice the method of bailing out of an overturned kayak before allowing students to head to open water. It now goes to the Senate.

I would be curious to hear what folks think about this. I find myself bothered by it, and not just on the grounds of libertarian political leanings. I worry that a) having these rules creates a false sense of security ("I got my PFD, I can take those waves") and b) having safety tools doesn't mean knowing how to use them. One of the drivers of the law was the case of two women who got lost in the fog off Cape Cod a couple years back. A compass probably would have helped - they probably know the Cape was North, but it might not be so simple. What if there were a current at play?

I guess my beef is that trying to substitute legislation for respect for the water and a basic nautical sense is a bad idea. The former removes incentive, in many people, to develop the latter. Yes, a compass would have helped those women, but more effective would have been developing the thought processes that says a) "I don't know these waters well," b) "its somewhat foggy now and I don't know what could roll in," and c) "when in doubt, stay in sight of shore."

I agree that wet exits should be taught - I think all reputable shops do that as a condition of renting any closed cokpit boat - but again, if its is a mandatory "check this one off the list" thing then will it get the attention it needs to? I think we need to devote energy towards making the public aware of pudent practices and give a clear list of what a good school should teach. That puts someone in places that are teaching what's right because its right and thus giving attention to the matter.

I would be curious to know what others think. I place a huge premium on respect for nature, and the idea of doing something to dull that respect in a person really rubs me the wrong way.

Traditional paddling clothing - before you buy your next dry-suit...

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 20:30:00 +0200

Fascinating short article from Paddling.net regarding ancient kayak clothing. I think the author's opening says it best:

Imagine kayaking in the unforgiving North Pacific Ocean, where on even a warm day, the water temperature rarely gets above fifty degrees? Imagine paddling without the luxury of neoprene, coated nylon or synthetic fabric of any kind? Imagine wearing paddling clothing without being able to secure seams and flaps with a zipper, buttons, snaps or hook/loop closure strips? Yet, with seemingly crude and environmentally vulnerable garments and gear, the ancestors of modern kayaking plied the sub Arctic waters of the Pacific Rim for thousands of years.

Necessary accessory?

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 03:58:00 +0100

My views on the injection of modern trappings into a small boat experience are now clear. So into that pot my beloved Paddling.net threw this new accessory below. This would be a waterproof case for your iPod. Now I can see if one is race-training this might be handy, but why in heck's name would anyone want this otherwise? Don't get me wrong, I love music, but in my living room, office, car, etc., not clobbering the serenity of being on the water. Again, to each their own, but I think this is the kind of thing that destroys our connection to - and thus respect for - boats and the boating environment, and that is what gets me. I suppose we'll be asked to put sub-woofers under our stern thwarts soon...

Addendum - how could I forget...

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 23:55:00 +0100

... the noise... or lack of it. The great pleasure of my kind of boating is the peace. Paddling (or sailing or rowing) along allows one to feel the wave dynamics on the hull, hear birds, smell the ocean (or lake or river) air - in short, notice those things in nature we often don't as we blow through our days. If only more folks took their time out on the water to appreciate it - rather than rip across it with no greater interest than their drive to work...

A quote to think about...

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 18:49:00 +0100

This from the great Dave Barry:

When you finally see what goes on under water, you realize that you have been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent.

That comes from newsletter from The Ocean Conservancy... or maybe it was Oceana... I can't remember which. They both do good stuff. {side rant} guys, you have the same mission! - MERGE for crying out loud and stop splitting resources!!{/side rant}

I think this line is important on a couple levels. One, as a diver, I know full well what he means. The first time I went down and came eye-to-eye with a Yellowtail Snapper it blew my mind. This is a world under threat, and the more of us understand that and care about it the better.

I also think about it in terms of boating. One of the joys, to me, of messing about in small boats is that you are close to the water. You can see beneath the surface and connect with that world so much more than you can in a larger boat. Last summer I spent nearly every day of my vacation out in my kayak, and nearly every day I managed to paddle into a school of feeding stripers ("striped bass," properly, or "rockfish," for those in the Chesapeake area who don't know its real name). It was amazing watching these animals - not that I don't find them tasty, but they are more impressive in the water, away from a plug. Being just above the surface I was able to just float over them and watch them - it was pretty special. I strongly recommend taking in both sides of the water's surface on your own voyages.

Kayak Wiki - a nice idea with some good potential

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sun, 12 Feb 2006 04:10:34 +0100

I recently came across an intersting new site: Kayak Wiki. If you don't know, a Wiki is a type of web site using specialized software that allows anyone to edit a page. They are designed for collaborative content creation. This one is a good start, though it feels like it needs some additional support. Check it out, sign-up, and add / edit as you see fit.

Paddling.Net - a must-know resource for paddlers

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 03:50:00 +0100

I can't say enough about Paddling.Net as a resource for canoers and kayakers. They have a good database of products (boats and accessories), an active classified area, a decent set of destination reports, a strong collection of photos, and a good e-newsletter. It's a must-know for paddlers.