Absolute Kayak: How it's made

Okay, so when am I going to get busy to build this kayak? First, I have to set up my building area . . . my livingroom. So that means I must move stuff and get rid of stuff and pack up stuff. So that translates into "after the first of the year but before Kayak Season." Check back for more details.

I just bought the kit for 1/3 the cost

I'm going to paint the bottom of mine a LIME green and leave the top natural. The kit I'm buying tomorrow is missing the second box but I think it had only the Epoxy kit, resin and hardener in it. I've emailed Absolute Kayaks for information about what was in the second box. I believe I can easily replicate the missing items locally. I am sooooo excited. NOW I have motive to clean out my house (I'm going to sell items on ebay) and set it up to build my kayak! I plan to start on it after the first of the year and after I get back from visiting my parents. This is just too cool. And the price . . . I'm so blessed.

Milestones

I have not downloaded my photos yet and will get around to that soon. Since my kayaking trip to Voyageur National Park in northern Minnesota, I have been getting ready for the 9-12 March in Washington, DC. I was there. And there were over a million people. Maybe even as much as two million. The atmosphere was like a huge family reunion or a big picnic. Everyone other than the few ACORN members was friendly, helpful, cheerful, and having a lot of fun. One grandfather said he was bringing his grandchildren next year. One black couple weren't sure how they'd be treated, but were accepted by everyone and plan to bring their children next year. There was no animosity, no division, no Republican, no Democrat, or other political party. We were ALL Americans again, similar and maybe better than we were on 09-11-2001. There was a lot of positive energy at the March. The speakers were also very good and had both interesting and timely speeches. Lloyd Marcus was great . . . if you haven't heard him sing, check him out on youtube.

When it was over and I was once again walking back to Union Station to catch a train, the Capitol Police told the group I was walking with to cross in the middle of the street. We thanked them. And they said, "THANK YOU." How many "protest groups" have had the Capitol Police say that to them?

FreedomWorks Rally in D.C.

My Inukshuk experience

The People of the North used Inukshuk as a directional marker or a milestone.  I am making a milestone decision and am going to create my own Inukshuk on my property.  

The Inuit Inukshuk for additional information.

I'm going Kayaking in Minnesota!

Well, here it is, 31 July 2009, and I'm finally getting ready to drive to Minnesota to kayak near the Canadian Border.  Yes, I'm taking my Passport.   I planned to leave tomorrow, but I need another day and have it as a buffer, so I'm cool.  I'll drive to Tennessee on Sunday afternoon and stay with my son.  Then drive about 9 hours toward northern Minnesota and spend a night in a motel.

I went hunting for a new kayak . . . and ended up not buying one, but I heard from a salesman at Chesapeake Light Craft that Wilderness Systems is considering a 16 foot Pungo (they make a 14 foot one) . . . so I'll be using the Pungo Classic this trip.  It's only 12 feet long, but it tracks well and I'll have it loaded down with nine days worth of food.  Yes, 9 days.

I'm taking a Fishing Rod, getting a MN license for fish (and boat, required in MN for boats over 9 feet), and a fry pan, canola oil, lemon & pepper salt, bread crumbs . . . and probably going to use ramen noodles as my carbohydrate.  I found dried veggies at my grocery store.  Yes, Vegetable Chips!   I'm taking jerky, turkey and ham, two tuna steaks (in case the Walleye don't bite), and a Summer Sausage roll with crackers for lunch.  Lots of drink mixes.  Coffee bags and tea bags.  And Gorp coming out of my mind.  And my EGGS, hard boiled.  String Cheese and Bagels.  I should be eating well.  Probably end up bringing a lot back.  I bought another mug.  It's a 16 ouncer with handle that wraps around mug.

Stove is a canister style.  I hope one canister is enough.  We'll see.  YES, I'm bringing along my mini-Trangia stove which I'll use on those nights I'm not frying up my Walleye.  It uses alcohol and I'll have plenty enough with me.  May use the alcohol stove to heat my tea and coffee.  I'll bring something to drink with my fish . . . decant a bottle of white wine.

Tarp, Ground cloth, Sleeping bag, pad.  And you know how I don't mind sleeping on cement.  I'm using the pad as a defense inside my waterproof backpack to protect the pack.  Clothes . . . shorts and tops and "five fingers" vibram 'shoes' plus my BassPro water shoes, outfit to stop at the hotel with bar.  Thermies, fleece jacket and vest.  My famous "Red Head" rain hat.  My light nylon jacket and my rain anorack.   

I'll be fine . . . weather right now is dipping to just under 50* at night.  And it's raining during the day up in northern Minnesota.  

For some reason, I can't download my photos from my Sony 2 G memory card to Picassa.  SO, I will be going out and buying some Lithium AA batteries for my back up camera.  Thank the good Lord for a back up camera!  

Coming back home, I plan to stop in a few small towns in north central Minnesota.  Itasca to see where the Mississippi starts, Pipestone, and I'm still working on the trip home.  Putting the addresses in the GPS.

I'm car camping up but may stay in a motel.  Haven't located a CG on my route.  Definitely car camping back home.

Photos when I get back.  From my back up camera.

Back in about three weeks.

Dry Suits Are Expensive

I got to thinking about kayaking in the winter or in cold water and thought I might check prices and sizes of dry suits. I just got a jolting education about the actual cost of kayaking in the cold. Some dry suits, custom made, can run into a couple thousand dollars. My head is reeling.

Here are a couple of sites to explore:
Reed Chill Cheater
Palm Online
OS Systems
NRS

Considering that I dislike cold weather, maybe kayaking in cold water and cold weather isn't going to be a goal for me.

I haven't done what I need to in order to clear out my living area to be able to build my baidarka yet. It's still a goal. I'm also looking at building a Chesapeake Light Craft kayak. And I located one for sale, already made, for the cost of the kit. However, I'm not able at the present time to fork over the cash and drive to Florida to pick it up.

I mentioned to my daughter-in-law/love that need to become content with my Pungo original and forgo anything more elaborate right now. Contentment, my grandmother had it, I'm searching for it.

Happy New Year 2009

I came home the other day from visiting family and when I opened the door to my house, I thought . . . "It's as if I'm a brand new person." What is? The fact that as of 1 January 2009, I am DEBT FREE! I carry no unsecured debt into this New Year.

What a feeling of freedom! I could practically fly, I feel so light-hearted.

I looked at my "stuff" differently, too. After I am home "full time" (I'm helping a friend by running her kennel so she can have a vacation), I'm going to attack my house and do some "new year housecleaning."

Life as they say, is very good.