Packing Your Kayak for the Ultimate Preparedness

Jon and I decided to check out the seminar on “The Art of Packing a Kayak” with J. Browning while at Canoecopia 2011 in Madison last weekend. Wow! Personally speaking, I left the session thinking I have totally missed the mark on preparedness and safety on any of my river and lake outings.
But for those of you who missed the session, here are the notes of being ,REALLY, REALLY, prepared, for a day trip or one that is longer.

 

THE WELL PACKED KAYAK SHOULD HAVE:

1. A clean top deck as in nothing in the tie down straps. If you tip you need to get back in the boat without having  to climb/crawl over things.
2. Balance.. keep the load even. If you pick the kayak up in the middle, it should balance.
3. A thermos of hot water, to fight off hypothermia if someone in the group gets wet and then chilled.
4. A first aid kit could come in handy. A small one for day trips and a more involved one for longer paddles. Make sure you have sunscreen and hand sanitizer like Purell.
5. A GOOD backup paddle. Yours might break, and if there is still lots of time on the water, you will need a decent replacement.
6. A bilge pump and a sponge are handy to keep from sitting in a pool of water. The water that runs off the paddle into the kayak can become problematic.The bilge pump will get most of it, and the sponge will finish the job.
7. A strobe light fastened to the top of your PFD (personal flotation device) is a must, especially in big water, like the Great Lakes or ocean for emergency location.
8. A flare gun or hand held smoke flares, and fluorescent green dye for emergency locating, if you run into trouble and others are trying to find you.
9. 9.  A  marine band VHF handheld radio for emergency communication or simply for communicating with others.(waterproof radio would be the best)
10. 10. A signal mirror, a regular flashlight (white light) and a whistle are necessary emergency equipment. Some flashlights come with a radio and don’t require batteries, but are energized by winding.
11. 11. A hydration system built into PFD is nice with tubing that hangs out and easily reached, hydration fights off tiredness.
12. 12.  Extra garbage bags and tie-downs are handy if a hatch is lost and Duct tape and a dry cloth as emergency repair for the hull stored in a little waterproof bag.
13. 13.  A sighting compass which is much quicker and easier to use than a mounted compass on the hull of the kayak for determining direction, binoculars and GPS, would also be good to include for locating landmarks or determining exact location.
14. A grease pencil is good for marking on laminated maps or a kayak.
15. A small knife tethered inside the PFD, for quick use.
16. Nutrients like extra water and energy bars (fig newtons are equivalent to energy bars).
17. Velcro and a blankie pin are handy, put the Velcro around their wrist and pin a chunk on the PFD and stick them together to immobilize the arm, if a fellow paddler dislocates a  shoulders from paddling,
18. A Contact tow strap and Carabiners for towing another kayak for whatever reason (like a dislocated shoulder)
19. A spare change of clothing for you or someone else in your group and of course a bring or wear a hat.
20. A drop cloth or footprint for a tent should be packed on top of inside of hatch so you can unload onto it and carry your load over your shoulder to your campsite, if you are doing a paddling and camping trip.
21. A couple tapered waterproof bags work well for hatch areas that also taper.
22. A repair kit for kayak are a must. They should include a dry cloth, Epoxy (depends if your boat is polyethylene plastic or fiberglass), duct tape, gloves, a multi-tool..you may have to patch a hole or repair a rudder or a skeg.
23. 23.  A small sewing kit could come in handy as well.
24. 24. A folding hand spade and toilet tissue would be good to include for basic necessities.
25. 25.  Your kayak may have hatches for storage, or space behind your seat. It is suggested that a shelf could be made cheaply above your legs from a large plastic cutting board tethered to inside. The extra paddle, bilge pump,and sponge could be stored there.
26. 26.  AND LAST OF ALL…..packing  in waterproof compression bags will save space for this long list of “must haves”!  Much of this can be kept in “ready to go bags” kept in the trunk of your vehicle.

Keep your paddle in the water and stay paddle sport safe.

Madison Weekend-Part 2

Sam Stein of Huffington Post (yes a liberal on-line news source) uses this quote in response to citizen political action in Wisconsin : “I think that the governor (Scott Walker of WI) really did wake a sleeping giant,” said Justin Ruben, Executive Director of MoveOn.org. “People feel that what happened was not just a horrible attack but the courage of regular people standing up and getting in the way. That was what electrified folks. It was the first time we had seen anything like that.”

The phenomenal amount of funds being raised to recall 8 GOP WI senators, is unprecedented. They are suppose to be the people’s voice and vote, but they are not listening. In contrast, the conservatives are not putting forth the same support for recall of the “Madison 14”, senators who boycotted the Budget Repair Bill by going to Illinois for 3 weeks. The GOP feels secure “that there are people at home who support them.” Hmm. We’ll see. The people of WI are not going to go back home and forget about the slick legislative move of our new governor that affects countless citizens of all ages. The protests continue and swell into the tens of thousands on the weekends. Last weekend, as we drove into the city, my first time, we circled the capital to witness  families, students, and seniors taking the state government decisions to the streets and the steps of the capitol building to show their disapproval.

We were leaving town, as the rally was just getting started, crowds  were estimated around 70,000 by the peak of the afternoon. The senators who left the state spoke, Tony Shalub, a De Pere native, and a member of the Actor’s Guild, also spoke in support of unions in WI. April 4th is the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, and promises to fuel another big weekend rally.

People are doing what is comfortable for them to speak out. Jon and I smiled as a little old man passed us on our way home with a bumper sticker that very simply expressed his discontent “Recall Walker”. Well that can’t be don e for 1 year, but I am sure plans are in the works as I write this.

Upon our arrival at home, Jon checked our mailbox, and my local newspap er from a small community in NW MI had come. I was pleasantly greeted, but not surprised to see some of my former colleagues with a large picture at the bottom of the front page of the feeling secure “that there are people at home who support them.” Hmm. We’ll see.paper with a caption “Solidarity: Teachers from Benzie Central show support to their Wisconsin brethren by protesting the Badger state’s governor's “attacks” on public sector unions.

In closing, a friend sent me this message last weekend in response to Michigan’s governor pushing through a “Financial Martial Law” package of bills : Really? I thought Republicans were about local control and small federal and state governments?“ Well, apparently NOT! A humble observation, if it is not their way, it is not right.

Canoecopia 2011 in Madison WI

Canoecopia 2011. You may be wondering what is THAT? Is it a Thanksgiving decoration? No, that would be a cornucopia. Would it be a canoe party? You would be slightly correct, but much more. This is an annual event sponsored by Rutabaga”rooted in the outdoors” as their logo says, to promote time in the outdoors, be it hiking, canoeing or kayaking.

This 70’s company began as a co-op by some University of Wisconsin students dealing in used paddling gear. Over the years the business grew and changed ownership and began selling new and used gear. They offer paddling classes, wilderness first aid classes, outings, and trips all over the country. Its outdoor program is the biggest flat water paddling school in the U.S. for youngsters to seniors, for families or individuals. They also offer certification classes for ACA, BCU,(sea kayaking certification programs) and various master classes.They have received countless awards and received recognition from many paddle sport to backpacker media groups in the last decade. The present location is close to the capital in Madison, in Monona. Their operation is right off an inlet of lakes Monona and Waubesa, so equipment can be tried out. Oh by the way, their site explains their unusual name of Rutabaga being derived from a Frank Zappa song entitled “Call Any Vegetable”.

As for the annual “Canoecopia” event, it had a great hall filled,wall to wall, with hiking and paddle sport equipment from the Rutabaga Store. Representatives were on hand to answer questions.  Rutabaga brought in many speakers, for the 3 day event, for seminars covering “how to pack a kayak” to camping and paddling in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) and Quetico Provincial Park in western Ontario,Canada. to paddling trips in New Zealand, Sweden & Norway, New Foundland, and more locally the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Watershed. There were 17 dry land seminar time slots Friday through Sunday and 12 time slots for pool demos.

Jon wanted to see the fishing kayaks up close plus he needed a new PFD, one that would have lots of little pockets that fishermen like to hold all those hooks, sinkers, flys, and whatnots that need to be reached quickly. We succeeded in getting his PFD, paddle tethers, and a very cool water tight bag for my camera that you can shoot pictures through.(I tried it before buying). I like taking pictures and have ruined one camera in the past, I have used a Pelican water tight box also, but this will hang around my neck and be ready for action quickly.
We both were surprised with the many kits available for those wishing to build their own wood kayak. Those already assembled were gorgeous. We drooled.

The Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum, from Spooner,WI had a booth. The green canoe  was used in early Spring by fur traders navigating the ice in the rivers of Wisconsin. It was made of heavy duty oak, difficult to portage I would imagine, but unbreakable.









Jon and I have decided to make this one of our annual Spring outings. We just got a one day glimpse of the tip of the iceberg. It was a much bigger Expo than we expected. Maybe next year we will do an overnight and take in two days of speakers. We were surprised that next door in another venue was “Bikearama”. It was really a "one stop shopping and learning" convention for outdoor enthusiasts. It was not limited to the young and adventuring type. The event was full of seniors, who have maintained or are just beginning a relationship with land and water fun. We highly recommend this Expo to those who want to learn more about canoeing and kayaking possibilities.

Porchetta or Porketta

One of the most unique grocery stores in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is Angeli’s located in Iron River. I get a chance, 2-3 times a year, to stop in and quickly shop. As the name implies, yes it has a very wide selection of Italian imported items, displayed throughout the store, and especially just before you get to the checkout.
One of the many interesting meat offerings, is Porketta. I had never heard of it before. But it is commonly found in grocery stores in Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, and Minnesota at certain times of the year, and  in Angeli’s, all year round. It is a well  marbled, moist, spicey boneless pork roast. I have made my own and bought Angeli’s prepared roast. I found success both ways. I use my crockpot and cook on high for 4 hours, basting it in its own juices throughout the cooking time. Half way through I add potatoes, yellow and orange carrots, a fennel bulb sliced and onions. Cooking in a crock pot keeps the juices in so that it does not dry out. The delicious aroma of fennel, garlic and rosemary fill the house as it cooks.
Yesterday seemed like a good day to cook one of the roasts I have been saving  in the freezer. Combined with Ash Wednesday eve and some good news that Jon had, it became a celebratory meal.
The roast is popular throughout Italy, but originated in the central part of the country. It is saved for special holidays and celebrations, but can also be found as a popular street vendor sandwich. As for here in North America, Porketta was brought to the iron ranges in both Minnesota and Michigan by the Italians. The Cornish miners took pasties down into the mines and the Italians took porketta sandwiches. If you have never tried this particular roast I highly recommend it.
I have included some porchetta variations that you might want to try. Ciao!

• Allrecipes http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/porketta-roast/Detail.aspx
• Mario Batali http://www.esquire.com/features/guy-food/pork-shoulder-recipe-ll-0407
• NYTIMES http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/dining/033srex.html
• http://phoenix.about.com/od/recipes/r/porchetta.htm
• Jamie Oliver stuffed porchetta http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pork-recipes/gennaro-s-stuffed-porchetta

OLD BULBS GONE WILD!!

…from the Secret Garden

From an earlier post, I spoke of My Secret Winter Garden. Well, nestled there off to the side of the light, I had placed my two old Amaryllis bulbs from previous years. They spend their summer on the deck growing some leaves, enjoying the sunshine, and remained alive and well. So in January when I went to the basement to check on the garden I was surprised to find these bulbs becoming active. Shooting upward, were not more leaves, but fat buds. So I brought them upstairs and placed them in a sunny (sometimes) west window. I documented daily growth with my camera and in about thirty days there was bloom. The second amaryllis (09) grew quick fast, but with a thinner stem. It is still in its opening bud process. The 2008 plant did not bloom last year, it just grew leaves, so it was a pleasant surprise to see it break forth with such a vibrant and healthy flower.The two flowers are entwined as they look out at the cold snow. Since I threw out the boxes long ago, I don’t know the name of either one, so I simply call them: "08 & 09".  They bring such cheer to the dreary days of winter that seemingly continue to linger and thrive. So sit back and relax and watch them grow!

A Pine Mountain Romantic Memory

We were in Iron River last weekend and I happened to see this newspaper in a gas station. Seeing these headlines reminded me of a couple visits I have had to Pine Mountain. No, I was not there ski jumping. My husband Jon took me there in the early days of our relationship to show me the incredible view and to see the 2nd highest ski jump in the Upper Peninsula.

The ski jump was near the top of the list of things I wanted to see and perhaps seeing a bear again was on the list, too. Who would have thought I would see both at sunset, on top of Pine Mountain. I am not sure how Jon arranged that.

Nine months later on a bitterly, cold and gusty day, he took me back, on an anniversary of our first meeting. I found it odd, that we were back there, but didn’t ask questions. We needed to hang on to each other or be blown off the mountain as we exited the car.

We walked out on the judging ramp which extends many feet out over the mountain slope. Then he starts telling me how much he loves me. I am thinking why couldn’t he do this in the car where it was nice and warm. His spiel continues for about a minute which seemed like eternity as I slowly begin to numb from the cold. I am trying to shield myself from the icy wind with his body. The next thing I know he is down on his knee. I am thinking, oh my, something is wrong! Was he dying from the cold? He then plucks a tiny box out of his pocket into my hand. Oh my gosh! It then dawned on me what he was doing. But I quickly thought, don’t take the ring out of the box, it will get caught up in the wind and go, who knows where, below us. So I quickly stuffed the box in my pocket as he began to ask me to marry him. I was not surprised he would ask this, but today, on Pine Mountain it caught me off guard. Then he officially spoke the words, I was stunned and I kept saying “OMG”.  Then he repeated the question again with a worried look on his face. In the midst of the emotion of the request, I had forgotten to answer his question. He was relieved that was the only reason it took me so long to answer him. I then said, “We have to record this moment!” We always have cameras in our pockets (Dueling Cameras R Us). We decided it was too windy to do a timed shot, we would likely lose the camera over the railing. So we clutched and Jon stretched out his arm and snapped one picture quickly, hoping it turned out, because it was too cold for a 2nd shot .

We then practically ran back to the shelter of the car. We started talking madly, then I realized I had not even looked to see what was in the box. I whipped it out of my pocket and ripped it opened. I was shocked to see a heart shaped garnet ring. My favorite color, red, and a heart to symbolize the moment. He read me correctly, it was perfect.

We then went into Iron Mountain and had an early dinner before heading back to Appleton. I was still reeling in shock and awe while he gloated with pride at his romantic success. I don’t believe he ever wiped that smile off his face during our 3 hour ride. Well, all I can say is, I was impressed, flattered, and deeply moved at the extent he went to carry out that moment. I didn’t ever think that love would happen again, but it did.

So on this 3rd anniversary together, I thought I would re-live it as a surprise for him. Happy Valentine’s Day and Birthday, Jon.

janeofwisconsin: The Sparkle of February's Winter Days

janeofwisconsin: The Sparkle of February's Winter Days: " It’s 5 degrees this morning, another cold snap here in the Mid West. By February, I begin to hunger and crave for more sunshine a..."