Sunday...

The grass is always greener on the other side or at least where the sun shines in the wee hours of the morning; Winds light and variable made for a great morning paddle.
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Name this product and enter your name in the comment section and "possibly" win a prize or a date with Tad Hamilton. Hint: It's about comfort.

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Remainder of the colors as I ghost around Rock Lake; 31 degrees should have brought gloves, at least better then going out yesterday in the kayak and forgetting my life jacket. Interesting I remembered this point of contention whiling laying in bed last night before falling asleep.
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Glass like conditions on the North end of the lake; two days ago a torrid hot mess of waves and foam from 50+ mph wind gusts. Interesting that the leaves on the maple stood fast.

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The Capt'n

Wave Bashing

While the punk'n-heads sleep the morning away, I figured I would catch the remains of the high winds and do a little wave bashing; this calls for a nice cozy kayak and skirt.
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It was a grand morning, nobody out; even the hunters were pushed into the marsh leaving the lake open for play.

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The water is cool, but swimmable; not that I wanted to swim with the wind howling and it being 45 degrees. I am very fortunate to have a slew of boats to choose from for all sorts of conditions and play outings. I paddled the Azul Greenland Style boat with an epic comp paddle.

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I may head down to the Rock River Canoe shop and see if I can try out one of the Greenland style paddles before the pond freezes over just for kicks.

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Koa was not happy paddler as I had to leave her back for today's outing; no room in the Azul for a dog.

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I'm in that feel good tired phase from doing something fun; I don't get the same feeling from raking leaves, amazingly so.

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The Capt'n

Cultures by the sea

I am so intrigued by native cultures and the crafts they build and paddle sail around. I found these photos embedded in a Duran Duran Video, Save a prayer.
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I love the log keel and the simplicity of this outrigger canoe; with three persons pulling it ashore I wonder how much it weighs?

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Still debating winter projects; I have a work space down at the Rock River Canoe Company that I used to outfit the Cruiser and Sea Wind with the Balogh Boss System. It would be a good time for me as there are master craftsmen building canoes dories and tenders down there right now. Hmm the possibilities; deep cuts into my adventure travel activity fund, gotta think this one through.

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The Capt'n

Carv' em up!

The Kids get some pumpkin carving done for Halloween over at their mom's house. I know what your asking, "What is the one on the far right supposed to be?" - That my blurry eyed friend is the Brewer baseball logo. - my thoughts exactly, Milwaukee still has a team?

Anyone seen my hat?

Sunday...

After hitting the P90X Chest and Back routine, it was time to paddle; then the rain came hard. Rain and 62 degrees in October, winds light out of the South - puts us at "Golden"!
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Big Drops of rain, paddled the shoreline (now that most of the piers are out) for an hour doing intervals; why I don't know, it just seemed like something fun to do. Stayed out of the marsh as duck hunters were hunting Donald. The shots rang out!!

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The last of the colors, not much to see; man the color season went by way too quickly. All my trees still have their leaves so it will be a push to get them raked up before snow flies. Each year I just barely make it!! Knock on wood!

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Itching to go somewhere but destined to do laps on Rock Lake for the time being; need to bank up some more vacation time, a whole slew of paddle sailing opportunities coming up -

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We're good to go till the lakes and rivers freeze over. Fingers crossed for a 4 day Thanksgiving day weekend that is in the 70's and sunny!!

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The Capt'n

Balogh 36 race to the test

Now where did I put the pump, drats left it at the canoe shop; He huffed and he puffed and he blew the amas up. John didn't have his pump either.
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Tucked in on the windward shore, we were in for a treat; the wind built through out the day giving us great rides across Lake Mendota.
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John has a 38 sq ft Balogh on his canvas wood canoe; he runs duel dagger boards, didn't see an advantage today. I have the newly rigged Sea Wind with the Balogh 36 in Mylar; it performed really well, I am pleased. It was a real treat to get out on the water late October; the water is cooling off but not bone chilling, rain but with winds out of the south quite comfortable.

Great day to be play'n! - The Capt'n

Woo Hoo

Right vehicle; wrong canoe

It's all happening...

Gear a drift

For my girls - All the possibilities - Pops

The Fab Daughters and Koa too

Big weekend with the girls; our fall walks, photography, good company good laughs. Emily gets a day off from school and work makes the trek out to see her Pops. Woo Hoo.
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Marissa gets a new camera for her birthday, everybody is digging it as it takes awesome pics; look how good it makes me look! :-)

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To my FaB DaUgHtErS, "Fly high on the wings of maybe, realize your dreams" - The Capt'n (Pops)

October Sail

Shout out

Boo and I finally got the Cruiser and Balogh BOSS out for sea trials. Very gusty sent us to the windward shore of Rock Lake for a little shelter from the breeze.
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I don't like the wrinkle that forms just above the clew. attempted to adjust but came to realize the boom as no out haul and playing with the down haul showed zero results. The same thing happened on Etch's BOSS when you sheet in to windward. Looking for suggestions, anyone?
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Boo in the bow seat for sailing; when paddling we have had me in the bow and Boo in the stern seat. By moving the mast forward and board down we have achieved what I had hoped for, very little windward helm.
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Wind kept building into the afternoon; we ended up putting a reef in as we were over powered and the gusts came out of nowhere over the trees. A great afternoon of paddle sailing, not many more of these days left in October so we'll take them if we can get them.

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A big shout out to Olga for getting up O dark 30 and helping me carry the Cruiser up a flight of stairs to get it out of the bowels of the Rock River Canoe Company basement and then carrying the Sea Wind down. - The Capt'n

Sibun River - Part of the adventure

Riding the Short Bus.
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Part of the adventure is just getting there; our transportation on the Sibun River was this classic heavy duty converted school bus. It was the bomb.
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Our driver was a character he just got his license an hour ago as he tells it; Pedro stated this bus will go through almost anything, but when it gets stuck you're not getting it out easily.

The no glass, canvas covered windows are great for adventure; makes picture taking fantastic. Duely wheels, air brakes, stiff I mean stiff suspension make it a Mr. Toad's Wild ride. No doors no windows, check under your seat for ..... snakes and spiders.
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We don't need no stinking roof racks; what we could have used was a decent kayak and paddle. I don't want to say that the ride on the river was miserable, but we could have used a better ride while on the water.

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It's all part of the adventure! - The Capt'n

Ben's Mischief

Roller reefing main, large amas, simple design, bomb proof construction - see more

Caves Branch - Belize

Big shout out to the gang in Belize at Caves Branch, left to right Mike, Eric, Little "B" Becky, Ella, Ian, Bruce, Big "B" Becky
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Good Times!!

Tobacco Caye - Belize

Off Tobacco Caye at Reef's End; Way cool crystal clear water.

Belize Revisited

It was such a wonderful adventure, hard to put into words; here's a short video that barely does the trip justice. Adventure on Belize!!