TT Kayaking Club

“We see manatees all the time in Florida. You are supposed to keep your distance from them by law but they are so friendly that they will swim right up to you and rub against you.”

“This fall I'll have a better chance at seeing manatees.. I know of lots of spots where they go when Florida's version of cold weather comes around. A few months ago, I missed seeing a pair of them by a minute, according to two people on a dock. They were right on the canal my apartment complex is on also.

But I have seen them before, quite a few times. I actually went snorkeling with them at Crystal River when I was a kid (honors science field trip). I'll never forget it, totally zen experience. I've also seen them in St. Augustine a few times while surfing. Swam right past me, and scared the sh-- outta mean. It was a pissah' (did I use that Boston term correctly?).”

“outta me.. not outta mean.”

“I guess that manatees are on the
endagered list? Once I saw a whale
that had beached itself and died.
I don't know what kind it was. I
couldn't get over the size of it
unbelievably huge.”

“Snorkeling with manatees' would be
wicked pissah!”

“I hope to paddle some of the FL panhandle springs when it cools off.”

“Yep, Manatees are endangered. What HPM said is right, you're not allowed to approach them, but they'll often come right up to you on their own. Wicked gentle creatures.”

“I was able to pet a couple when i went to the Aquarium in Long Islang. they very like rubber but very ver gentle

they have a touch pool with them in it”

“This conversation reminds me of the
kayak magazines I would read. I got
jealous of all the cool places that
rich people were kayaking to.”

“LOL! I hear ya.. heck, if I were rich, I'd love to do a kayaking trip around New Foundland. They did an article on it in "Sea Kayaker" magazine a few issues back. I've been drooling about the idea ever since.”

“sea kayaker

is that a good magazine for kayaking?

or is there another?

id like to get a scrib.”

“Sea Kayaker is good. If you look around, you might find a regional
magazine. That would be a good one.”

“Yes, "Sea Kayaker" is the best mag out there for the sport, IMO. You might want to check out this month's issue, ML, there's a great article about kayaking on the Hudson River.”

“thank you both. I will go and get it tonight.”

“Hey Mapes, glad your not 'laying low' anymore!”

“Be careful what you read in those
mags! A pair of us did a night
paddle off Isle du Haut. Let's see
how far we have to go until we see
no shore lights...we ended up in
Nova Scotia! ha ha ha.”

“At least you weren't attacked by rabid puffins... or were you?”

“Just puffy-eyed from an all night
paddle!”

“Ah, perhaps they mistaked you for one of their bretheren. Did you seriously get swept away that far? What happened exactly? Details!”

“Details,schmetails. The wind came
up,creating swells that came up abeam. We had no radio and Gps wasn't really available then. So we
just ferried, or paddled up with,
not across the wave direction. We
were feeling pretty hokey, but did
our best to stay calm. Just layed up together for a rest now and then.”

“Wow, that's scary, and at night nonetheless. Glad you made it out okay.”

“It seemed easy enough,,at first.
After it was over,we agreed not to
get so stupid again.”

“I have one good story left. After
that Paddling was pretty peace full
and serene.I have only paddled about 3 times this year. Family stuff.”

“me too artex....
crystal river, florida

http://images.ofoto.com/photos204/3/0/92/82/98/0/98829200303_0_SM.jpg”

“uh oh...sorry...link is funky”

“http://images.ofoto.com/photos204/3/0/92/82/98/0/98829200303_0_ALB.jpg

ifn it dont work....fergit it”

“Very cool shot, Om!

”

“Sea Kayaker Magazine Rules!

I want to Kayak off the coast of Norway!”

“I've decided I do need a sprayskirt.
Most I see seem to be made for whitewater and look unbearable hot.
Any wisdom you there for Gulf Coast options?
Help, I will need it in about a week and 1/2!”

“I've had both nylon and neoprene. The nylon leaked badly when doing eskimo rescues. I thought the neoprene would be too hot but after trying it I found that if it gets warm all I need to do is splash water on it to cool down. However, I live in MI and the water temps don't generally exceed 75°.”

“i can not seem to find the mag anywhere. i went to 4 different places with no luck. art, can you maybe make a copy of that article and send it to me?”

“StoveStomper - I use a nylon one. It dosen't keep out water as good as a neopreme one, but it definitely breathes a lot better also. I'm perfectly happy with it, and it does the trick. You could also compromise and get one made out of both materials.

ML - You won't find it at any bookstore, but Campmor has it. Any kayaking store in your area should have it also. I can make you a copy, but the only thing I can promise is that I'm really slow about stuff like that, you're probably better off just buying it. :-)”

“Artex - Brand name and model?
I need all the help I can get!”

“I just came from the REI store in
downtow Beantown. Beautiful day here. The college girls are back and the scenery is just fine! I like the sweater look,cosmopolitan
thing I guess.
Your lucky that you have a perception because most dealers stock the skirts for them as they
generally fit most other boats.
Looks like you have a key hole cockpit. Just call the nearest dealers to see if they have it in stock. While your at, try to get a
cock pit cover. Thats a skirt without a hole. When you go camping the boat will fill up with
bugs over night. You won't know they are there until you start itching in the middle of something.”

“Glad you explained that 'cock pit' comment as I was thinking that was a crude but correct way of describing it. ;)
We do have some nasty bugs down here.”

“Link
HARMONY MEDITERRANEAN

Urethane-coated nylon pack cloth
Adjustable waist
Adjustable bungee rim
Webbed grab loop
No slip rim grip

COLORS:
saffron, red, black.
MSRP: $39.99


link2
HARMONY EDGE

Tri-level deck construction
Hydrophobic poly scrim internal layer
Sympatex waterproof, breathable supplex fabric
IllumiNITE - Faced pocket w/ mesh (also has secure inner pocket)
Adjustable bungee, webbed grab loop
Adjustable bowstay to keep deck taut
Mesh pocket
Neoprene® waist
Taped seams
No slip rim grip
1-size adjustable waist tunnel
Medium and large cockpit sizing
COLOR:
Saffron
MSRP: $99.99

HARMONY ULTRALITE :

Performance-oriented skirt
Sympatex waterproof, breathable supplex fabric
IllumiNITE™ - Faced pocket w/ mesh (also has secure inner pocket)
Adjustable bungee, webbed grab loop
Adjustable bowstay to keep deck taut
Adjustable Darlex® waist is adjustable
Taped seams
No slip rim grip
1-size adjustable waist tunnel
Medium and large cockpit sizing
COLOR:
Royal Blue/Black
MSRP: $94.99

Comments???????”

“I should be out riding some swells.
But I wanna finsh some chores around the ponderosa.”

“I would get the edge or the ultra lite if you can swing it. I don't
have have any of those features except the pocket,(keep a whistle or a candy bar in it) Just that I
haven't bought any boat ear in a few years.Any color but black,unless you want to heat up!”

“That's what I meant! A little compressed air horn for foggy days. Use it for when other boats
are real close. The whistle works
good too.Most boats will be going
slow too. (Most boats!)”

“SS - I have the Harmony Edge. They say it costs a hundred bucks, but I only paid 70 bucks for mine, so those prices might be a bit high. In anycase, expect to pay between 50-100 bucks.”

“I've got the edge too. Don't buy it for the pocket, mine blew out immediately. You're also guarenteed a great arm workout trying to get the damn thing on, it usually requires at least two MFers, or other appropriate swear words, lol. I like the suspenders, keeps the skirt under my pfd, right where it belongs, but they are removable. I paid $100. Not too many sales on paddling gear in our area, only last years models and those go fast.”

“Paddled a couple of hours this afternoon up Mary Walker Bayou in my town.
It was nice being able to get so close to the fish. Several big ones shot away from me leaving big wakes.
I left the rudder up this trip and worked on my turns. Got a lot better.
Also got to practice cutting thru the wakes of the 30' power boats flying down the bayou. Some real jerks out there. It seems the bigger the boat, the bigger the jerk driving it.
All the little jon boats with fishermen slowed down for me.
The wind was against me coming back. Got a good workout. My arms are going to be sore tomorrow. I need to build up my arms a lot.
I'm really getting to like this yak!”

“Roughly 1,000 strokes to paddle a
mile. If your paddling againg a 5
knot current,the wind is steady at 20 you have to exert a pressure of
60 lbs on each stroke.
EEEkk!
Technique!”

“Haven't had my kayak in the water since July. :-(

Am hoping to do an overnighter in early Oct, tho.”

“3x so far this year for me. I been paddling about 10 years. I guess I can't count this year. Daiey!”

“my yoga teacher from temple came out yesterday for a first time kayak experience on the santa fe river. She is hooked on kayaks now.
I let her use my kayak..and i used my neighbors solo canoe.
OMigosh.....now i remember why i got a kayak...paddling upstream is a way better experience in a kayak.

It was a gorgeous day and four of us went into ginnie springs and snorkeled....., as long as you do not step onto land, you can swim without paying park entrance fee, so we all got lessons on jumping out of the boats and climing back in..heh...quite a sight i am sure...but fun. we passed by the first alligator i have seen along that stretch of the river...it was ohly about 7 feet long, but sure makes me reconsider taking the dog down there for a swim!

stovers.....know what you mean about the motor boats....i use it as an opportunity to learn to handle the boat in choppy waters.....but it can get skeery sometimes watching them approach.
get some tiger balm and git your arms readyt for the gulf!!”

“With the high supposed to hit around 80 today, I took the kayak out in the ocean for a 10 mile paddle this morning. Great weather, and good exercise.. it's obvious I've fallen out of kayaking shape, so I'm a bit sore. Didn't see any notable sea critters, but it was good, peaceful fun nonetheless. :-)”

“Thbbbbbttttt!!!! that's all I got to say to you Artex. :p

JK

Wellll, I guess since we're in Germany, that doesn't matter too much right now.... but it will, come this summer :)”

“Ooooh, Germany! Eating lots of brachtwurst and sourkraut? Where are you guyst at? My brother was born in Frankfurt.”