Open Water to Hoot and Blat With
Spring is sprung, the gas is riz, I wonder where da birdies is? Two days ago two of them (ring billed gulls to be exact) were out surfing an ice floe in Cole Lake, with gusts of wind and fog enveloping them like a scene from a bad English novel. They looked a little lost…..okay, it’s two days later and guess what – we have open water!!! Not much, but enough to float your boat, so what are you waiting for!!
Global Medic and Reeeeel Paddling Festival
It was a grand night – had over 250 people turn out on a fine spring night at the Stockey Centre. The fund raising auction for Global Medic was a runaway success. From ticket sales and the auction, we’ll be sending a cheque for $2800! Kathy and I want to thank everyone for your generosity and goodwill.
Boat of the Moment
The spotlight this week is on a Boreal Designs Kasko. A great 13 foot light tourer with rudder, two hatches and a comfort seat. This puppy is used, but in great shape. New it sells for $1299. Now it’s …..wait for it……BOM de la BOM BOM…..$749! One only, one owner, driven only when it’s sunny - has four on the floor, three on the tree and two in the trunk - full power train warranty and a free lick from Benji.
First Aid Courses
There are a few spots left – so if you were hummin’ and hawing, git off yer high horse and give us a call lickety split. These courses are aimed at anyone venturing outdoors and wanting to be able to respond half way intelligently when something goes wrong.
Intro to Sea Kayak Instructor – May 20-22
Are you a closet kayak dude, waiting for your inner instructor to sally forth. This 3 day certification is the best way to get better in paddling, because we’ll teach you how to teach it to others. It’s on the May 24 weekend so you won’t miss work, and I guarantee you’ll have a grand time. There are 4 spots left, so give us a ring and we’ll sign you up.
Tim’s Tips
Lock the Knot – whenever you are tying a knot like a bowline or clove hitch, always lock it off with a half hitch. That ensures you have enough of a tail so it won’t work it’s way back through the knot and become undone. That tail is also known as the “bitter end” and a good knot always has enough of a bitter end to make sure you don’t come to a bitter end?!?
Trucker’s Hitch
Ok, there are a few ways to tie one of these, and the standard one most know is not the real trucker’s hitch – but I can’t show you that because I’m not that smart with graphics. Suffice to say that my buddy Peter taught me – and it all has to do with creating the initial loop by twisting the rope multiple times so that come time to untie, if the rope diameter is small, or if it’s ice covered and wet – you’ll still be able to undo the knot easily. It’s the same principle used to snag logs out west in the salt chuck – you twist and twist so that there’s little friction when you have to release it. Remember Relic on the Beachcombers? To the undiscerning eye he was just wrapping rope around logs and stealing them, but really he was using the time tested logger’s hitch. But my real tip is that regardless of how you tie a trucker or loggers hitch – you can’t lock it off with just one hitch on the bitter end. That’s because the lock is all that is holding the knot, so for the love of pete do two. And while I’m at it, loop the bitter end when you do that so it unties in a jiffy. Confused, ask me if you see me this summer.
Hokay, that’s all she wrote – g’nite - tim |
