May Flowers, Gasping and Leek Soup
Wild leeks are flourishing, the trilliums about to flower – and the water is warming up. It’s a wonderfully fragrant time of the year – and the best time to go paddling. ( i know, i always say that)
But as the air and water warms, we have to give ourselves a mighty collective kick in the rear in reminder that a sudden capsize is about the worst thing you want to have happen in your life. Dr.. Gordon Giesbrecht (aka Dr. Popsicle) is a leading Canadian researcher on hypothermia and has come up with a wonderful thing called the 1-10-1 rule. Simply – if you fall into cold water, you have a minute of gasp reflex and general flailing about – then 10 minutes of useful motor control of your arms and legs, followed with about an hour to die. So – you HAVE to dress for the water – with a rescue and warm up plan figured out in advance. It’s old hat and common sense, but I’m beginning to finally figure out after 56 years on the planet that the hat might be old, but the sense is not only uncommon, it’s downright an endangered species.
MAYhem
Hope you can join us on the long weekend or the one after for free stand up demos and practice at 1pm, followed by a free tour of the lake at 2pm. We’ve got displays, new chickens, canoe full of bargoons and boats just bursting to be paddled.
Basic Kayak Skills and Adventuring on the Bay
May 21/22 starts off our weekend skill clinics and daytrip programme. Be the first on your block to discover the backwaters of Franklin Island, and show off some pretty fun kayak skills to friends and family.
Weekend Kayak Skills Camp
Ever wonder what two days of fooling around in a kayak with great instructors and like minded folk would feel like? Our weekend skill camps are for you. Lots of fun with a really fast learning curve – you’ll be amazed at yourself! Our first one is May 28/29 and you can camp on site for free.
Level 2 Paddle Canada Skill Course – June 9-12
Four days of great instruction providing you with the skills of a solid intermediate paddler – ready to take on new horizons with confidence. Greg Mason is the course instructor and one of Ontario's best. You will come away with a very strong intermediate set of skills and ready to take on new horizons.
Addition to our  Spring Cleaning List
We’ve added a Current Designs Kestrel 140 Hybrid Lime//White to our blowout list for May. A very light, fast and pretty good looking boat and it needs a home. They regularly sell for $2299 and we are letting one go for $1600. A saving of $700!!
Tim’s Tips
Buy a Bothy Bag………I know, I’m a shameless shopkeeper, but in this case, I really don’t get why more people don’t buy these suckers. We get them from Britian and they come in 2, 4 and 8 person sizes. An amazingly simple bivouac bag providing instant heat for a group that is wet and cold. I have had one for years, and take it with me winter camps, spring paddling and fall hikes. It lives permanently in my turnout bag that goes everywhere.
So what’s a turnout bag? Simply stuff I want with me all the time. What’s in it?
Funny you should ask….well – I have:
BOTHY BAG – did I mention BOTHY BAG
DUCT TAPE
FLASHLIGHT THAT REALLY WORKS
LEATHERMAN
FIRE LIGHTING KIT & CANDLE
EXTRA TOQUE, SWEATER, SHELL
COMPASS, WHISTLE,WATCH
PAPER & PENCIL
GRANOLA BARS & FRUIT LEATHERS & CANDIES
WATER BOTTLE & THERMOS
LIGHT COOKPOT & TEA BAGS
OUCH KIT
and sundry other items.....
This gives me some stuff to deal with things that go wrong – which always seem to happen when I turn my head - with my old hat - and my uncommon sense......bye for now, tim
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