Game Changer

I remember the very first original 128k Macintosh I ever saw. At that time, even though I had been using an Apple Lisa at work for a little while, I had this internal reaction that before my eyes, the future was unfolding. Looking back, the internet itself was such a gradual blur that I can't really put my finger on many more epiphanic moments where such a great "Ah Ha!" occurred. I do remember discussing the concept of email with my former boss who was a bit more of a geek than I at the time and who was familiar with the DARPAnet and its meanderings into the public realm. The World Wide Web at the time seemed like a diffuse concept little related to my day-to-day business.

Times have changed. I now think I'm at the precipice of another one of those defining moments that I will look backwards to and recognize as pivotal.

iPhone

After only a week with this new marvel, I can begin to see the difference this (and probably more than many smartphones) will make on the way I go about my day. Micro-blog from my kayak during a break? Did it. Google a telephone number en route. Been there. Look up the current gauge reading for the Little River streamside. OMG!. Rather than looking at my watch when I wake up. I tap a couple of buttons and have checked my email, Facebook and the day's weather before I'm out of bed.

I have to admit that the newness hasn't yet worn off. I've been anticipating this arrival long before the day arrived (the day AFTER my Verizon contract expired, which was unfortunately a Sunday). I had already downloaded over 60 free iPhone apps to my iTunes before the phone was even in my hot little hands (Is that sick?). Since, I've put about $30 more into paid apps, like Riverguide for Kayakers.

I'll probably be returning to this topic in future posts, but I figured this had to be one of those moments that warranted a full blog post. Those seem to be rare this winter. Winter= a peep (or more likely a Tweet) out of the cave and into the sunshine.

Into the depths of Winter

Wilson 1_11_09

We had a cold and dreary day here today with highs (probably for the week) in the 40's. It looks like there is a real humdinger of a cold front heading this way. Though it's been hard to get motivated on a few days so far this winter, it really hasn't totally blotted out the will or the ability to get out and paddle pretty often. The amount of rain we've had has really kept the options open. I had two days on the Haw last week and last Saturday at Wilson Creek. Falls Dam started releasing over the weekend and I sucked it up and went out there today, despite the bleak. It actually was very enjoyable, if not little too warm (note to self- take plenty of water to drink.)

Better be sure the kerosene supply is topped off for the weekend. Maybe I'll make it through another winter.

French Broad and Wilson

I know I can be a broken record about how great the CCC and paddlers in general are to be around, so it should come as no surprise that I'm here again saying blah...blah...blah. So shoot me.

I had a fantastic weekend. Chris Grindstaff (a brand new friend from CCC), Casey Carr (a CCC friend for a while) and I all took off for a French Broad, Barnard-Stackhouse run on Saturday. Neither Chris or Casey had run it before. We met a large group from the Foothills Paddling Club, including co-CCCers David Blumberg, Merridee Harper, Kirk Weir, Clayton Burton and others there for a great afternoon on the river. At 1600-1700cfs, the flow was nothing to write home about, but it was great to see old friends and get out and get a little exercise enjoying the river. We all took off and headed to Grand Asiana in Asheville for a buffet. The rains set in for the evening while Chris, Casey and I holed up in some welcomed shelter (Thank you Don!).

Sunday morning, though a little sloppy aground, showed us a sunny sky and temperate weather for our day on Wilson Creek. Jeff Dennie and Randy Welch met us a Wilson for a fine day of paddling the creek at -6".

Gear Review: Astral Green Jacket

The Astral Green Jacket (http://tinyurl.com/6l9yoq). I've been waiting months to receive my new Astral Green Jacket. This summer, Astral ran into a glitch with Coast Guard approval of the (then) side-entry model of the Green Jacket as originally designed. Apparently, one of the test subjects couldn't satisfactorily don the jacket, causing it to be denied approval. Back to the drawing board, Astral redesigned their new flagship rescue vest along the lines of the pullover 300R we're already familiar with.

The new vest has a much more effective cinch system than the old 300R allowing you to get a really comfortable fit. The new vest provides good rib protection by lowering some front flotation in a band around the ribcage and also provides a little better shoulder and back protection than did the 300R. A new left-hand zippered pocket is added similar to the one on the 300R's right side for Astral's "Webtoe" (that's how they spell it) System. A knife patch has been added to the left side of the front pocket as well as a breakaway buckle/strap on the right side for a cow-tail/caribiner. The Green Jacket retains the capability to stow either an astral throw-rope pouch or hydration pouch behind the front pocket, now with a snap-retainer strap on the left side.

Changes I'm not too keen on include a front pocket closed now by Velcro® rather than the old zipper. I find this a more difficult entry to the pocket that I rely on for camera, snacks, lip balm, sunscreen....all stuff I'm after all day. Similarly, the lined handwarmer pouch behind the main pocket is a goner, apparently victim to the new suspension system which separates the pocket and body layers of flotation. The Webtoe pockets, already difficult to reach on the 300R are now farther to the back of the vest. While the pocket is still within reach for deployment of the Webtoe, re-stowing the webbing and caribiner in the pocket when you're finished will be a serious act of contortion.

I've now had my new vest out on a long flatwater paddle and a long whitewater paddle. It wears very comfortably and as I mentioned, solves some of the adjustment difficulties of the 300R. While it still takes me a little longer to get into and out of the new vest due to a few more adjustments, I think I'll be happy with the new model once I can work out good systems for use of the front pocket and tucking in the Webtoe. If you're interested in seeing one, drop by Paddle Creek in Raleigh

ACA meeting

I had been working for a while preparing for last week's ACA annual meeting/First Instructors' Conference/Semiannual SEIC meeting/Quarterly Board of Directors' Meeting. Prior to the meetings, I had to prepare the Recreation Committee Report and also prepare a presentation for the Club Instructors' Roundtable Discussion.

It was a cold several days to decide to camp out for the weekend at the KOA campground south of Fredericksburg. It was also the first time I'd ever tried to dress out in a suit while camping. Quite a challenge.

The meetings went pretty well and the Instructors' Conference was well attended and energized. I prepared notes from the Instructors' Roundtable Discussion and posted it and my presentation here and here, respectively.

I'm looking forward to the coming year and planning the 2009 Instructors' conference and the addition of what they're calling the ACA Clubs Rendezvous. Attendees at this year's conference were jazzed about the possibilities of what is to come.

All that said and done though, and after sitting and watching politics for a day and a half, the old bones are getting creaky. It's time to get outside and get the paddle swinging.

Long Overdue Beach Trip

Nan and I took off for a long overdue beach trip to do a little furniture shuffling and yard work. My sister has recently moved back to Raleigh and had an extra sofa so we decided to update the furniture at the beach a little. There was still some debris from Hurricane Hannah that needed to be cleaned up as well as a whole summer's growth to be pruned and dealt with. I got in a good day of paddling the surf with a good north wind holding up some nice 3' spilling breakers. The water is still warm and a drytop with a light layer underneath was plenty to stay warm. The weather had a nip in the air in the mornings but days were nice and beautiful blue. Watching some surf fishers, it appeared the small blues were in on the schools of fingerling mullet and there were spanish mackerel jumping everywhere.

Transition

The water and air are cooling down enough that it's time to wind down the flatwater and beginner kayak instruction for the year and start looking for some water of my own in earnest. Last week's trip to the Russell Fork, New River Gorge and Yough was a good start toward that goal. It's still quite dry around here. The transition in seasons also leads me to start looking homeward to chores that need to get done. Between sessions of chainsawing up some downfall in the yard, I'm finishing up some paperwork for the ACA recreation committee and preparing for the upcoming long weekend of the ACA Instructor's conference, SEIC meeting and ACA Board meeting. I'm looking forward to chairing the Club Instructors' roundtable discussion and hope we can get some good feedback and ideas from instructors to take forward.

I've been kept pretty busy lately with a gung-ho group of sea kayakers in the Triangle who are organizing a local flatwater/sea kayak paddling club. Stay tuned to see what happens with this group. They are on fire right now and I expect to see big things come from their efforts.

I finally broke down and bought a used copy of "Deliverance" today, figuring it was a de rigeur addition to any paddler's library.