tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46461084717879514182024-03-13T11:44:07.410-07:00Ruby Creek BoathouseSharing the love of the great outdoors. Yes, YOU can get off the couch, get out to have a great time. Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-4428311300295253072016-05-05T14:32:00.000-07:002016-05-05T14:32:14.657-07:00For Sherri<br />
The rowing and paddling world lost an amazing friend last week. Sherri Cassuto will be remembered for her fire, her humility, and her love.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyatO5Cl7tKgTEn4Pt_zkLIMD2fqD2a72v_PiLOeWWNXFJsJToVvHOU4gbY4VUUvVQ5J1Ezk7WwS9Mfjzr6Op3pYXljuvmDA-vDqDf6-o4Zz2Pr5RqiO-v2SQnkeklba448sY40FlT8lu/s1600/Sherri-Cassuto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyatO5Cl7tKgTEn4Pt_zkLIMD2fqD2a72v_PiLOeWWNXFJsJToVvHOU4gbY4VUUvVQ5J1Ezk7WwS9Mfjzr6Op3pYXljuvmDA-vDqDf6-o4Zz2Pr5RqiO-v2SQnkeklba448sY40FlT8lu/s1600/Sherri-Cassuto.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://lakewashingtonrowing.com/home/hotl/sherri-cassuto-cup/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Lake Washington Rowing Club dedicated a trophy to Sherri for the Women's Masters' Single Scull in the annual Head of the Lake Regatta. Sherri was there in 2015 for the first award of the trophy named for her.</b></span></span></a></div>
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Christian Knight found out in 2008 what it was like to race against Sherri in the Deception Pass Dash. It's a familiar story to tons of fellow racers who've watched that bright green pfd and luminescent Eddyline Raven pull away over a long hour-plus of chasing her.<br />
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Christian wrote up this report in Paddler magazine following his three-minute beatdown by Sherri. Thanks, Christian, for sharing it here.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I should be worried about a number
of things right now. About Deception Island, the barnacle-covered mound of
rocks that seems to have pissed off the sea. I should definitely be worried
about the standing waves and sucking eddylines of Deception Pass, the notorious
strait that acts more like a massive river when the tide is coming in. The
return trip should worry me, and so should the 25 racers in front of me—the
ones who I would have to catch in the next four miles if I am going to win all
categories of the Deception Pass Dash. The 100 racers behind me should be
worrisome as well. They are, after all, paddling as hard as they ever have to
catch and pass me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But I’m not too worried about those
guys. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Right now, I’m more concerned about
a woman with tight, graying curls on her head, an iPod in her ears and black
pogies on her hands. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That woman is paddling too—at a
brisk pace. Her strokes are rhythmic, and unrelenting. Judging by the relaxed
expression on her face, she could paddle like this as long as the other
baby-boomer ladies can knit a sweater. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This woman, who as I’ll later
discover is 18-years older than me, is passing me with roughly the same effort
required to flip a turn signal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As she passes I scrutinize her,
searching for an explanation. She’s wearing a Kokatat Orbit Touring PFD, the
same low-cut, unobtrusive vest I am wearing. That makes sense, I think. Her
kayak is an Eddyline Raven, a craft its owners stopped producing more than a
decade ago and which they designed for maneuverability, not necessarily speed.
That doesn’t make sense, I think. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And she’s wearing pogies. That
doesn’t make any sense at all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Approximately one hour later, with
salt coating my tongue and scratching my nose, I discover that I took second in
the sea kayak division—three minutes behind a 51- year-old woman. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That woman is Sherri Cassuto. And
over the following week, I have become somewhat obsessed to figuring out how
she did it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The first explanation I get is this:
“She’s a former Olympian.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Twenty years earlier, the New Yorker
was one of four crew team members to finish ninth in the world at the 1988
Olympic Games in Seoul. That ninth place finish is arguably the pinnacle of her
athletic career. Arguably, because she certainly had other pinnacles: Her
second place finish at the 1985 rowing world championships in Belgium or
achieving finals at the 1987 world championships in Denmark or her Canadian
Nationals silver medal in marathon canoe racing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Of course, that was all about two
decades ago. And 20 years is a long time. Ask Shawn Kemp just how long 20 years
is to an athletic body. Within three years of his retirement from the NBA, the
former Seattle SuperSonic power forward had ballooned to 340 pounds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Or Lance Armstrong. While discussing
his own retirement from the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong told Outside
magazine in 2006 that he refused to suffer the same fate as three-time Tour
winner Greg LeMond. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Ex-athletes get soft and they're
not as fit as they were, but I've got to be fit,” Armstrong told Outside’s
editor Hal Espen. “Forever. I mean, I get a little beer gut in the winter. You
know, I'm not going to turn into a Greg LeMond. Forty extra LBs.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I guess what I’m saying is this:
Past athletic achievement might be a good measure of potential. But it doesn’t
do very well at gauging current ability. Our bodies, I’d argue, have short memories.
And like any other kind of memory, it worsens with age. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So yes, I’ll concede that Cassuto,
was an extraordinary athlete. I’ll even concede that in her prime, she was much
more extraordinary than I was in mine. But here’s the difference: her prime was
20 years ago. Mine is, well, now. I ride my bike 60 miles a week, race
flatwater two times a week and paddle whitewater on the weekends. I’m certainly
no Olympian, or even local legend, but I’m in pretty good shape and in this
year alone, I’ve competed in a dozen races—from extreme creek races to
downriver and sea kayak races. And there’s one more thing—I’m just going to say
it—she’s a girl. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“She’s a stud,” is how Bob Ernst,
the head coach of the University of Washington’s rowing team explains her
three-minute victory over me. He coached her and the rest of the national
rowing team back in the 80s, when Cassuto was training seriously. “She’s a
tough competitor. She’s a very tough person. She seems to enjoy the work. She’s
skilled and patient. It doesn’t matter whether she knew you or not, she would
have just looked at you as another person to pound on.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Okay, so she’s an exceptional girl.
Truly tough. Truly competitive. Truly gifted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But she’s still a generation older
than me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Back in 1987, Cassuto was training
for the Seoul Olympics, and, as she recalls it, she called her coach out on
something—she wouldn’t say what. And he responded by kicking her off the team.
(Ernst has no memory of this). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You’d think they’d want to select
people with a little moxey,” Cassuto says. “I’ve always been incredibly
independent-minded. I’m Italian-Jewish from New York. I’m nice. But I’m blunt.
I asked him (her coach) a very reasonable question: ‘How come you didn’t do
what you said you’d do.’” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maybe, I think, that’s my answer.
What divides good athletes from good competitors is not just about how much
blood the heart can pump, it’s about what is in that blood. Piss and vinegar.
The racer who won’t take crap from anybody has an unscripted advantage over the
racer who will. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I wouldn’t describe myself as
defiant, rather the opposite. I look at myself as the typical middle-child:
compromising and appeasing, a bit indecisive and almost always positive that,
again, I’m getting screwed. That’s okay, though, I’ll just grin and bear it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m guessing, however, if you asked
my 10th grade English teacher, my 11th grade principal, and my 12th grade
physics teacher—all who, at one time or another, suspended me—they might have a
different assessment of my personality. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So perhaps I do have a little
defiance in me as well. But no where near as much as a 51-year-old woman who,
35 years ago, figured out a way to graduate from high school two years early
and enroll in college when others her age—16—were just earning their driver’s
licenses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During my conversation with Cassuto,
however, I discovered a few other contributors to her victory. Both could fall
under a single label: Love. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Before Cassuto could even walk,
she’d crawl into the Atlantic, with her mother running after her to save her
from the waves crashing onto the south Long Island shore. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When she was old enough, she started
swimming distances and body surfing. She took up crew when she moved to Seattle
in the mid-80s and kayaking soon after. She trained on the Sammamish Slough for
marathon canoe races, which culminated in her second place finish at Canadian
nationals in Kamloops. She remembers her crew teammates saying stuff like they
could compete in track and field as easily as they could in sculling. But for Cassuto,
it was always about the water. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 2005, she moved to an apartment
within reach of a piece of Lake Washington’s shore that was five miles from her
ROLFing therapy office in Fremont. And from that point on, she’s been
kayak-commuting every day. Five miles there, five miles back. And on the way to
work, she always waves hi to that University of Washington crew coach. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Anything I can do in, on, around or
beneath the water, I do everything I can possibly do to be on water,” she says.
“To be like that and then to paddle, oh my god, in the middle of winter, it’s
raining and it’s dark. The middle of winter is the best time. Last night the
moon— ahhhh. ahhhh—the moon was out. The water had little bit of wind on it.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That love is what has helped her to
understand the racecourse in a way my whitewater brain can’t fully grasp. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To win the Deception Pass Dash, you
have to paddle six miles of saltwater faster than 126 other people who want to
paddle it faster than you. But it’s not just a six-mile paddling race against
126 other kayakers. It’s a race out of a small, protected bay, and around a
rocky island, where the waves are crashing into the barnacle-covered rocks. You
have to turn the corner and head for Deception Pass, the notorious strait that,
when the tide is coming in, acts more like a massive river, with its whirlpool
eddylines and crashing standing waves. You have to sprint from this point,
around Strawberry Island, then through Canoe Pass, a strait with a 300-foot
vertical cliff wall that hangs over your right shoulder like a guilty
conscience, and where many of the 32 competitors who dropped out of the race, gazed
into the breaking waves, the towering walls and threw up their hands in
surrender to signal the rescue boats. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know enough about reading water
from my whitewater background to know that some water is moving fast, some
water is moving slow and some water is swirling. And more importantly, I knew
that it wouldn’t always be obvious when the water was doing what. Throughout
the race, however, I couldn’t figure out where to go. My best strategy was to
find someone who looked like they knew what they were doing—such as Leon Somme—and
try to emulate his line. The problem I encountered was when two people who
looked like they knew what they were doing, did opposite things. That tended to
drag me from one side of the pass to the other side, looking for some fast
water, which may or may not have ever existed. The only stretch where I felt
like I had finally settled into a rhythm was the 200 yards to the finish line.
After 80 minutes of paddling, I finally achieved something resembling my
twice-weekly workouts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cassuto, however, had settled into a
rhythm within 20 minutes of the start, about the time she passed me. And from
the beginning, she was calculating everything—the seven-knot water speed, the
wind, the ebb, eddies, her bow angle, and her rudder. Everything. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I was thinking the whole time about
where the water was going and where I’d need to go to get there,” she says.
“The current changed while we were still heading east. So I was looking for the
eddyline to come off Pass Island. I knew where it was going to drag my boat.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I first saw Cassuto cruising
past me with her pogies, her tight, graying curls, and comfortable pace, the
image was so surreal, I briefly hypothesized that she wasn’t racing at all—that
she was just out for a paddle. I figured her kayak must have been much faster
than my carbon Looksha IV. No way, I figured, could that lady could beat me in
a distance race if we each competed in two equally fast kayaks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But she did. By three minutes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And for me that indicates something
more important than winning: That gender and age are really no match for
willpower, passion and technique.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSL2zF3JsNiuygsg4XR-avApOFTME4y6yBMJjn6uq-nBGQ4v6hLQS2YvNX9ANqWaKp0AJcAugQQUuBCXJUu5y52MBLxnvnGiz1RSk91NfTW5PzyKdaIunCtErL6zI1KfIUyd3OFjNkgiqY/s1600/Sherri.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSL2zF3JsNiuygsg4XR-avApOFTME4y6yBMJjn6uq-nBGQ4v6hLQS2YvNX9ANqWaKp0AJcAugQQUuBCXJUu5y52MBLxnvnGiz1RSk91NfTW5PzyKdaIunCtErL6zI1KfIUyd3OFjNkgiqY/s320/Sherri.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Fair winds to you, Sherri. We miss you. </b></span></span> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-5423073482460412852014-11-04T13:44:00.000-08:002014-11-05T12:11:16.728-08:00The Skagit Effect<div class="WordSection1">
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So here’s a little something I drafted up a year ago for a writing contest. I didn’t win. That’s likely because every word is true. Sometimes you gotta stretch the truth to win the prize. So I lost. Enjoy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">The Skagit Effect<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wonder sometimes. What exactly were we thinking? How exactly did we not die at twenty-one? With thirty-five more years of further misadventures with kayaks, canoes, skis, chainsaws, firearms and dive bars behind us, this one stands out. The kind of watershed moment that proves Darwin was wrong. We just got lucky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We were adventurers. It was the 1970s. Our gear, experience, and expedition planning skills were cutting edge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I never saw “Deliverance” in its full glory, start to finish. But man, as a teenager, I knew all the best scenes from my friends’ descriptions. Then I got to college and met Dave Magee. Magee could reenact the entire Ned Beatty rape scene, with a few innovative pieces of added material, on command, without moving a muscle. He had no props. Just his voice. Magee may be the only guy who could crack up a room full of college guys with a comedy version of a rape scene. The improv got a little better with every retelling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Squeal like a pig, boy.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Come on, boy!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Wee. Oh! Ow! Wee!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“’at’s it, you fat little piggy, say wee!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Weeee! Come on you guys… oh! Wait a second, don’t – ah! I didn’t know you were gonna – oh! Weeee!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">More than once, someone laughed so hard he had to lean over a garbage can, ready to puke up dinner, when Magee did the rape scene. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With the movie in the back of our minds, my buddy Doug and I still decided it would be a great idea to throw some backpacks in my big Grumman canoe, launch at Newhalem Campground and paddle the lovely Skagit River for a few days. Camp on the riverbank, drink whiskey, maybe float all the way to Mount Vernon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We put intense planning into this expedition. High tech clothing consisted of wool shirts, blue jeans, tennis shoes, and rubber ponchos. Safety gear? Old school Zeppelin life jackets, and garbage bags, a ton of them. Our clothes, sleeping bags, food and tent would be stuffed in garbage bags which were then stuffed in our metal frame packs. Our packs, stuffed into garbage bags, would be lashed into the canoe. Didn’t want them floating away if we capsized. But in the unlikely event of a water landing, the garbage bags would keep everything dry. The military calls this “redundancy”. All part of the plan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We got this highly technical gear and expert advice from the guy at REI. That’s what they did at REI in pre-Goretex 1978. Instead of guilting us into spending a fortune on stuff we didn’t need, cutting edge service meant real outdoorsmen with real advice on how to paddle on pennies a day. “You guys should just go with garbage bags, man. It’s way cheaper.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We did not have a guitar. Or Burt Reynolds’ archery gear. Or any misguided expectation to find a kid with a banjo. But we did have a map. And we did know that the road – and civilization – ran along the North side of the river. The map didn’t say exactly what was on the South side, just the tight contour lines of mountains dropping sharply to the river. And for sure, no road. We had no interest in finding big dudes with ratty Carhartts and no teeth, so camping would be restricted to the North side or, if we got lucky, a sweet idyllic island in midstream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">September came. With Summer jobs ended, and Fall Quarter not starting for a few weeks, we headed to Newhalem and put on the river on a crisp, sunny morning. Inside the canoe, a floating commercial for Glad Plastics kept everything sealed up in high-tech goodness. The only thing sitting out for quick access was the pint of bourbon, held down under a strap. We nipped on the bottle to celebrate the launch, and paddled away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">By the first bend in the river, we realized that moving water is powerful. Yeah, really. A little bumpy water, an innocent-looking eddy, and we were out of control. Um, why are we facing upstream? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But we built confidence after the next rapid, and got the hang of staying straight, most of the time. Big waves – no problem! We have garbage bags! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Take a snort of that whiskey. We’re on a roll. Just stay away from that South shore. I swear I hear banjos. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With a victory shooter after every rapid, we decided we’d better eat lunch and sober up. It was only 11 am and the sun was just getting warm. The river was low, the way rivers are in September. We found a nice gravel bar on an island in the middle of the river and pulled our sandwiches from deep within the layers of garbage bags. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And we took another pull from the bottle. Which drained the pint. No problem, we had a fifth in the pack. After our well-earned eats – we’d been on the river at least an hour and a half – and another pull from the bottle, we relaxed and sat back to enjoy the sunshine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nowhere to be, just here. No rush. Just a river to float, whenever we got around to it. Our music of choice drove our attitudes: Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker, Jerry Jeff Walker, Charlie Daniels. We were free birds, rollin’ easy down the road, no worries. None of those guys ever sang about what a river can do to an unprepared man. Just warm sun. Nappin’ music.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Hey man, wake up. Time for dinner”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That was some nap. After lying exhausted on a rocky beach for five hours, we uncramped ourselves, stretched the cobwebs out and fired up the camp stove. We pulled more food out of the garbage bags, drank more whiskey. Sticking with Jerry Jeff’s takin’-it-as-it-comes style, our lunch spot / nap island became a perfect place to spend the night. We pitched the tent at the downstream end of the island on a soft, sandy patch, and fixed some chow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We were treated to one of those perfect Autumn sunsets, where everything – the sky, the snowfields on the peaks, the Vine Maples on the riverbank, and their dappled reflections on the water – wheels through every possible shade of gold, orange, red, and purple, fading through dusty pink to a final, starlit blackness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lighting our campfire, Doug decided he’d had enough whiskey. This did not deter me. Channeling Sammy the Tiny Irish Waiter from another adventure that summer, I conjured a “River Irish Coffee”: Instant Folgers and cheap bourbon. Sans sugar and cream. I could imagine Sammy’s righteous indignation but laughed it off. That was a mistake. Don’t screw with the leprechaun. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mmm, that was good. So I had another. Good thing we already pitched the tent. I could never set it up now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Well past dark, deep in a discussion only two drunk 21-year-olds would be having, we felt a few raindrops. This was a concern. The forecast was warm and sunny all week. Hmm. Random clouds maybe. Just a little shower maybe. Yeah, that’s it. But what’s going to get wet? Sleeping bags? Already in the tent. Food? Throw it in the stuff sack, chuck it in the tent. No bears on the island, no problem. Packs? Still in garbage bags, they’ll be fine right next to the tent. Stove, utensils? Leave ‘em there, they’ll be fine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yeah man, we thought it through. Planned for safety with ultra modern gear. Consulted the experts. Looked at every eventuality, and had a plan. Dealt with this unforeseen shower with quick-witted wilderness savvy. Climbed in the tent and went happily to sleep knowing a little rain wouldn’t dampen the perfect week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fzzz-BAM! My eyes came slowly open. A flash of light, and again, Fzzzt—POW! Then, from outside the tent, “Hey man, get out here! Now!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh baby, I was not feeling good. No longer was I the Beast of the Wilderness I had been earlier that evening. But the urgency in Doug’s voice got me moving. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Doug’s bladder may have saved our lives. At least it saved our gear. He’d gotten up to pee, taking one step away from the tent and finding himself ankle deep in the Skagit River. Swift water raced by where our lovely sandbar used to be, and we were engulfed in the heart of the lightning storm raging overhead. By the time I heard him hollering and got out there, we were soaked in a rainstorm the likes of which neither of us had ever seen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That low Autumn river level was no more. Along the shores of the island, lapping against our tent, packs, and cooking gear, the Skagit River was rising. That’s what happens in freak storms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Time for the next level of preparedness. We went to work, flashlights in hand. The packs, sealed tight in techie wrap but half-submerged in the rising water, got rescued first and chucked into the tent. It was going to be crowded in there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The only high ground on this island was just two feet above where we stood, tight-packed with alder saplings. But we stepped off a spot just big enough for the tent. Leaving all of our gear piled inside, we pulled the stakes, knocked down the poles, grabbed the ends, carried the whole mess like a body bag into the trees, plopped it down, pulled the poles back in place, re-staked the lines and all four corners, climbed back in…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Um… Doug? Aw, man… Aw, man, no…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Man, the canoe.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I loved that boat. Even more than the canoe, I loved the gorgeous Sawyer wood paddles that went with it. I bought it all when I was 17, even before I owned a car to carry it around. Tonight, I saw it swept from our sandbar by the angry Skagit. It was bashed on a rock, bent around a bridge piling, folded, destroyed and lost downriver. Someone in Sedro would find it and report it. We would be presumed dead when the river kept rising and washed our tent away, only to turn up on a cedar branch in Marblemount after the river went down. Meanwhile, a couple big banjo players would paddle over from the South bank in the dark, rescue us from the treetops and make us their own little Ned Beattys. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“No problem man, I tied it to a tree.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Amazing. One of us had his wits. I wanted to hug him but, you know, that would be weird. We sloshed in the dark along the riverbank to the boat, where it was dry on the shore a few hours ago but now bobbed impatiently in the current. We heaved it up on the low bank, lashed it to a tree trunk and finally headed back to bed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Crisis averted, for now, thanks to Doug’s detailed planning and quick thinking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Still on high alert for the rising mighty Skagit, we crawled back into the tent but it was going to be a nervous night. What if the river came up another two feet and inundated our little island? Would we drown in our sleeping bags, trapped in the tent as it was thrown from one tree trunk to the next? Should we try to swim or paddle to the North shore, only to get swept downriver into a log jam and suffocated? What if we climbed a tree to save ourselves, only to fall to our bloody deaths after holding on until we were exhausted? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So focused were we on how we might perish, my next adventure came without warning. Sammy the Leprechaun, screaming in anger at my bastardized Irish Coffee recipe, reached his vindictive evil hand 10,000 miles from the old country and straight into my gut. I had time to get my head out the door of the tent into the raging downpour, when the digestive catharsis hit me. Sammy didn’t stop until he had wrenched every drop of undigested matter from inside me, and he cackled with evil laughter as I spewed it across the drenched grass in front of the tent. Doug later recalled my spasming body “cavitating like the starter on Roger’s old truck.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The end of a good long puke is like going back to the womb. Consumed by exhaustion, nothing but the aching need for warmth and sweet sleep registers on the brain. In my fetal position, the mummy bag and tent only served to complete the metaphor. All concerns of high waters and untimely death just faded away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I blinked awake and threw the tent flap aside in panicked recall of our crisis on the edge of Death: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It was plain that the end had come. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It was just as clear that my twenty-one years on Earth had been pleasing to the Almighty. I was in Heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Where last night’s deluge and terrifying flood had raged, bright sunshine and sweet birdsongs greeted me by a peaceful, glimmering stream. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Angels had removed every trace of my bout with Sammy’s brutal vengeance from the grass. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And angels had entered our tent. Everything was bone dry in there – sleeping bags, clothes, and food. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Not a drop of water was in our packs, which had been half submerged in the river just hours earlier. Garbage bags, man. Angels worked at REI too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The melding of Heaven and Earth faded to reality. Breakfast was on, but where I expected a bikini model cooking bacon and mixing me a bloody mary, I saw Doug boiling water for that damn Instant Folgers and frying up a can of Li’l Smokies. “Heh heh heh, bet you’re hungry aren’t you? Of course. There’s nothing left in your guts.” Empathy was not a strong suit for Doug. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We didn’t talk much about our close call. We had four more days to kill. After our nutritious camp breakfast, we loaded the Grumman and headed downriver. We pulled into an eddy upstream from a foamy, rumbling rapid, and climbed up the bank to the road. We walked closer to get a better look at the drop, and we looked at each other. We looked at the river, then back at each other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Our next move was our best judgment call of the trip. Doug had actually seen the movie, and was flashing on the part where the big Grumman just like mine went straight into a rock and catapulted Burt and Ned into the churning water. Even in my blissful ignorance of the moviemaker’s thrilling portrayal of swimming through rapids, I was still shaken by last night’s sudden mood change on our friendly river. As our eyes met for the second time, a “naw, man” came out in unison. We’d had enough. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In short order we had hauled the boat and gear to the road, hitchhiked back to the truck, and decided Eastern Washington – just an hour away across the Pass – sounded warmer, drier, and safer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The river had beaten us. We had paddled that fine line to avoid Darwin’s best effort to remove us from the gene pool. Thirty-five years of misadventures later, with five grown kids between us, our offspring hear the stories, roll their highly-evolved eyes and wonder just like we do. What were those guys thinking? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-7887852358293874252014-10-24T22:43:00.000-07:002014-10-24T22:43:14.099-07:00Why Dragon Boating? It's more than just paddling<div class="WordSection1">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: x-small;">“Paddles… Up!”</span> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: x-small;">The coach’s voice rings through the boat and across the chilly night air of the harbor. Twenty paddles rise in unison, poised for the first clean stroke of what promises to be another tough practice for a finely tuned team. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: x-small;">“Take it away!” </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: x-small;">Twenty paddles jab the water together, pull powerfully to the finish of the stroke, and exit the frothy brine together. Twenty paddles reach in perfect precision for the next stroke, and repeat, and repeat again, a lesson in teamwork and well-rehearsed harmony among athletes eager to challenge themselves to reach the top….</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: x-small;">Errrr!…. the needle scratches across the record…</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: x-small;">That is the ideal anyway. In fact that’s what many North Puget Sound Dragon Boat Club (NPSDBC) members thought they would experience when they joined the club. A simple “hut! hut! hut!” and everyone on their way in exact precision. But it’s not that easy. Twenty different paddling styles enter the boat with twenty different people, as do twenty different ideas of perfect timing and twenty different levels of fitness. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: x-small;">And, holding a four and a half-foot wooden tool of the trade, each paddler is within accidental striking distance of the paddler in front, and a potential victim of the paddler behind, if there’s the slightest variation in timing or form. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: x-small;">But what paddlers discover in Dragon Boating, while seeking that perfect union and that perfect stroke, is something even better than their own athletic performance. Better than personal achievement. Better even than a gold medal. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: x-small;">“The coolest thing, the thing that makes me most proud to be a part of this team, is that there is a spot for anyone willing to commit themselves to the team and work hard to support the team’s mission”, said Bill Walker, volunteer coach of Team Tsunami, one of two practice groups that make up NPSDBC. “Age doesn’t matter, fitness level doesn’t matter, past athletic accomplishment doesn’t matter. The diversity of this crew is amazing, with the single goal of working hard for the success of the team.”</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: x-small;">Dragon Boating originated in China thousands of years ago. According to one legend, Qu Yuan, a beloved poet and statesman, took his own life in a river after an intrigue-filled quarrel with the emperor. The citizens manned their boats and tried to save him, beating their paddles on the water to keep the fish from eating him, but to no avail. The millennia-old tradition of the dragon boat festival, said to have originated in Qu Yuan’s honor, has spread around the globe. Festivals abound in Asia, Europe, North America, and New Zealand / Australia and are not just about racing; they celebrate the origins of the sport and bring together people from widely diverse cultures and athletic backgrounds. Still, the competition can be fierce, as crews focus their year-round training efforts on a few minutes of racing at Spring and Summer festivals. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: x-small;">That ideal of twenty perfectly-timed paddles and bodies, moving as one, is still a goal. But team members say it’s more about each participant pushing themselves a little farther at each practice, maybe a little farther than they thought they could go. Some have backgrounds in team or individual sports; some are struggling with injuries or fitness issues, or trying a sport where they can avoid injury as they get older; some have battled fears and personal demons just to be a part of the team. But when you get down to it, they say, it’s not about any of that. They’ll tell you it’s about each one working hard, and trusting their teammates to work hard too, for the good of the crew. When a crew is successful at that, they become more than just a boatload of paddlers; they are a solid team. Practices fly by; they don’t notice the rain, the chilly winter air, the heat of the summer sun, or the cold choppy water splashing in their faces. They may not even notice how hard they’re working. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: x-small;">Our local dragon boaters will tell you what they do notice, too. They do notice how good it feels to work together to get better. They certainly stop to notice the abundant wildlife -- seals on the logs at the marina, eagles overhead, kingfishers screeching as they fight for a meal, herons squawking when startled from their spots on the shore as the crew paddles by. “We notice how lucky we are”, Walker says, “to be on the water together. And more to the point, we notice the big smiles on our own faces when we go home after a good workout together.”</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: x-small;">The twenty paddlers in the boat -- practices may include as few as ten or as many as twenty-two -- are joined by a caller, who sits in the bow facing the crew shouting instructions and setting the beat, and a steersperson (“till”), who stands in the stern using a long, heavy oar to set the boat’s course. Callers and tills have responsibility for the precision and safety of the team, and are specifically trained for their jobs in the boat. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: x-small;">On race days at festivals around the world, plain-looking practice boats are decorated with beautifully-painted traditional dragon heads and tails, and the caller beats a large drum to help set the stroke pace. Dragon Boat Festival season runs from Spring through late Summer, and events feature a full day, or multiple days, of continuous racing, often among thousands of competitors. Competing teams are divided into women’s, mixed, and open divisions at levels from recreational to elite, and multiple-elimination heats run all day. In 2014, NPSDBC teams traveled to festivals in Olympia, Kent and Seattle, with some members being picked up by other clubs and masters teams for festivals farther afield. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Team Stayin’ Alive </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">practices three days per week in Spring, Summer and Fall, takes the Winter off, and gears up for the festival racing season as soon as they get back on the water. Stayin’ Alive practices focus on preparing for competitive racing, increasing endurance, working on form and having fun. <b><i>Team Tsunami</i></b> practices year-round, three days a week, at a more strenuous intensity level, and has a stated mission to foster and develop paddlers of all skill levels, while fielding the most competitive racing teams possible . </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: x-small;">Both groups are all about fitness, friendship, and fun; they welcome new members of all ages and physical abilities. Paddling experience is not required. Visitors may try the sport at no charge for the first three practices. Club membership is $75 per year plus a share of festival entry fees for those who attend. Paddles and lifejackets are available to borrow from the club. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">More information on North Puget Sound Dragon Boat Club can be found at </span><a href="http://www.npsdragonboat.org/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">www.npsdragonboat.org</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> . To set up your first visit, please contact Cathie Harrison (Team Tsunami), </span><a href="mailto:cathieanne@aol.com"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">cathieanne@aol.com</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> or Norma Lisherness (Team Stayin’ Alive), </span><a href="mailto:njlish@gmail.com"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">njlish@gmail.com</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-90129911519550902242014-06-24T16:54:00.001-07:002014-06-24T17:01:00.870-07:00Water Safety: Know and Prepare for the Risks<div class="WordSection1">
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On the first weekend of June, near our beautiful Whidbey Island home, two young Navy men stationed at NAS Whidbey went fishing on open water in borrowed kayaks. The bodies of Vinson Ya and Joey Lee were found the next morning, victims of hypothermia and drowning. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">These guys had family and friends who loved them, who are stricken by grief at their loss. Could the tragedy have been prevented? That’s unknown, since the only comment from first responders in the local press was “the water is cold”. A little more research by other regional press revealed that their equipment and experience may not have been right for the conditions. But while the town grieved, then got over it when our next big story hit, no comprehensive public statement was made by our fire departments, police, health care professionals, or any public official about how the rest of us can stay safe on the water. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/news/261560591.html">Click here</a></span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">to see the original – and only – article about the tragedy from our local Whidbey News Times staff. The tributes in the Comments section are heart-wrenching. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I wrote up the following few paragraphs last week for the News Times, reflecting simple steps to enhance safety for ourselves and our loved ones on the water. Did Vinson and Joey follow any of these steps? There’s no way to know. If not, there’s still no way to know if doing everything right would have saved them. But the least we can do is to honor their memories by educating ourselves about the risks. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><i>Since the News Times edited some volume from the article, here is the full version:</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Water safety begins with knowing the risks<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Two weeks ago, our island community suffered another tragic loss when two young Navy men drowned while kayaking off the West side of Whidbey. The grief is immeasurable to their families and friends – a permanent, life-changing hole ripped in their hearts. But for the rest of us, like too many other times, we blink our tears away and a deputy tells the paper how cold the water is… and we move on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This is a challenge to honor these men’s memories by learning how to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe on our waters, and it begins with knowing the risks. Whether paddling, motoring or sailing, a healthy fear and thorough understanding of the effects of cold water could save your life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Our local waters stay between the mid 40s and low 50s, year-round. When immersed, even on a hot summer day, you will be incapacitated in just a few minutes. Your motor skills – swimming, waving for help, even shouting to a rescuer – will be severely compromised. After fifteen minutes you will be approaching hypothermia. Your core temperature begins to drop, and so do your chances of survival.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">How does a boater stay safe, without staying home on the couch? Here are seven simple, essential steps to enhancing your safe enjoyment of the water. <o:p></o:p></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></b><br />
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<li><b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Prepare for immersion</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">. Either dress for it, with a neoprene wet suit or waterproof dry wear, or know how you’re going to get out of the water if you go in. Practice reentering your kayak or remounting your SUP board. Do a regular overboard drill on your sail or power boat. Otherwise, stay within 1 or 2 minutes’ swimming distance from shore… much less than 100 yards.</span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></b></li>
<li><b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Know the area you’re boating</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">. Check charts and seek local knowledge about currents, obstructions, commercial traffic, and weather patterns. Plan potential bailout points; many of our beaches aren’t easy landings, and even if you get safely ashore, you may have to walk for miles before you reach help. </span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></b></li>
<li><b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Check weather and tide predictions</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">. A marine forecast from NOAA will include more accurate wind predictions than your local weatherman. Again seek local knowledge to understand the relation of wind, tide and current in specific locations.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> </span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Leave a float plan with someone you trust</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">. Include your intended boating location, and descriptions of your boat, clothing, vehicle, parking location, and intended return time. Instruct your friend, “if you don’t hear from me by X time, call me. If I don’t answer, call 911.” Contact the friend as soon as you’re safely off the water. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> </span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Know your craft.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> Understand what it can and can’t do. Some kayaks can’t be reentered when they’re swamped, so should never be taken far from shore or into heavy swells. Some sailboats aren’t made for heavy winds. Some powerboats aren’t designed for more than two people. Put a boat to a use for which is was not intended, or play Russian roulette. Same thing, your choice. <o:p></o:p></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></b></li>
<li><b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wear your pfd (lifejacket) properly</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">. If it’s lying on the seat next to you, or worn loosely, it’s useless. A pfd is meant to be worn snugly – almost uncomfortably – so it can give buoyancy to your upper body and keep your head out of the water when you fall in. It’s virtually impossible, especially in frigid water, to put on or adjust a pfd after you’re in the water. Wear it and cinch it tight before you need it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> </span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bring waterproof communication.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> Keep a vhf radio or cell phone safely waterproofed, usable and reachable if you end up in the water. Practice using your device while it’s in its waterproof case.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It’s rarely possible to speculate whether any of these steps would have prevented a specific tragedy. But to maximize your shot at survival in the event of a mishap on our chilly, beautiful Salish Sea, treat these seven steps as essentials every time you hit the water – regardless of your craft. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Here are some additional, sensible steps to consider when appropriate:</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Don’t wear cotton. Fleece and wool dry much more quickly, tend to wick chilly water away from your body, and provide some insulation even when wet.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Bring a thermos of hot beverage, to warm you or a boating buddy if you’re chilled.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Understand navigation using charts and a compass, not just your pocket gps.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">When boating with a group, know your buddies. Know the strengths, weaknesses, and expectations of each person, and talk about what to expect in an emergency. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">If you end up in the water, it’s almost always best to stay with your boat rather than try to swim to shore.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">SUP paddlers should always use an ankle leash.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Along with “know your craft”, practice your skills. Take advantage of boating safety resources on line and in person. We have professional instructors right here on the island who teach everything from SUP paddling and kayaking to sailing and power boating, including all the safety information you could ever need. Use them!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Don’t assume you’ll be rescued. This isn’t Disneyland or a water park. Your safety is your responsibility.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Boat regularly with someone who’s more skilled than you are. There’s always something new to learn, from unfurling a sail to rolling a kayak. Keep getting better by challenging yourself to learn more from your boating buddies.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Learn to swim. After a few minutes in our waters, we’re all non-swimmers. Still, a strong, confident swimming stroke provides an extra margin of safety. And with a local pool that provides affordable lessons for both adults and children, there is no excuse for being a non-swimmer here on Whidbey Island.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Honor the memories of our neighbors and friends who have died in our waters by not becoming a victim yourself. Know and respect the risks. Play by Nature’s rules, and teach your loved ones to do the same. You and your family will come home with smiles on your faces and build a lifetime of good memories on the water. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>If you’ve gotten this far, thanks for reading. For graphic detail on the effects of cold water, take a few minutes to look at some shocking videos at <b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://coldwaterbootcampusa.org/">Cold Water Boot Camp</a></span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Here on Whidbey Island, learn to swim at <b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.oakharborpool.com/">Oak Harbor Pool</a></span></b>, where you can also raise your kayaking awareness with their in-house certified paddling instructor; learn safe SUP paddling technique from <b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.harborsup.com/">Jeff Vallejo at Harbor SUP</a></span></b>; and learn the skills you need for safe powerboating and sailing from <b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.usps.org/localusps/deceptionpass/">Deception Pass Sail and Power Squadron</a></span></b>. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Beyond our local waters, internationally recognized safety training resources are available at <b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.usps.org/">US Power Squadrons</a></span></b>, <b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.americancanoe.org/">American Canoe Association</a></span></b>, <b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.ussailing.org/">US Sailing</a></span></b>, and <b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.bcu.org.uk/">British Canoe Union</a></span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-78064693852855522022011-04-04T10:44:00.001-07:002011-04-04T11:01:25.445-07:00This paddling race is FREE! No kidding.<p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpen5agX_oi0UPwZTeX9aH4KuApjl02BGPpDofjpERmHtrN_7y_yzclc6UelK3Ra4clnhe0x4qzUgA_TpiwhU7gl1KYKIDqEm1Y2ilLVvGjkLgj5AS3iC66eecpbrP4mFaJcaCY6ohCIh/s1600/DSC_0131-795811.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpen5agX_oi0UPwZTeX9aH4KuApjl02BGPpDofjpERmHtrN_7y_yzclc6UelK3Ra4clnhe0x4qzUgA_TpiwhU7gl1KYKIDqEm1Y2ilLVvGjkLgj5AS3iC66eecpbrP4mFaJcaCY6ohCIh/s400/DSC_0131-795811.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591785842330861170" border="0" /></a></p><div class="WordSection1"> <p class="MsoNormal">If your competition budget is squeezed, this is the race for you. As George Bailey once said… “huh? That’s my trick ear. Sounded like you said ‘no charge’.” </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">That's right George, with many thanks to the Olympic Peninsula Paddling club, the <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">6th Annual Coho Dodge and Dash is set for Sunday morning, April 17</span><sup style="font-weight: bold;">th</sup><span style="font-weight: bold;">, at 9am</span></span> at Hollywood Beach in Port Angeles, over a 3.6 nautical mile course starting and finishing in front of the Red Lion Hotel. It's all part of the <a href="http://www.raftandkayak.com/sea-kayak-trips/kayak-symposium/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">11th Annual Port Angeles Kayak Symposium</span></a>. The race is free, but please be there before 8:30am to sign in. No preregistration needed, just sign up when you get there and get going!<br /><br />Competition is in 8 categories, with prizes provided by OPP and Olympic Raft & Kayak.<br /><br />Since the race is part of the Port Angeles Kayak Symposium on the same weekend, ask for the Symposium discount when you call (360) 452-9215 for a room at the Symposim Host Hotel Port Angeles Red Lion. Rooms include the Roaring Start Breakfast Buffet! ...then take a quick walk to the beach and roar down the race course. <o:p></o:p></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzETxBkLdWAhqqaCuZ7gBETB21rjRxmMJblxgHwPy-ZwHIcvQLnOA_O0J1hOomMkRYpXNB2tpaxl-VzMf1V5sP7odhpp16rdvB2czfFhJM7z8eIFdt2CpsaEHatjFqFUKnAn85ex3ySff/s1600/0902+6-2-797470.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzETxBkLdWAhqqaCuZ7gBETB21rjRxmMJblxgHwPy-ZwHIcvQLnOA_O0J1hOomMkRYpXNB2tpaxl-VzMf1V5sP7odhpp16rdvB2czfFhJM7z8eIFdt2CpsaEHatjFqFUKnAn85ex3ySff/s400/0902+6-2-797470.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591785850637338130" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Learn to paddle the fast lane with Don Kiesling! </span></span></span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">If you come out on Saturday for the Symposium, don’t miss preparing for the race in Don Kiesling’s “Racing Skills for the Everyday Paddler”, clinics #360 and #385, at the <a href="https://ssl.insideout.com/ssl.raftandkayak.com/classregistration.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Symposium registration page</span></a> . <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /><br />Let's race! See you out there!<o:p></o:p></p> </div>Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-73332632750546240602011-02-22T08:41:00.001-08:002011-02-22T09:10:12.473-08:00Guides needed for 2011 season<p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTAZ8iKST_DpDbiNtWjNAJskD_eyYIFAQ6ixh9MLTMbnkESV09BMcfbJMZw-LuUIaR439U0pK7xjIGV8dqX1McvVYB1MoR6867NycZoEqY-gaH_tJtVEJJ_-GrecoKp6nuJspfQPsHkXv/s1600/waletail-797621.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTAZ8iKST_DpDbiNtWjNAJskD_eyYIFAQ6ixh9MLTMbnkESV09BMcfbJMZw-LuUIaR439U0pK7xjIGV8dqX1McvVYB1MoR6867NycZoEqY-gaH_tJtVEJJ_-GrecoKp6nuJspfQPsHkXv/s400/waletail-797621.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576555038148988866" border="0" /></a></p><div class="WordSection1"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span class="messagebody2"><span style=";font-family:";" lang="EN">Friend of Ruby Creek Ed Young at Whidbey Island Kayaking Company sent this yesterday… <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span class="messagebody2"><span style=";font-family:";" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p>Whidbey Island Kayaking Company is looking for qualified guides for our 2011 season. Although not required, we like to hire local people who have knowledge of Whidbey Island's natural history as well as local lore. A candidate should be friendly and outgoing, have excellent kayaking skills and knowledge of local conditions. To see a complete list of requirements go to <a href="http://www.whidbeyislandkayaking.com/employment.php" title="http://www.whidbeyislandkayaking.com/employment.php">www.whidbeyislandkayaking.com/employment.php</a> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span class="messagebody2"><span style=";font-family:";" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> </div>Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-49914587054679893272010-12-10T12:00:00.001-08:002010-12-10T12:09:30.742-08:00Race For Your Life Standings<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kHzaqxvBhjgzk7GFfMaC4eBAZJxHKhdwPhhMekEdhODNjCovTvRlkPyrG3WNTQxYbSO3GNBWZCJ6ois4S9PoieTwo-959wkD4mtattba0mYHMogMZbIh-630lrpMRHxG2CwpQOuY_sQd/s1600/IMG01554-20101204-1437-718959.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kHzaqxvBhjgzk7GFfMaC4eBAZJxHKhdwPhhMekEdhODNjCovTvRlkPyrG3WNTQxYbSO3GNBWZCJ6ois4S9PoieTwo-959wkD4mtattba0mYHMogMZbIh-630lrpMRHxG2CwpQOuY_sQd/s400/IMG01554-20101204-1437-718959.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549145940628428706" border="0" /></a></p><div class="WordSection1"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">“You put her in WHAT boat class?”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Congrats to all the Deception Pass Dash racers who earned points in the 2010-11 Race For Your Life Series!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Recap: boat class winners receive points for the number of racers in their class, plus a two-point bonus, to a max of 12 points.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">2<sup>nd</sup> place gets the number of racers in the class, minus 1… 3<sup>rd</sup> place, minus 2, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">All finishers get at least one point. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">The next event in the Race For Your Life Series is the <b><a href="http://paddlingdynamics.com/challenge/">New Years Challenge, January 8<sup>th</sup> in Seattle. Register now!</a></b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Current RFYL standings after the Dash:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">WOMEN:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Sherri Cassuto </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >12<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Susan Conrad </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >9<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Terri Bedford </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >8<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Kimberly Allen </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >7<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Trista Bilmer </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >7<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Heather Nelson </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >6<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Maureen Peterson </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >6<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Debbie Arthur </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >5<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Ayu Othman </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >5<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Suzy Cornell </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >4<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Shawna Franklin </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >4<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Barbara Gronseth </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >4<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Kim Andersson </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Nadja Baker Zimmerman </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Cheryl Batty </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Minnie Fontenelle </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Vanessa Haycock </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Theresa Knakal </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Angela Knightley </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Tracy Landboe </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Pam Powell </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Jodi Wright </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Traci Cole </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Alison Graham </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Aubrey Rosenthal </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Marianne Banks </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Julie Beck </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Cate Burnett </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Setsuko Cox </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Megan Kelly </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Deborah Orth </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Jennifer Peloquin </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Sarah Roberts </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Holly Rutledge </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Robin Yakhour </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">MEN:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Karl Andersson </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >12<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Troy Husband </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >12<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Gabriel Newton </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >12<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Alan Lipp </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >11<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Beau Whitehead </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >11<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Brandon Nelson </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >9<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Timothy Niemeir </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >9<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Douglas Peele </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >9<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Chuck Curry </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >8<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Drew Dixon </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >8<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Joe Ferguson </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >8<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Jeff Hegedus </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >8<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Jeff Underwood </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >8<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Timothy Burke </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >7<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Larry Bussinger </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >7<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Greg Gilbert </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >7<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Wayne Horodowich </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >7<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Ken Kroeger </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >7<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Brian Page </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >7<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Patrick Aio </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >6<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Brian Boatman </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >6<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Paul Clement </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >6<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Eric Gerstl </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >6<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">George Gronseth </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >6<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Warren Williamson </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >6<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Ernie Wong </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >6<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Morris Arthur </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >5<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Thomas Hanny </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >5<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Vance Hashimoto </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >5<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Jiri Richter </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >5<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Michael Riordan </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >5<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Scott Vesey </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >5<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Darrell Bednark </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >4<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Andy Bridge </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >4<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Tom Cartmill </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >4<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Reivers Dustin </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >4<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Blake Hanley </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >4<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Jasen Kaya </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >4<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Robb Nichols </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >4<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Don Rice </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >4<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Michael Woods </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >4<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Brian Arndt </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Kevin R Bowman </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Windsor Cheney </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">James Clapp </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">James Doherty </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Mike Gregory </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Michael Hammer </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Matt Hayes </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">John Holtman </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Andrew Jaquiss </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Nick Kappas </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Jeffrey Knakal </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Michael Lee </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Robert Meenk </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Thom Prichard </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Aaron Rinn </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Glenn Rogers </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Peter Wells </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Mathew Wendell </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Jim Zimmerman </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >3<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Greg Bawden </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Geoff Briggs </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Gary Cassulis </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Tracy Clapp </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Michael Cline </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Robert Freelove </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Jeff Gassen </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Sean Gibson </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Lance Kahn </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Troy Nishikawa </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Seth Albanese </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Harry Allen </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Gerardo Andaluz </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">John Anderson </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Dan Baharav </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Martin Barker </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Jeff Bedford </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Thomas Borst </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Matthew Charles </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Clement Corbiell </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">David Couvrette </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Brent Couvrette </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Carl Darmer </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">David Desertspring </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Keith Doorenbos </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Patrick Doyle </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Andrew Elizaga </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Peter Englander </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Ted Eugenis </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">John Fiddler </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">John Flynn </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Terry Fox </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Ryan Gander </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Michael Germani </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Mark Greengo </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Ed Hand </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Fred Inman </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Joseph Kaftan </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">David Kau </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Don Kiesling </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Sherman Krantz </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">John Kuntz </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Paul LaPointe </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Rick Lingbloom </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Eric Long </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Danniel Longboatshortboat </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Alan Marshall </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Ed Matkovick </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Christopher May </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Patrick McCarty </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Perry McGinity </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Eric Mead </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Larry Obryant </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">David Ortland </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Eric Paige </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Mark Peele </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Mark Peloquin </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Dean Peterson </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Bill Porter </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Scott Prato </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">David Price </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Henry Romer </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Greg Routt </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">James Schultz </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Rembrandt Smith </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Chris Smith </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Jerry Sowder </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Sam Stroich </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">David Thompson </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Matt Treat </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Jesse Varsi </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Marc Whitlock </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">David Willett </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Ron Wright </span><span style=";font-size:12pt;color:black;" >1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> </div>Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-8072673359472802122010-11-10T06:58:00.001-08:002010-12-10T12:09:09.318-08:00Warmup victory... with a stick!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsouhCprjBYRifXOa5koBBVSCelMm2yxgnCJelvuVICoXbEP-9j54jZSMen7I61c6pIQuXyPTi3AaZNa18lodbXoWe7k0MsAOIkBu8hNTXQged6vcZ9yrqMXK6LYffVUpylFZYYq25n5-/s1600/IMG01386-20101106-1257-738434.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsouhCprjBYRifXOa5koBBVSCelMm2yxgnCJelvuVICoXbEP-9j54jZSMen7I61c6pIQuXyPTi3AaZNa18lodbXoWe7k0MsAOIkBu8hNTXQged6vcZ9yrqMXK6LYffVUpylFZYYq25n5-/s400/IMG01386-20101106-1257-738434.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537935727416230802" border="0" /></a></p><div class="WordSection1"> <p class="MsoNormal">Congrats to Wayne Horodowich, winner of the 6-mile race at <a href="http://www.kayakacademy.com/pages/lessons/courses/greenlandweek.html">Kayak Academy’s Greenland Week</a> festivities on Lake Sammamish, November 6<sup>th</sup>. Here he smiles for the camera with his stick paddle and blue ribbon… and he’s thinking how much faster he’ll go at the Dash with that awesome wing paddle. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Go Wayne! See you next month!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> </div>Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-34839765041456083932010-11-08T14:19:00.000-08:002010-11-08T14:36:18.860-08:00Deception Pass Dash is coming!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonuu9M0C1xjAmKPZDRE2I9H6lkttnlN71ZVv7F5jhi2m-VUsUEQ_B1y29ywzHbdTa4D2YnZh2XUNpjJOe4V7AMxmdoJsQ2kPoekU9jQ2QBXov5ACxmt3E370TC-fnonfNjtfWu8rHZtT8/s1600/DPD+start+2009.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonuu9M0C1xjAmKPZDRE2I9H6lkttnlN71ZVv7F5jhi2m-VUsUEQ_B1y29ywzHbdTa4D2YnZh2XUNpjJOe4V7AMxmdoJsQ2kPoekU9jQ2QBXov5ACxmt3E370TC-fnonfNjtfWu8rHZtT8/s400/DPD+start+2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537309450644398434" border="0" /></a>Just a few weeks til the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://deceptionpassdash.blogspot.com/">5<sup>th</sup> Annual Deception Pass Dash</a>, on Saturday the 4<sup>th</sup> of December. <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Last year's start (above) </span>saw nearly 200 entries, and this year’s event looks awesome too with lots of great PR going out to the outrigger and SUP communities. <o:p></o:p><div class="WordSection1"> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Fellow adventurer Steve Weilman just posted a <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.xexplore.com/4151/5th-annual-deception-pass-dash/">couple of vids on his blog</a> with highlights from the 2007 and 2008 races. Take a gander over there, stay tuned for more info, and <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.outdooradventurecenter.com/40227/Deception-Pass-Dash.html">sign up before November 15<sup>th</sup></a> to get the early bird price of $45 for race entry, tee shirt and a hot meal. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrNq0oqXT8JZx6nuGPQ4K0QKBCDTHFt79U2g_BFSpem387WEByonMuriOk0LGJSLZaA7d2HAyPgWdsNO7yPdZgRNfRdCgvHMxbqHBvMhu0ROZRtNuUCtgz_viWJDOeADWKD5sczXfKDY7/s1600/07+safety+crew.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrNq0oqXT8JZx6nuGPQ4K0QKBCDTHFt79U2g_BFSpem387WEByonMuriOk0LGJSLZaA7d2HAyPgWdsNO7yPdZgRNfRdCgvHMxbqHBvMhu0ROZRtNuUCtgz_viWJDOeADWKD5sczXfKDY7/s400/07+safety+crew.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537309460408603826" border="0" /></a>If you'd rather stand watch than race, join the safety kayak crew. <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2007's brave and talented rescue team is shown above. </span></span>Contact Blair Corson to join the crew, info@outdooradventurecenter.com or 425-883-9039. And we can always use a hand with check-in, timing, and results, so if you want to help out on land, contact Bill at deceptionpassdash@gmail.com or 206-940-6269.<br /><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> </div>Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-4499458936723666542010-09-06T13:30:00.001-07:002010-09-27T14:56:11.833-07:00Ruby Creek hosts the Hoedown!With many thanks to Dave King at <a href="http://www.raftandkayak.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Olympic Raft & Kayak,</span></a> Ruby Creek has taken over ownership and management of the annual Hobuck Hoedown surf paddling festival in Neah Bay, WA.<br /><br />The festival was founded in 2007 by Rob Casey, who's still a trusted valuable advisor. Rob wanted more time to compete and to shoot pics like the ones below so he handed it off to Dave and then to Ruby Creek.<br /><br />Registration is at <a href="http://www.active.com/outdoors/neah-bay-wa/hobuck-hoedown-surf-paddling-festival-2010"><span style="font-weight: bold;">active.com, right here</span></a>.<br /><br />We've created the festival's own <a href="http://hobuckhoedown.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">blog page, right here</span></a>.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzte73DnicnLjVlRk4JjkixBWYWBObUEFhoyO22p_00XqBSTcKoO7t-pQBRJG4q4ibC75bhpvJdy4J3ZwcflH7DVNG0cg5hCiBhXXi2PerfucOE-XzX04zdElK6piP9bbbfDTLR2xAaNGY/s1600/RobCasey_GronsethIllusion-9619.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzte73DnicnLjVlRk4JjkixBWYWBObUEFhoyO22p_00XqBSTcKoO7t-pQBRJG4q4ibC75bhpvJdy4J3ZwcflH7DVNG0cg5hCiBhXXi2PerfucOE-XzX04zdElK6piP9bbbfDTLR2xAaNGY/s400/RobCasey_GronsethIllusion-9619.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513901824841569122" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;">George Gronseth... it's a wet sport!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3Tdh28c2Rv9nmhjIiPMH0LeAOwS9QkWjQaZ4zbCvh1tjTrXljXOKyVYo8Qfq2U76RJyw0qkTX7STudG1J3wpeCKr-b4kIG6h2jrI6urBAklXDWeeu3JVNOzhReoHRDenL0JgeO4fvtMk/s1600/RobCasey_standuppaddling-9411.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3Tdh28c2Rv9nmhjIiPMH0LeAOwS9QkWjQaZ4zbCvh1tjTrXljXOKyVYo8Qfq2U76RJyw0qkTX7STudG1J3wpeCKr-b4kIG6h2jrI6urBAklXDWeeu3JVNOzhReoHRDenL0JgeO4fvtMk/s400/RobCasey_standuppaddling-9411.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513901820472529858" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Ken Campbell, rippin' it on a SUP board.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmsgcZeKIHLjTRAn5E4lF-qHd2kalQTSrgoPrj4Yk8cWdHZc4lRmXx5_BQzUGOfTJiHCgOQW9vCKr01sUhOlBIiy7r9qwfOg5RrmzfKr7hAamNXufeFtyuocYtBPjI3lhkPoyjEAICe6H/s1600/waveski+crop.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmsgcZeKIHLjTRAn5E4lF-qHd2kalQTSrgoPrj4Yk8cWdHZc4lRmXx5_BQzUGOfTJiHCgOQW9vCKr01sUhOlBIiy7r9qwfOg5RrmzfKr7hAamNXufeFtyuocYtBPjI3lhkPoyjEAICe6H/s400/waveski+crop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513901812020128274" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;">A waveski paddler heads out through the break in the late-day sun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzeqOTC6kO8yYznf8LutRF4JE7ZGugyejwEe1BvEoYexlmkqkuDvMkQSIJtyMAMLoCmUR69FullB13nWzmLSdFNSIB5v2vaNbna_HiLOdCcG41C3q4mFyQ4JafGNGSrOh0l-ETvHmX7mw/s1600/george.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzeqOTC6kO8yYznf8LutRF4JE7ZGugyejwEe1BvEoYexlmkqkuDvMkQSIJtyMAMLoCmUR69FullB13nWzmLSdFNSIB5v2vaNbna_HiLOdCcG41C3q4mFyQ4JafGNGSrOh0l-ETvHmX7mw/s400/george.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513901803080133874" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Smilin' George Gronseth after another sweet ride.<br /></span></div>Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-33607703985618878782010-09-03T15:47:00.000-07:002010-09-03T19:16:45.655-07:00Sample pfds available<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx3xcZsjn0DzsHrr78haHyptIUws-RT8z8osfYxqJhCLAFoFy0skJfXuJH3chz_fnF53VR57j-MiqycFgiwrg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Check out the selection of Stohlquist pfds from the Ruby Creek sample stock. The vests here are listed below in the same order as they're shown on the video. Prices shown below are all at least 30% off MSRP, and this gear is clean, fully functional, and nearly new.<br /><br />For full specs on each vest please see the <a href="http://www.stohlquist.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stohlquist Waterware web site</span></a>. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Model names shown in pink are specifically designed for women. </span><br /><br />Not shown in the video:<br />1 Escape, blue, Youth size (50-90 lbs) - $35<br /><br />Starting at the beginning of the video:<br /><br />Nemo, blue, Infant size (<30 lbs) - $35<br /><br />Nemo, red/yellow, Child size (30-50) - $35<br /><br />Drifter, mango, Youth size (50-90) - $60<br /><br />OSFA, 5 available, 1 red 1 yellow 3 blue - $45 each<br /><br />Fisherman, 3 available - $80:<br />1 olive, L/XL<br />1 olive, S/M<br />1 mango, L/XL<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Women's Getaway</span>, periwinkle, M/L - $55<br /><br />Getaway, mango, Men's L/XL - $55<br /><br />Escape, yellow, Men's M/L - $40<br /><br />Brik, red, L - $70<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Women's Kitty</span>, 3 available - $70:<br />1 sage, S/M<br />1 powder blue, L/XL<br />1 powder blue, S/M<br /><br />X-Traxt, red, XL - $120<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Women's Cruiser</span>, 2 available - $70<br />1 powder blue, XS/S<br />1 pink, Plus<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Women's Betsea</span>, sage, L/XL - $70Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-57714004164985910652010-08-31T19:52:00.000-07:002010-08-31T21:29:21.281-07:00A piece of paddling history comes home<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5f65F6NESs_b00Hffbj-uOR9DSNR6w2xhslcjqbYxY_ibzxbT91BH6xu11Odlkgz_5937EYxlKH1EwlwRN2PXY_wGqSHQhoVpbFvyNaujPx1Gff0b-dbSe1DfTN13EGJh9pvxe12wdce/s1600/shipping-731791.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5f65F6NESs_b00Hffbj-uOR9DSNR6w2xhslcjqbYxY_ibzxbT91BH6xu11Odlkgz_5937EYxlKH1EwlwRN2PXY_wGqSHQhoVpbFvyNaujPx1Gff0b-dbSe1DfTN13EGJh9pvxe12wdce/s400/shipping-731791.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511772902792368706" border="0" /></a></div><div class="WordSection1"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Looking a little forlorn and lonely on REI's shipping dock, Steph's Raven waits for a ride home.</span></span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">When Steph Dutton set off to paddle from British Columbia to Baja California in 1993, he may not have known he was destined for fame in the paddling community. He was simply trying to raise awareness for people with disabilities who wanted to stretch their limits. <o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSV1V4OtLib0ckcRppI78EVOjRs6r172TDIB4ZEH4l26pIfrKyezoLK68HbK4QQibx-SSIz5-f3OD5AdPQgiFlHGkd-INTVXfDgYwx87BZ9K00-Onhl_0qp5Gd4Jy3dgL0GsQvD5uDR3Py/s1600/p+r+d-727800.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSV1V4OtLib0ckcRppI78EVOjRs6r172TDIB4ZEH4l26pIfrKyezoLK68HbK4QQibx-SSIz5-f3OD5AdPQgiFlHGkd-INTVXfDgYwx87BZ9K00-Onhl_0qp5Gd4Jy3dgL0GsQvD5uDR3Py/s400/p+r+d-727800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511772886827651858" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Steph's mantra, right where he could see it every day.</span></span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">In an Eddyline Raven, Steph paddled the US Pacific Coast in 54 days, averaging 30 nautical miles a day. That’s a long way in a short time, even with a land support crew. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For many years since Steph’s adventure, his Raven – still sporting his compass, drogue (sea anchor), and numerous sponsors’ decals – adorned the lobby of the Seattle REI store. Now it’s back home where it started, at Eddyline’s factory in Burlington WA.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Here is Eddyline co-owner Lisa Derrer with a few more thoughts about this well-traveled boat's history. <o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwRj567YfqzAZHqTHsDDHAL7Ktwlw3EAkdoh6kF30SgPxLoZ2ExNGF7aPOyswvHNkGgZg-xzxrshSVJ0x5AJw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Steph Dutton and Heidi Tiura now own and operate California’s <b><a href="http://www.trinityriveradventureinn.com/stepheidi_bio.html">Trinity River Adventure Inn</a></b>, as well as Monterey Bay’s <b><a href="http://www.sanctuarycruises.com/index.html">Sanctuary Cruises</a></b>. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWGuRhk406eznSFkSig8UDaIoJa2lGc-VK0AqmmObCHfzgNs3iIRrzje3CYF-89gU9MkASfbhUFDaLGgnSdpC0pbHZ7Mo_9dHZFcN0Fdj6lQNFR_d4Q15g70QGNmH0Pu2S6I0md62LY1N/s1600/93+for+real-723312.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWGuRhk406eznSFkSig8UDaIoJa2lGc-VK0AqmmObCHfzgNs3iIRrzje3CYF-89gU9MkASfbhUFDaLGgnSdpC0pbHZ7Mo_9dHZFcN0Fdj6lQNFR_d4Q15g70QGNmH0Pu2S6I0md62LY1N/s400/93+for+real-723312.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511772864351143154" border="0" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Eddyline serial number, clear as a bell after 17 years.</span></span><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaIPwCVILauZkDUnWRbfLK2SOFBEBSv4w6uSlLc0kglGSWS6fPvRC1_q-15I3_4h5MuTduGlHxE0DE2qTZXn_BtYqJ9b0a-l4OsZskJTRxi67abqCfjyoB7rU0PIqXaqjE6kiQcIOFEXjJ/s1600/what+did+that-720917.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaIPwCVILauZkDUnWRbfLK2SOFBEBSv4w6uSlLc0kglGSWS6fPvRC1_q-15I3_4h5MuTduGlHxE0DE2qTZXn_BtYqJ9b0a-l4OsZskJTRxi67abqCfjyoB7rU0PIqXaqjE6kiQcIOFEXjJ/s400/what+did+that-720917.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511772857121704178" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >There's a story in that nick in Steph's rudder. Shark? Reef? Angry BCU Coach?</span></span><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwy2u6nWhMdPabTUkEOpvWJtYjYHrrqZq6g_gNrHPV6EV3aSViN1d3kJpTEjTqPbEou3jJkoEzz5wzG-rYBxFf1mQcwTdoWs5ELdUkG4d7IDg5x0Uedpxa4sGQEfVqimtg29GFpeRiYtry/s1600/old+n+new-726347.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwy2u6nWhMdPabTUkEOpvWJtYjYHrrqZq6g_gNrHPV6EV3aSViN1d3kJpTEjTqPbEou3jJkoEzz5wzG-rYBxFf1mQcwTdoWs5ELdUkG4d7IDg5x0Uedpxa4sGQEfVqimtg29GFpeRiYtry/s400/old+n+new-726347.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511772874794014018" border="0" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Steph's Raven took its place on the Ruby Creek delivery truck, a symbol of old and new next to two brand new Sambas and two Emotion AdvantEdges on their way to Mountain to Sound Outfitters.</span></span><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZA3dFkXEubD3bzew1Vj4NupwYekj0V-QAnOsQWs4QwLRqzesF5HHB4YFO9WYFrxRogct2-m7Ix4gq72RIIyMAZpvMkCVgqh9GDx57NsFDVREfO0tJZbWibtSlytr5pDD67EflMFDOA6I/s1600/dust-724777.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZA3dFkXEubD3bzew1Vj4NupwYekj0V-QAnOsQWs4QwLRqzesF5HHB4YFO9WYFrxRogct2-m7Ix4gq72RIIyMAZpvMkCVgqh9GDx57NsFDVREfO0tJZbWibtSlytr5pDD67EflMFDOA6I/s400/dust-724777.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511772871332280722" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thick </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">with years of dust, the Raven's journey home was a cleansing one in the Northwest's summer rain.</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSV1V4OtLib0ckcRppI78EVOjRs6r172TDIB4ZEH4l26pIfrKyezoLK68HbK4QQibx-SSIz5-f3OD5AdPQgiFlHGkd-INTVXfDgYwx87BZ9K00-Onhl_0qp5Gd4Jy3dgL0GsQvD5uDR3Py/s1600/p+r+d-727800.jpg"><br /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe83PgUGH44yOtr9a-e71loYj_9IoqtW5XJGJqzjeKW7rKbLkKoi_DscyJBNNR2uxo4-GvaQeOj53pbPzbCe3NFnWfua44_Sy1lIzfb6kiul3kgFONGT_mPr1Hqm5yZn5kmesT7ywDuSrr/s1600/Richard-729187.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe83PgUGH44yOtr9a-e71loYj_9IoqtW5XJGJqzjeKW7rKbLkKoi_DscyJBNNR2uxo4-GvaQeOj53pbPzbCe3NFnWfua44_Sy1lIzfb6kiul3kgFONGT_mPr1Hqm5yZn5kmesT7ywDuSrr/s400/Richard-729187.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511772890593778050" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Excited to welcome an old friend, Richard -- who has worked at Eddyline for over 15 years, told me "I've met her before"... then showed off his shirt. </span></span><br /></p>Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-75836358899304868652010-08-23T11:31:00.001-07:002011-04-26T23:02:02.266-07:00Paddle sale<div class="WordSection1"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Ruby Creek is working through used sample stock to prepare for the 2011 season. All paddles here are in great shape and their good condition can be viewed in the video, where they’re shown in order as in the list below. That said, all sales are final and paddles are sold as-is. For further specs on construction and weights of these paddles please see web listings for <a href="http://www.bendingbranches.com/">Bending Branches</a>, <a href="http://www.aquabound.com/">Aquabound</a>, and <a href="http://www.eddyline.com/swift-paddles">Swift Paddles</a>. Thanks. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Bending Branches wood Canoe paddles:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Arrow 56" - <span style="font-weight: bold;">$45</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Sun Shadow 54" - <span style="font-weight: bold;">$65</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Beavertail 57" - <span style="font-weight: bold;">$45</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Traveler 51" - <span style="font-weight: bold;">$35</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Twig 36" - <span style="font-weight: bold;">$25</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Sunburst 14 52" - <span style="font-weight: bold;">$110</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Espresso 14 52" - <span style="font-weight: bold;">$65</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >BB Special 50" - <span style="font-weight: bold;">$45</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Viper Double Bend 54" - <span style="font-weight: bold;">$95</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Sun Shadow 14 50" - <span style="font-weight: bold;">$65</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Aquabound Canoe:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Odyssey 58" - <span style="font-weight: bold;">$55</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Edge 56" - <span style="font-weight: bold;">$55</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Bending Branches Wood Kayak:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Tailwind Evening 220cm - <span style="font-weight: bold;">SOLD</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Sun Shadow Bent Shaft Day 220cm - <span style="font-weight: bold;">SOLD</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Impression Day 220cm - <span style="font-weight: bold;">SOLD</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Sandpiper Evening 220cm - <span style="font-weight: bold;">$85</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >BB Kayak:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Sunrise AL 230cm -<b> $45</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Glide SMALL SHAFT FG 220cm -<b> $75</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Glide STANDARD SHAFT FG 220cm -<b> $75</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Slice PLUS ADJUSTABLE 215-30cm -<b> $75</b> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Slice SMALL SHAFT 220cm -<b> $75</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Slice STANDARD SHAFT 230cm -<b> SOLD</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Aquabound Kayak:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Hammerhead kids WW 180cm -<b> $65</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >4-pc. Shred WW Hybrid 196cm -<b> $85</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Shred WW Carbon 196cm -<b> $110</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Splat WW FG 196cm -<b> $75</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Sting Ray AL 220cm -<b> $55</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Manta Ray AL 220cm - <b> $55</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Manta Ray FG 220cm -<b> $65</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Sting Ray FG 230cm -<b> $65</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Sharkie kids touring 200cm -<b> $65</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Sting Ray Hybrid 220cm -<b> $85</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Eagle Ray Hybrid TLC 220cm -<b> $85</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Sting Ray Hybrid TLC 230cm -<b> SOLD</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Sting Ray Hybrid 220cm -<b> $85</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >(BB Discontinued) Glide Carbon 215-30cm -<b> SOLD</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Manta Ray Carbon 220cm - <b> $110</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Sting Ray Carbon TLC - <b>SOLD</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Eagle Ray Carbon TLC 210cm -<b> $110</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >(BB Discontinued) FG Breeze Evening SMALL SHAFT 220cm -<b> $175</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >(BB Discontinued) FG Breeze Twilight SMALL SHAFT 220cm -<b> $175</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Spindrift FG SMALL SHAFT 220cm -<b> $175</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Surge Carbon 210cm - <b>SOLD</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Swift Kayak paddles<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Mid Swift Flames 220cm - <b> $175</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Sea Swift Carbon 215cm -<b> SOLD</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Mid Swift 220cm -<b> $175</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Wind Swift 225cm -<b> $175</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> </div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwziu6v4vXsKW-JPt6z6pN4laqHLOzLSyJypqaEwp75ddRnvymVBdyQm2GJ9kA3lunmZbZqK_ySrowWg9HMKA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz9D6C0LWq9_EWEqjIoP5vKcLTiNLg8huf7bElbSHpwuG23u3QNzaEFJk-fwDDitcUHWtxCpPVK6X2hT6P6gA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-10389921908930253672010-08-06T16:42:00.000-07:002010-09-06T13:30:17.358-07:00Emotion Traverse SUP<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQ6h7-ZbDpvjQLVplryc7gm8OsXvNlV0acqG05Fwa-Y0HMirLY2QrkK6AtJV8arSjkn9J8n8LsSj5ifBJGTC5Jt1H4q5srJb102CtKCS8AB-4kg9YlRFNlRnNTjOoJ6GpgKKmxi4ZwKoZ/s1600/IMG01015-20100730-1346-780675.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQ6h7-ZbDpvjQLVplryc7gm8OsXvNlV0acqG05Fwa-Y0HMirLY2QrkK6AtJV8arSjkn9J8n8LsSj5ifBJGTC5Jt1H4q5srJb102CtKCS8AB-4kg9YlRFNlRnNTjOoJ6GpgKKmxi4ZwKoZ/s400/IMG01015-20100730-1346-780675.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502447880623905074" border="0" /></a></div><div class="WordSection1"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Barb Gronseth of Kayak Academy busts a move on the new Traverse.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Washington state is already a hotbed of Standup Paddleboarding. Now there’s a batch of paddling dealers with an amazingly inexpensive way to get on the water and into this awesome new sport. At just $399 MSRP, the Traverse SUP board from <a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Emotion Kayaks</span></a> is just over ten feet long, and 36” wide. It has a small hatch to store your valuables while paddling, four burly grab handles, and a flexible fin so you don’t bust it up on the rocks. It was designed by none other than His Awesomeness, <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_timl00Bf-w">Corran Addison</a></b>, for Emotion Kayaks, and it really shines on the whitewater... But it’s not so bad on a beautiful Seattle evening on Elliott Bay, either. <o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhIHFg2x6dAnI1D4eE8GB1BTHjpTycL9xyf0EJ1wcTByWnKGVIyW0P48jsOTCVIYuwQXIVdRqsYWepdxtesFQrN_7n0ElrawRV47du3RVNGD2IEudVnlGKvEFQV3Yom11ZNa0WiUYYlcy/s1600/Top+n+bottom-783905.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhIHFg2x6dAnI1D4eE8GB1BTHjpTycL9xyf0EJ1wcTByWnKGVIyW0P48jsOTCVIYuwQXIVdRqsYWepdxtesFQrN_7n0ElrawRV47du3RVNGD2IEudVnlGKvEFQV3Yom11ZNa0WiUYYlcy/s400/Top+n+bottom-783905.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502447886621564210" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bottom and top of the brand new board design. Rob Casey photo.</span><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If your local Emotion dealer doesn't carry the Traverse yet, tell him you're all excited about this new boat any they need to get 'em in! Or check out the board at any of these eight dealers, instructors and rental shops that already have it in stock:<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="http://www.lfsmarineoutdoor.com/retailStore.aspx">LFS Marine</a></b> in Bellingham<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="http://www.popeyesmarine.com/index.htm">Popeye’s Marine</a></b> in Everett<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="http://www.raftandkayak.com/">Olympic Raft & Kayak</a></b> in Port Angeles<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="http://leavenworthmtnsports.com/">Leavenworth Mountain Sports</a></b> in, of course, Leavenworth<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="http://rosslakeresort.com/">Ross Lake Resort</a></b> in the North Cascades<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="http://www.m2soutfitters.com/">Alki Kayak Tours / Mountain to Sound Outfitters</a></b> in Seattle<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="http://salmonbaypaddle.blogspot.com/">Salmon Bay Paddle</a></b> in Seattle<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="http://www.kayakacademy.com/">Kayak Academy</a></b> in Issaquah</p><p class="MsoNormal">Here are a few of them proudly showing off their new boards:</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxNR_smv5mCl62N6R7oF-yXQBIDw6fAROWMQjpi-4bhJqIFBGZhRud2ZvqoPWsRqqgxVKsATGNI4glGwV5WERSE8VRjvvWGMk57nOSMXo-8Rjm4T8-4dVfa9EF-h_NmjoRMJUVrsTkq7D/s1600/Dave+n+Traverse-788074.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxNR_smv5mCl62N6R7oF-yXQBIDw6fAROWMQjpi-4bhJqIFBGZhRud2ZvqoPWsRqqgxVKsATGNI4glGwV5WERSE8VRjvvWGMk57nOSMXo-8Rjm4T8-4dVfa9EF-h_NmjoRMJUVrsTkq7D/s400/Dave+n+Traverse-788074.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502447911418172930" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Dave King, Olympic Raft & Kayak</span></span><br /></o:p></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-Yq3BydsSP-K59yW8zzM4IKuG7Zsw1qgQsaaBllTRpyo6rYtFndtF3ixtq0vtuMzVMQNMcXzkgeptIkOIiBUt_BNEg5_llr2lsLHWM_2IiNrg7PmcdqDHlASKRtnMqN2sJ3kUf0JQIHV/s1600/IMG00991-20100728-1756-786904.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-Yq3BydsSP-K59yW8zzM4IKuG7Zsw1qgQsaaBllTRpyo6rYtFndtF3ixtq0vtuMzVMQNMcXzkgeptIkOIiBUt_BNEg5_llr2lsLHWM_2IiNrg7PmcdqDHlASKRtnMqN2sJ3kUf0JQIHV/s400/IMG00991-20100728-1756-786904.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502447905229917058" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jean-Luc and Adam at Leavenworth Mountain Sports</span></span><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzr4nBQbsiImMAx9bom81vaGQEibQ8WuV7H3ePdct9rH-49I-JCSZHk5ovfvVv-kSEyRjQ9uucy_zUPkuUn6nMBno6OIeG4A2Pdho6qp3DjjNsadQzVQhTUu0N4HygC85vz4UlPEd3Z-b/s1600/IMG01039-20100805-1545-784936.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzr4nBQbsiImMAx9bom81vaGQEibQ8WuV7H3ePdct9rH-49I-JCSZHk5ovfvVv-kSEyRjQ9uucy_zUPkuUn6nMBno6OIeG4A2Pdho6qp3DjjNsadQzVQhTUu0N4HygC85vz4UlPEd3Z-b/s400/IMG01039-20100805-1545-784936.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502447898274649906" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">LFS Marine, on the water in Bellingham at Squalicum Harbor</span></span><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoY-83m_hw-WDCPK8Vs-lxfdJBQX7fmNJybfzSoNGEDMyCDlKB1Nao1xb8NZNvsjIzcYiW4e8LpiTbdKiWFgJ6lZg4g2dfEqXNP6yY1bDJCnT7Y9LsO8tdrqhMO7Rec61S8RpBJS2B6z3K/s1600/IMG01008-20100730-1334-777485.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoY-83m_hw-WDCPK8Vs-lxfdJBQX7fmNJybfzSoNGEDMyCDlKB1Nao1xb8NZNvsjIzcYiW4e8LpiTbdKiWFgJ6lZg4g2dfEqXNP6yY1bDJCnT7Y9LsO8tdrqhMO7Rec61S8RpBJS2B6z3K/s400/IMG01008-20100730-1334-777485.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502447864429517186" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kayak Academy's Lake Sammamish location on a lovely summer day</span></span><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrnxQKlrrUJNAmRBHI5FiBF9rfuH0Gg5oxxyM4w8IOWsGrM4gq09AhZggLUj8wHLYkGU0Ltw843Wl4izPE1Rry1pVcSYcoJqr6gkZI8_DBiKZil1CK9nRdhE8Elgekf8FKHdPzVf3PCKl/s1600/IMG01011-20100730-1342-779239.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrnxQKlrrUJNAmRBHI5FiBF9rfuH0Gg5oxxyM4w8IOWsGrM4gq09AhZggLUj8wHLYkGU0Ltw843Wl4izPE1Rry1pVcSYcoJqr6gkZI8_DBiKZil1CK9nRdhE8Elgekf8FKHdPzVf3PCKl/s400/IMG01011-20100730-1342-779239.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502447872128300610" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Barb and Whende at Kayak Academy... it was love at first sight! Good thing I brought two boards!</span></span><br /></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQ6h7-ZbDpvjQLVplryc7gm8OsXvNlV0acqG05Fwa-Y0HMirLY2QrkK6AtJV8arSjkn9J8n8LsSj5ifBJGTC5Jt1H4q5srJb102CtKCS8AB-4kg9YlRFNlRnNTjOoJ6GpgKKmxi4ZwKoZ/s1600/IMG01015-20100730-1346-780675.jpg"><br /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lMuxUxCsezg4djHidLM7ORG78KK-kBZBHO0nrn-x2NEF_hIkYi3EJ0pzg8RaI_H2V-QfhmNYMv853mM8Uk6YSvp7wap3eP4pf4YpukjS5G_Pp4fpGDmUUPMSKDhl2YXX4nyKYZvaRDch/s1600/Greg+n+Bill-782222.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lMuxUxCsezg4djHidLM7ORG78KK-kBZBHO0nrn-x2NEF_hIkYi3EJ0pzg8RaI_H2V-QfhmNYMv853mM8Uk6YSvp7wap3eP4pf4YpukjS5G_Pp4fpGDmUUPMSKDhl2YXX4nyKYZvaRDch/s400/Greg+n+Bill-782222.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502447884628297298" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >On the red board, Greg Whitaker of Alki Kayak Tours gets the Traverse into the salty swells of Elliott Bay.</span><br /></p> </div>Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-84625590559139466362010-08-06T10:45:00.000-07:002010-08-06T16:43:51.117-07:00Let's Samba!<p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9hSbGV9fc1gVfSPLnuMZLcNIM8PnbdPK1DNSCYvR543O3loN5euxn1zDJJqSBneDvWTuRw-yS1DzA3EftuUFVzThNQMYgglp_8EmjwhZ80bwgNHlPCBIyF8WFsvBnQ0QDLXOQSjICxpA/s1600/Samba+Whende-764521.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9hSbGV9fc1gVfSPLnuMZLcNIM8PnbdPK1DNSCYvR543O3loN5euxn1zDJJqSBneDvWTuRw-yS1DzA3EftuUFVzThNQMYgglp_8EmjwhZ80bwgNHlPCBIyF8WFsvBnQ0QDLXOQSjICxpA/s400/Samba+Whende-764521.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502355039176656770" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;" ><span style="font-size:85%;">Kayak Academy's Whende Keatts, smilin' & stylin' Eddyline's latest new boat </span></span></b></p><br /><div class="WordSection1"> <p class="MsoNormal">Eddyline Kayaks introduces its newest model, with performance features for everyone to enjoy. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">At just under 14 feet, and 44 pounds, it’s a responsive, playful kayak designed to stylishly update the hugely popular Merlin LT design. I paddled this little guy, all 6’3”, 215 pounds of me, and loved it… wished the conditions were a little burlier than Lake Sammamish; even tried to flag down a passing ski boat to get a good wake to ride. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The boat is designed for the smaller paddler though. Whende and Barb jumped in it at Kayak Academy in Issaquah, and came away with big smiles.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhysV1jHIvamPBb3i6Z6fXg1Jpk2_t8c99bOZ9Vz3QgMLTghx9kesE1aLaM66LmZZcWzczvTOSiCV128rLnojy62B33xnaIo6hfzq3Dn2Ypj_Vr8Rw6e3oTS4zYw_VQFp7ZVaZaXmegj2/s1600/IMG01010-20100730-1335-766427.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhysV1jHIvamPBb3i6Z6fXg1Jpk2_t8c99bOZ9Vz3QgMLTghx9kesE1aLaM66LmZZcWzczvTOSiCV128rLnojy62B33xnaIo6hfzq3Dn2Ypj_Vr8Rw6e3oTS4zYw_VQFp7ZVaZaXmegj2/s400/IMG01010-20100730-1335-766427.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502355043577965730" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;" ><span style="font-size:85%;">Kayak Academy co-owner Barb Gronseth, dancing the Samba beat </span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Big, but not as big as the grin on the face of Samba Sue that evening at Alki Kayak Tours, where Sue and her husband Stu came by for a test paddle on their way to a romantic sunset dinner. Sue was the first potential customer to paddle the Samba, and she left her name on Alki’s wait list for the new boat! She loved it!<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTSkbPDgRYY1eFo42tAoconxgT3oxeZGTBE8x_JKdCKwPf9ipDt1SvCSbLbd6_1Yp2iSXguGyCBtV7lCBQi50K62XyoS71zWbFuqbSvlzV0KGVb7u2bb-sqPpProU366oKA2zGSgFHwB6/s1600/Samba+Sue-762901.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTSkbPDgRYY1eFo42tAoconxgT3oxeZGTBE8x_JKdCKwPf9ipDt1SvCSbLbd6_1Yp2iSXguGyCBtV7lCBQi50K62XyoS71zWbFuqbSvlzV0KGVb7u2bb-sqPpProU366oKA2zGSgFHwB6/s400/Samba+Sue-762901.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502355031127918994" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></o:p><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;" ><span style="font-size:85%;">Smilin' Samba Sue </span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Speaking of wait lists, production is scheduled to start in a couple weeks, and the boat will be MSRP’d at $2,199. Color options are red, blue, yellow, white, and a limited run of Eddyline Orange. Hulls are white, or can be in color for an additional charge. Talk to your local Eddyline dealer today, and grab this new little bundle of joy!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><b><a href="http://www.raftandkayak.com/">Olympic Raft & Kayak</a></b>, Port Angeles<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="http://www.popeyesmarine.com/index.htm">Popeye’s Marine</a></b>, Everett<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="http://www.bostonharbormarina.com/">Boston Harbor Marina</a></b>, Olympia<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="http://www.m2soutfitters.com/">Alki Kayak Tours / Mountain to Sound Outfitters</a></b>, Seattle<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="http://www.kayakacademy.com/">Kayak Academy</a></b>, Issaquah<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="http://www.olympicoutdoorcenter.com/">Olympic Outdoor Center</a></b>, Port Gamble<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="http://www.seakayakshop.com/">Seakayakshop.com</a></b>, Anacortes<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsf1BEfkBF60Tcq7I7aFN8tcYxRJnIinELxKzRV95sGH-nlP5MHq7JwpKconu3TVMsroHQd96T7VsusY9Mk9cg4zAZR4nhU7dmtAgjwYeQLkgywO-blG9Cik0cPrBEznYzliI22N8cfaJ/s1600/Samba+Needle-761186.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsf1BEfkBF60Tcq7I7aFN8tcYxRJnIinELxKzRV95sGH-nlP5MHq7JwpKconu3TVMsroHQd96T7VsusY9Mk9cg4zAZR4nhU7dmtAgjwYeQLkgywO-blG9Cik0cPrBEznYzliI22N8cfaJ/s400/Samba+Needle-761186.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502355021855718274" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;" ><span style="font-size:85%;">Ahhhhhhh….. just another lovely evening in paradise.</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b><o:p><br /></o:p></p> </div>Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-30868045999992248432010-07-13T06:40:00.001-07:002010-09-27T14:06:14.797-07:00Tahoe SUP boards - sold<div class="WordSection1"> <p class="MsoNormal">These WERE sweeeeet boards... sold!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">2009 Tahoe Woody, used for demo events for less than a year <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">2009 Tahoe Rubicon, paddled just a couple times</span> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Located in my warehouse in Anacortes. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> </div> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz-H9MMD1wlXGWKO97fkkvzmQM1Iy1qsvXb7d0aDwU3waiP-5u21wy1z1wTNiY1BHHrC-yvZqCFeVd2xNgfkw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-51705318565436934292010-07-12T13:25:00.001-07:002010-09-06T15:47:27.686-07:00Demo Kayak Sale<div class="WordSection1"> <p class="MsoNormal">Ruby Creek is rotating the 2010 demo boat stock out for the season, so we can get a whole shiny new fleet next Spring! Now’s your chance to grab a good deal on a lightly used kayak. The links shown here go directly to the manufacturer’s web site so you can pick up all the specs. All of these prices are at least 25% under MSRP for these models when new.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Take a look at the videos below for an idea of the excellent condition of all these boats.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Please contact <a href="mailto:rubycreekboathouse@gmail.com">rubycreekboathouse@gmail.com</a> or call Ruby Creek World HQ at 206-940-6269. Cash or checks only. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.eddyline.com/">Eddyline Kayaks:</a></span></b><o:p></o:p></p><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.eddyline.com/eddyline-kayaks/fathom-lv">Eddyline Fathom LV (low volume)</a></span></b>, red over white <b><span style="font-size:12pt;">--SOLD </span></b> (MSRP new $2,669)<o:p></o:p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.eddyline.com/eddyline-kayaks/equinox">Eddyline Equinox</a></span></b>, red over white <b><span style="font-size:12pt;">--- $1,399</span></b> (MSRP new $1,999)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.eddyline.com/eddyline-kayaks/journey">Eddyline Journey</a></span></b>, light blue over white <b><span style="font-size:12pt;">--- SOLD</span></b><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.eddyline.com/eddyline-kayaks/sandpiper">Eddyline Sandpiper</a></span></b>, light blue over white <b><span style="font-size:12pt;">--- SOLD</span></b> (MSRP new $1,349)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">…and another <b><a href="http://www.eddyline.com/eddyline-kayaks/sandpiper">Eddyline Sandpiper</a></b>, NEW and still in the wrapper (shipping error, came back to us), <b><span style="font-size:12pt;">--- SOLD</span></b> <b><span style="font-size:12pt;">.</span></b> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwgL0CqJW_Mfx5b95aRgmRL6bNTa-1yMEr3SHHdrhyiVXGqWTkZkvVTCRrH_wFoHTnrydgQBZu1nTVivVq5Dw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" ></span></a></span>Here's a new vid showing all 4 Eddyline boats for sale.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/">Emotion Kayaks:</a></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/HTML/Kayaks/bliss10.html#"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;">Emotion Bliss</span></b></a>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">lime</span><b><span style="font-size:12pt;">--- $345</span></b> (MSRP new $499)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/HTML/Kayaks/exhilarator10.html">Emotion Exhilarator</a></span></b>, blue <b><span style="font-size:12pt;">--- $370</span></b> (MSRP new $499)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/HTML/Kayaks/mojo10.html">2009 Emotion Mojo, yellow (w/o folding seat; older style hatch)</a></span></b> <b><span style="font-size:12pt;">--- SOLD</span></b> (MSRP new was $649)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/HTML/Kayaks/mojo10.html">2010 Emotion Mojo</a></span></b>, yellow (w/ folding seat) <b><span style="font-size:12pt;">--- $490</span></b> (MSRP new $699)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/HTML/Kayaks/edge10.html">Emotion Edge</a></span></b>, blue – <b><span style="font-size:12pt;">--- SOLD</span></b> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/HTML/Kayaks/charger10.html">Emotion Charger</a></span></b>, lime <b><span style="font-size:12pt;">--- $290</span></b>(MSRP new $399)</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/HTML/Kayaks/glide10.html">Emotion Glide</a></span></b>, yellow <b><span style="font-size:12pt;">--- SOLD</span></b> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/HTML/Kayaks/tandemonium10.html">Emotion T</a></span></b><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/HTML/Kayaks/tandemonium10.html">andemonium</a></span></b>, tangerine <b><span style="font-size:12pt;">--- $499</span></b> (MSRP new $769)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/HTML/Kayaks/advantedge10.html">Emotion AdvantEdge</a></span></b>, tangerine <b><span style="font-size:12pt;">--- SOLD</span></b> (MSRP new $599)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/HTML/Kayaks/grandslam10.html">Emotion Grand Slam</a></span></b>, blue <b><span style="font-size:12pt;">--- $590</span></b> (MSRP new $829)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/HTML/Kayaks/spitfire10.html">Emotion Spitfire</a></span></b>, red <b><span style="font-size:12pt;">--- SOLD</span></b> (MSRP new $250)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/HTML/Kayaks/comet10.html">Emotion Comet</a></span></b>, blue <b><span style="font-size:12pt;">--- $200</span></b> (MSRP new $280)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/HTML/Kayaks/temptation10.html">Emotion Temptation</a></span></b>, blue <b><span style="font-size:12pt;">--- $440</span></b> (MSRP new $579)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">You can pick these boats up at Ruby Creek’s warehouse at 9117 Molly Lane, Anacortes WA 98221 or we’ll work out a delivery. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Ruby Creek has a large selection of 1-2 season-old pfds and paddles too. Working on a list – check back soon!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> </div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw3s5Ds9JOsyXrkEEwMJh2J5QzKPpCHy3Z44RYaRa7wS0wb1bO6q0n_6YVKKDB3KxVO9vsGxabtKO8qSyjJwA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-74934105283392244432010-04-11T22:42:00.001-07:002010-04-11T23:14:25.735-07:00Big props to Emotion Kayaks!<p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnhKPrem-3unbFP1DXaGYh9e4QaMJXeoXL5hGV86b9ec3jQuuDtIXfaH9ed8N8NMhGjQZ5Yei8BQaAWd39HXfNkeLoIJfhr1M_cwAvm-FGvFSaxaeBFHkJwN0OVbzlS_a9mp-M6irDcwS/s400/Ethan+Dealer+Gig+OCt+2009+143-770915.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459122350683835906" border="0" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Big Tom Strauss of Emotion Kayaks will not be photographed without that smile on his face. </span></span><br /></div><div class="Section1"> <p class="MsoNormal">Big Tom Strauss, he’s our man, and he’s come through again with an awesome display of generosity, support for a fantastic cause, and BIG LOVE for the kayak fishing community in the Puget Sound area. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Big Smilin’ Tom, President of Emotion Kayaks, agreed to donate a <b><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/HTML/Kayaks/Stealth.html">Stealth fishing kayak</a></b> to the 2010 <b><a href="http://www.anacortessalmonderby.com/">Anacortes Salmon Derby</a></b>, which attracted 1,000 enthusiastic fishermen earlier this month. In its first three years, the Derby raised over $73,000 for Puget Sound Anglers’ scholarship program for young students pursuing careers in Fisheries Management and related areas. <o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><o:p> </o:p><a href="http://www.anacortessalmonderby.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_BhfYR0mEDJYuTIe7HqPpA9-raNKZ8OAohOWC6ZRu5TrSaSzNR0wi6odmMpJb0MhW-iN-mLrR1hca5qEpPrV7cwmP1OiYyBZfVdxfhASLLn4Er0Lylw4bU5qCSnV6MDFjwWpIqobIHaV/s400/2010+Anacotes+PSA+Derby+Keith+Hofkamp-769835.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459122347589327922" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Kayak winner Keith Hofkamp of Burlington WA told me "that's my picture... with the big ass fish". Yeah Keith, that's one big ass fish, and congrats on winning the boat! </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Dean Hislop photo courtesy of Anacortes Salmon Derby</span></span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Knowing that support for research and proper management of salmon habitat means support for the entire ecosystem, from our local endangered Orcas (who eat the big yummy salmon too) to the thick-forested headwaters of our streams where they spawn, Big Tom stepped up where it counts. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>The lucky winner of the Stealth kayak was Keith Hofkamp of Burlington, WA, who caught a 21.6-pound Chinook Salmon. Congrats Keith! And thanks again to Big Tom Strauss for making it happen!<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><o:p> </o:p><a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/HTML/Kayaks/Stealth.html#"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCK6lEe_9g1EHfWN4Q3E5sGRvU5CQ-ECH21so7Lgse8hj4A-8ENQbnUDX8H7uY7vYK51boOn1qmRlXTdcjUxQzxzEO0sfyS8gdb_HtS0vLoLQmhk4s7jXEbu7PxwUJJRiktMVjt2MT8JoR/s400/stealtholive-772150.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459122357830573858" border="0" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"></div><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Here's the boat Tom donated and Keith won with his 21+-pound whopper... all in the name of helping another generation of young people get educated and keep our waters clean and our salmon healthy!</span></span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Emotion Kayaks are popping up in outdoor shops all over the Northwest, including Puget Sound dealers LFS Marine in Bellingham, Wholesale Sports at nine locations in Washington and Oregon, Popeye’s Marine and Grass Roots Outdoors in Everett, Mountain to Sound Outfitters in Seattle, Olympic Outdoor Center in Port Gamble, Ship to Shore Marine in Gig Harbor, Boston Harbor Marina in Olympia, and Olympic Raft & Kayak in Port Angeles. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> </div>Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-39989068272594199462010-03-15T18:20:00.001-07:002010-03-15T18:36:03.993-07:00FREE Movie premiere: "This is Canoeing"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/object2/1658/100/n10150146420370296_7573.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 182px;" src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/object2/1658/100/n10150146420370296_7573.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><div class="Section1">Justine Curgenven ("This is the Sea" series) brings you a brand new take on paddling adventure movies with "This is Canoeing". Sponsored by <a href="http://www.esquif.com/2008/index_en.php"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Esquif Canoes</span></a>, Justine's newest film covers the world's greatest paddling destinations and shows an amazing variety of paddling skills, from graceful ballet to hardcore slalom racing.The Northwest USA premiere is happening at Cascade Canoe & Kayak in Renton, WA on Saturday the 20<sup>th</sup> of March. Cascade’s Dan Henderson will fire up the grill at 1:30, serve some chow, chat about the movie, and get it on screen around 2:30.Check out the sweet video trailer here:<a href="http://www.cackletv.com/canoeing/this-is-canoeing/" target="_blank">http://www.cackletv.com/canoeing/this-is-canoeing/</a>Please RSVP here if you're coming and we'll pass the info along to Dan, or call him at the shop at (425) 430-0111. Directions are on CC&K's site, <a href="http://www.canoe-kayak.com/locations/renton" target="_blank">http://www.canoe-kayak.com/locations/renton</a><o:p></o:p> </div>Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-84439205130872084852010-03-11T15:26:00.001-08:002010-03-11T23:11:47.344-08:00Add - A- Buoy<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJmA4bx5QiG3slmjW6sFfqS-Mj9jpzjFgXaS3tGj0T_ytEq7V86KC1gmpby24WSWrZAXanZZWchU6p4zCgt7yIcr-VmIZhSMVLJStZHpcP0PCFD03zBMeEAqDJvNj1alleLDEErGF-R6j/s1600-h/AddaBuoy-794092.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJmA4bx5QiG3slmjW6sFfqS-Mj9jpzjFgXaS3tGj0T_ytEq7V86KC1gmpby24WSWrZAXanZZWchU6p4zCgt7yIcr-VmIZhSMVLJStZHpcP0PCFD03zBMeEAqDJvNj1alleLDEErGF-R6j/s400/AddaBuoy-794092.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447521745587043554" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdA2LDTk0vJL_H3myzoPLCHOH6WsFq3CFrq5EdHyYg1GE1iTsIdOX_UizKaMh2xd_RaxiHDJgHC1Xg7SsOHo8BRLAfad24YVPXKw5sUs9pAP9IGo9XvEMBifWHyPTdm_QZtmROPHFxO7N/s1600-h/DescentPFD-795631.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdA2LDTk0vJL_H3myzoPLCHOH6WsFq3CFrq5EdHyYg1GE1iTsIdOX_UizKaMh2xd_RaxiHDJgHC1Xg7SsOHo8BRLAfad24YVPXKw5sUs9pAP9IGo9XvEMBifWHyPTdm_QZtmROPHFxO7N/s400/DescentPFD-795631.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447521750054192162" /></a></p><div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D'>Check out the Add-a-Buoy air bladder for Stohlquist’s new Descent PFD. This hard core rescue vest gets another 5 lbs of flotation when the bladder is inflated. Without inflation the bladder sits flat in the vest pocket, and the air tube fits through a grommet to be stored in Stohlquist’s “garage” pouch at the top of the vest. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> </div>Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-35597268471093603662010-03-09T17:34:00.000-08:002010-03-09T23:02:30.128-08:00Paddling events on the Spring calendar<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size:12pt;">You can tell it’s Spring when cool stuff like this is happening in Northwest paddlesports:</span></i></b></div><div class="Section1"> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;" align="center"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size:14pt;">>>FREE<<</span></b><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);font-size:12pt;" > </span><b><span style="font-size:12pt;">“This is Canoeing” premiere</span></b><span style="font-size:12pt;"> -- Saturday, March 20: Justine Curgenven and <b><a href="http://www.esquif.com/2008/index_en.php">Esquif Canoes</a></b> present <b><a href="http://www.cackletv.com/canoeing/this-is-canoeing/">“This is Canoeing”</a></b> (Click the title to see the sweeeeet trailer). The Washington premiere is at <b><a href="http://www.canoe-kayak.com/">Cascade Canoe & Kayak in Renton, WA</a></b>. Cascade’s Dan Henderson says we’ll fire up the BBQ grill around 1:30pm, then get the movie going when everyone’s finished eating. The show is free!
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxBEio9pzHljLf4VzMifwGdLvP2yva0_ol1NA8dcFobRCWJsFP9N0x2lBcEHrBr2MVTtySsL9jxSJcAc61QxZTRRmueJklzF1cT1M_6QCUjcWcKUptv6BUR7_juB2ExhqglmefOyMNRJ7/s1600-h/This+is+Canoeing-733450.jpg"><img style="width: 326px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxBEio9pzHljLf4VzMifwGdLvP2yva0_ol1NA8dcFobRCWJsFP9N0x2lBcEHrBr2MVTtySsL9jxSJcAc61QxZTRRmueJklzF1cT1M_6QCUjcWcKUptv6BUR7_juB2ExhqglmefOyMNRJ7/s400/This+is+Canoeing-733450.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446814103321740130" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;" align="center">
<br /><span style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;" align="center"><!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size:12pt;">Port Angeles Kayak Symposium --</span></b><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);font-size:12pt;" > </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">Friday<span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">-</span>Sunday, April 16-18: Dave King and <b><a href="http://www.raftandkayak.com/">Olympic Raft & Kayak</a></b> present the <b><a href="http://www.raftandkayak.com/sea-kayak-trips/kayak-symposium/">10th annual Port Angeles Kayak Symposium</a></b>, in front of the Red Lion Hotel. Admission to the demo beach is FREE with a donation to the P.A. Food Bank. Along with huge savings and great deals on boats and gear, the weekend features guest speakers, beach bonfires, skill & safety clinics, on-water demos, a Sunday-morning race, and as always the warm hospitality of your friends at Olympic.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4K5pzuMIadEP6sHiIAIEn_Rh1Uynjwd7J8tig8n4_Dhtxq9ysNamy5WAAtLV_FNu0qAdjLZK6QT4RY91RlCeGDDfR34bZ0wsM9PesZbyJg7RxJtiLAS-LRrRV90fwF5hBjozqqnih_1o/s1600-h/IMGP0802-735013.JPG"><img style="width: 328px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4K5pzuMIadEP6sHiIAIEn_Rh1Uynjwd7J8tig8n4_Dhtxq9ysNamy5WAAtLV_FNu0qAdjLZK6QT4RY91RlCeGDDfR34bZ0wsM9PesZbyJg7RxJtiLAS-LRrRV90fwF5hBjozqqnih_1o/s400/IMGP0802-735013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446814112687093666" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;" align="center">
<br /><span style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;" align="center"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:12pt;"><b>WAKE Demo Day -- </b>Saturday May 1<sup>st</sup><b>: <a href="http://www.wakekayak.org/">Whatcom Association of Kayak Enthusiasts</a></b> presents another Annual Demo Day on Lake Whatcom. Keep an eye on their web site for details.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCcEha3EVNZ8OkFJ5Qn2VmFZpYefaef62brDYdo6CR5Q785hyCUb2LrRBhv78wnCVRSgv-QMno_5ReLO4qlLVizjdoKmSK3qonW6PEsnav_vAeweM0LXJIiZ2hgKPekeECoKWyForMOjZ/s1600-h/IMGP0876-736326.JPG"><img style="width: 346px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCcEha3EVNZ8OkFJ5Qn2VmFZpYefaef62brDYdo6CR5Q785hyCUb2LrRBhv78wnCVRSgv-QMno_5ReLO4qlLVizjdoKmSK3qonW6PEsnav_vAeweM0LXJIiZ2hgKPekeECoKWyForMOjZ/s400/IMGP0876-736326.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446814115740581522" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;" align="center">
<br /><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;" align="center"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size:12pt;">Unleash the Beast!</span></b><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);font-size:12pt;" > </span><b><span style="font-size:12pt;">--</span></b><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);font-size:12pt;" > </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">Saturday & Sunday, May 8<sup>th</sup> & 9<sup>th</sup>: John Kuntz and crew at <b><a href="http://www.olympicoutdoorcenter.com/">Olympic Outdoor Center in Port Gamble</a></b> have combined sea kayaking, standup paddling, mountain biking, adventure-films and racing, and a beer garden to top it off, and stirred up <b><a href="http://www.unleashthebeastnw.com/">“Unleash the Beast”</a></b>. It’s a groundbreaking Adventure Sports Expo and features the <b><a href="http://www.reelpaddlingfilmfestival.com/">Reel Paddling Film Festival</a></b>, demos, clinics, a mountain bike competition, and <b><a href="http://www.unleashthebeastnw.com/Race/Race.html">Paddle the Dragon</a></b>, a 6-mile paddling race presented by <b><a href="http://www.paddlingdynamics.com/challenge/default.old.html">Paddling Dynamics</a></b>.
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;" align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.unleashthebeastnw.com/images/headertop4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 355px; height: 174px;" src="http://www.unleashthebeastnw.com/images/headertop4.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;" align="center"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size:12pt;">Races – full info to be available soon, but mark your calendar now:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;" align="center"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.unleashthebeastnw.com/Race/Race.html">Paddle the Dragon</a></span></b><span style="font-size:12pt;">, Sunday May 9th, Port Gamble</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;" align="center"><!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:12pt;">DeFuca Downwinder, Saturday June 12th, Port Angeles<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;" align="center"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://expeditionpaddlers.blogspot.com/2010/01/2010-orca-challenge-race.html">San Juan Orca Challenge</a></span></b><span style="font-size:12pt;">, Saturday Sept 11<sup>th</sup>, Anacortes
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;" align="center">
<br /><span style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: center;" align="center"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> </div> Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-45451578358473813202010-03-09T17:29:00.000-08:002010-03-09T17:59:37.921-08:00Seattle Boat ShowThe <a href="http://www.seattleboatshow.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Big Seattle Boat Show</span></a> in February featured gear from <a href="http://www.eddyline.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Eddyline</span></a>, <a href="http://www.emotionkayaks.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Emotion</span></a>, <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.stohlquist.com/">Stohlquist</a>, <a href="http://aquabound.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aquabound</span></a>/<a href="http://www.bendingbranches.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bending Branches</span></a>, <a href="http://www.hippopatch.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hippo Patch</span></a> and <a href="http://www.recrepair.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rec Repair</span></a>, well represented at booths from <a href="http://www.popeyesmarine.com/index.htm"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Popeye’s Marine</span></a>, <a href="http://www.lfsmarineoutdoor.com/retailStore.aspx"><span style="font-weight: bold;">LFS Marine</span></a>, and <a href="http://hobiecatsnorthwest.com/hobienorthwest/Hobie_Cats_Northwest.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hobie Cats Northwest</span></a>. If you need any evidence that things are loosening up in our economy just a bit, you need look no further than the great results these dealers had at the show. Take a look at the great variety of gear on display below.<o:p></o:p><div class="Section1"> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Many thanks to Zack and the whole crew from LFS, Dean and Bedelia from Popeye’s, and Kevin and Dan from Hobie Cat NW for your hard work getting all these great brands out there.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HNrtdMUy6TioCdKjnJhqZF6l_rqZS8oqJcKimuSV-4bTWji0S6-NDM9YdKrKKE5CD-NEmKC_v_KaCCLZ9EJdpEkrMVtOMDLSoygud8uhmqca4EybchRMwrKYRoWiJq4Th7C2lyZ1npQl/s1600-h/IMGP2214.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HNrtdMUy6TioCdKjnJhqZF6l_rqZS8oqJcKimuSV-4bTWji0S6-NDM9YdKrKKE5CD-NEmKC_v_KaCCLZ9EJdpEkrMVtOMDLSoygud8uhmqca4EybchRMwrKYRoWiJq4Th7C2lyZ1npQl/s400/IMGP2214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446813346298575186" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">Popeye's Marine just picked up the RecRepair and Hippo Patch products a few months ago.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjII_4DIwyyr147WU91DOU1jn0gzCR9c4PTfSYsg3PEQAYnp3YuAF8JM5qtevEuYpCbf_hRe0zFcz4ioRAHV4PlABqDFNzpynME-HSLe1OV6WNSSC_MRCUqUahThleiKuMUVZ9cTy5JcD1r/s1600-h/IMGP2213.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjII_4DIwyyr147WU91DOU1jn0gzCR9c4PTfSYsg3PEQAYnp3YuAF8JM5qtevEuYpCbf_hRe0zFcz4ioRAHV4PlABqDFNzpynME-HSLe1OV6WNSSC_MRCUqUahThleiKuMUVZ9cTy5JcD1r/s400/IMGP2213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446813332369247746" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">Clockwise from left - Comet, Stealth, AdvantEdge and CoMotion. All got lots of interest at the show, and helped LFS make some good sales.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQW1HFVTVbtEYnh6b1qPMrZswhdbDvZ7DCJalq746mbcJ_xDCvb-c99n3lHQKjg6VgJxV3eGl7qez_W5S8tA_QHb009CqsR03m3l-B5JdtkjU0V-uZ_JDdT7jBDQkVVoTgH8gxF0Rjq-U/s1600-h/IMGP2210.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQW1HFVTVbtEYnh6b1qPMrZswhdbDvZ7DCJalq746mbcJ_xDCvb-c99n3lHQKjg6VgJxV3eGl7qez_W5S8tA_QHb009CqsR03m3l-B5JdtkjU0V-uZ_JDdT7jBDQkVVoTgH8gxF0Rjq-U/s400/IMGP2210.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446813321281028722" border="0" /></a>Stacks of Spitfires! These and all the Emotion models appealed to yachters looking for something to keep on their deck that would be easy to get on and off their boat and into the water.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFe5Vu7aBiglovKuz2BC_-ExUbM_uu65VoMpBQTZs993do7U7Cm2IQT0HRQLIMJbNraS25vgA3jWoia0rzHqS12JK0kjIvKmiybixK1Kn4MAQ9bhV_sAPdYs5cY96J78OTFqdNOPSMcMiF/s1600-h/IMGP2218-721433.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFe5Vu7aBiglovKuz2BC_-ExUbM_uu65VoMpBQTZs993do7U7Cm2IQT0HRQLIMJbNraS25vgA3jWoia0rzHqS12JK0kjIvKmiybixK1Kn4MAQ9bhV_sAPdYs5cY96J78OTFqdNOPSMcMiF/s400/IMGP2218-721433.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446811903271374258" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo">Dean and Bedelia brought an Eddyline Journey and this Fathom to the show and got plenty of impressed looks... and a few sales to go with them.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig56sWm9_GsZsVPIkesKwRyaSWFyjpaL-itKM4EWzZFlzxLUMop5kJukU4fmO41YcZzbiqd4oYFLZ3ZtpJYxdOmCQ9h13JGNZknIGRPNnua6iZyBggMKMRpHocROU3uom_UTNaaJRcfMAK/s1600-h/IMGP2222-723022.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig56sWm9_GsZsVPIkesKwRyaSWFyjpaL-itKM4EWzZFlzxLUMop5kJukU4fmO41YcZzbiqd4oYFLZ3ZtpJYxdOmCQ9h13JGNZknIGRPNnua6iZyBggMKMRpHocROU3uom_UTNaaJRcfMAK/s400/IMGP2222-723022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446811914635719058" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo">Popeye's got a little jacked around by management on their display space, but they made the most of it and got plenty of merchandise in there.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOftpjOibEYk8_N19NpfGdKbM0_2E_uR22YnVFL0E_3WKOBNhQbKkepgTkjqm5l2jQ5iSjG77D5cqq0ekbw34QcAIk_lBIPSxgDcLZKWpQVOy6US9gIsGK5HotfH0lrnKMMl8ifUgkuRrE/s1600-h/IMGP2224-725062.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOftpjOibEYk8_N19NpfGdKbM0_2E_uR22YnVFL0E_3WKOBNhQbKkepgTkjqm5l2jQ5iSjG77D5cqq0ekbw34QcAIk_lBIPSxgDcLZKWpQVOy6US9gIsGK5HotfH0lrnKMMl8ifUgkuRrE/s400/IMGP2224-725062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446811922542837922" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo">I'm not sure Dean really wants to sell this ActionFish kayak. It's way too pretty to go on the water, especially with this BB Tailwind stick.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrRcOzcfjrC1kIRuA1PVBZrq_4e8K5lHnJeWmYHBgagZnIRcx6cio2E65TV6G9JgC6FFT-c3B-nWyyldtZjd3zwqMVeNUzqY746GAtkwb4UCn1HSixBfvbgaPI2gSncnuMQX3pRoCBYxy/s1600-h/IMGP2199-727313.JPG"><br /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> </div>Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-24982621734195398542010-03-05T10:06:00.000-08:002010-03-05T10:26:38.692-08:00LaPush Pummel 2010 wrap<div class="Section1"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:11pt;" >The LaPush Pummel was another huge success with beautiful weather and lovely waves. The shoulder still kept this paddler outta the surf but an awesome time was had by everyone who got out there. Gorgeous sunset, an easy & peaceful paddle through the relics in the harbor and upriver on the Quileute, and some great times with old paddling friends. All this sandwiched between breathtaking trips West- and Eastbound past Lake Crescent. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:11pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HxGaVSYYCyK9r7bcwa2dm4oFj0H_U2bbAtn6Fs5lBrJLAVQmTRYcoCRdik8wbbky2stFkl30qHAeG_EiBPMOB57M6O83VoSNlpQ9vMiZ8qfjCI_x8T51tsxYkLxywHXs-eVUfJG1so3a/s1600-h/IMGP2385-781038.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HxGaVSYYCyK9r7bcwa2dm4oFj0H_U2bbAtn6Fs5lBrJLAVQmTRYcoCRdik8wbbky2stFkl30qHAeG_EiBPMOB57M6O83VoSNlpQ9vMiZ8qfjCI_x8T51tsxYkLxywHXs-eVUfJG1so3a/s400/IMGP2385-781038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445213147237077986" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwujGrbTEcBmV92UUACEkO_HxY0yzGFII3-Ar-lh2i4P1X5ka58n76BRG54SHrFHXxl8hguv0IiP445nxRSX5Dz4nLteTczOwSTsggi2DFhaVo7nSSCLd0i5840uxywoPAwlqqUz_fAKwA/s1600-h/IMGP2411-782868.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwujGrbTEcBmV92UUACEkO_HxY0yzGFII3-Ar-lh2i4P1X5ka58n76BRG54SHrFHXxl8hguv0IiP445nxRSX5Dz4nLteTczOwSTsggi2DFhaVo7nSSCLd0i5840uxywoPAwlqqUz_fAKwA/s400/IMGP2411-782868.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445213154318464002" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OdJ9pPIPqXIiaGzL4XA_06IC4AShU5x-AyiZ9mtn2UAt1ZEBAKSB8HPn46cUzPZ99qPEt50Kh5AmpWVtf2gtMNtkMqf6TVtsAIP4SZ2h0qDiKm4ctU13Qk1-E56n31S1qMFc9_pKm-lR/s1600-h/IMGP2440-784098.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OdJ9pPIPqXIiaGzL4XA_06IC4AShU5x-AyiZ9mtn2UAt1ZEBAKSB8HPn46cUzPZ99qPEt50Kh5AmpWVtf2gtMNtkMqf6TVtsAIP4SZ2h0qDiKm4ctU13Qk1-E56n31S1qMFc9_pKm-lR/s400/IMGP2440-784098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445213156570899298" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9liLTv1ZPPeVwqrUWXGEVvFc-CeoaDkIANVelcJyveyoJR2yCR_92N8AjWL4ZH3mGR_Czk7DHPyH6RxpVS2bqgQHrBEQfpSKfC4indRGIDu0mQ88tOEqgwLExrILIkVjmNeDc_4hIzYP/s1600-h/IMG00088-20100220-1221-786111.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9liLTv1ZPPeVwqrUWXGEVvFc-CeoaDkIANVelcJyveyoJR2yCR_92N8AjWL4ZH3mGR_Czk7DHPyH6RxpVS2bqgQHrBEQfpSKfC4indRGIDu0mQ88tOEqgwLExrILIkVjmNeDc_4hIzYP/s400/IMG00088-20100220-1221-786111.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445213166060886434" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=";font-family:";" ><a href="http://www.garyluhm.net/lightroomwebstuff/lapush_2010/index.html">Gary Luhm’s web site</a></span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:11pt;" > shows the real action at the Pummel. Take a look, and keep in mind he’s an award-winning professional photographer, so please let Gary know if you’re interested in using any of his photos. His contact info is below. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:11pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;" ><a href="http://www.garyluhm.net/lightroomwebstuff/lapush_2010/index.html">http://www.garyluhm.net/lightroomwebstuff/lapush_2010/index.html</a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;" >Gary Luhm Photography<br />Specializing in sea kayaking, kayak surfing, birding, mountain scenics,<br />tidepools<br />e-mail: <a href="mailto:gluhm@garyluhm.net">gluhm@garyluhm.net</a><br />website: <a href="http://www.garyluhm.net/">www.garyluhm.net</a><br />425-828-6594</span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> </div>Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-4017403414150515432010-03-04T19:21:00.000-08:002010-03-04T19:26:42.253-08:00Props for the paddle crew<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://aquabound.com/"><img style="width: 263px; height: 92px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdh07otgoXvscpOETHj5Stxag3Rwrb7y1dpdXJxypc8pFl5iXHQfDqnZzlKD2gUbF6_yqsS9j0d1786dJoI50rGdah3b4_8lqbDP5C9hyphenhypheniJsTzT94wnglTvuq6V7Du2b4fo_-fTmrBSOq/s400/Aquabound+logo+rgb-729280.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444984860063252946" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://www.bendingbranches.com/"><img style="width: 195px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUoIODjnk-df9fDleJX4QLtZyLE8iS-pKFtXGVNa2NjxllRKsE_iQ6qejp-rAjLWR2Zz60TYc2Xud3Mq0HU1Gprqx-tqZFkKV5JZeWWMpzWYmOvWMXn-6ZbYC_FXYmXaINR4xM3i09QLG/s400/BB+logo-731094.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444984868445466642" border="0" /></a></p><div class="Section1"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:11pt;" >A year ago two top names in paddlesports came together – Bending Branches and Aqua-Bound – and they continue to inspire loyalty in their dealers and paddlers far and wide. Here’s a little feedback from our friend Peter Littler at </span><b><span style=";font-family:";" ><a href="http://www.basecampmtl.com/basecamp/contact_us.html">Camp de Base in Pointe Claire, Quebec</a></span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:11pt;" >….<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:11pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:11pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <div> <div style="border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(181, 196, 223) -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 1pt medium medium; padding: 3pt 0in 0in;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;" >From:</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;" > Peter Littler<br /><b>Subject:</b> Re: Camp De Base <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> </div> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hello Rick,<o:p></o:p></p> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div> <p class="MsoNormal">I would like to convey my appreciation for the level of customer service that Bending Branches offers us as a retailer. The transition from Joe and the Aquabound team to Bending Branches has been seamless and business as usual in my opinion, and as you know Aquabound has always been hailed as one of the best companies to deal with in the outdoor industry. <o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal">Please pass this on to the Bending Branches/Aquabound team and thank you for all your hard work; keep it up. <o:p></o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal">Happy paddling from the Camp de Base team,<o:p></o:p></p> <div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> </div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:9pt;color:black;" >Peter Littler </span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:9pt;color:black;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:13.5pt;color:black;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> </div> <p class="MsoNormal"><img id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:09C0C5ED-C5FF-4457-AD33-04DCCFA143A8" border="0" width="131" height="56" /><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:9pt;color:black;" ><br /><br />Purchasing/Marketing Director</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:9pt;color:black;" > <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4646108471787951418.post-89627736231207180752010-02-27T10:15:00.000-08:002010-02-27T10:37:26.260-08:00Rockpool's newest kayak<div class="Section1"> <p class="MsoNormal">“Hey I need a new boat… can I try yours?” is usually a recipe for a good day on the water, and this day was no exception. My buddy Wade was looking for a new kayak and wanted to put my <a href="http://rockpool.reednorthamerica.com/index.php/Rockpool-Newsflash/The-Rockpool-ALAW-Bach-TCC"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rockpool Alaw Bach TCC</span></a> through the ringer. Since I’m just a little big for the boat at 6’3”, 210, and Wade is a little shorter -- not to mention a more skilled and aggressive paddler -- this seemed like a great moment to get some pics of the boat in action. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Photographic evidence: the boat looks sweet on the water…<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="mobile-photo"><o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQsM2NrXRn5IXX4ymOAYckl56bA4GlcrGMZ6UdKmFQwydecOv3h6ju5R9KGPHaPT1xIBUhGzsiykiBVNLU4vyXiUMRomKrzJ_l-uUaPKiji326s1nhpttNaoTGSmDln_iUR1IcuLnx5sq/s1600-h/IMGP1990-777867.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQsM2NrXRn5IXX4ymOAYckl56bA4GlcrGMZ6UdKmFQwydecOv3h6ju5R9KGPHaPT1xIBUhGzsiykiBVNLU4vyXiUMRomKrzJ_l-uUaPKiji326s1nhpttNaoTGSmDln_iUR1IcuLnx5sq/s400/IMGP1990-777867.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442988770424826482" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>…edges nicely…<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="mobile-photo"><o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA_q8MhHUD6sIu0p8oUf7kD5FA5_Mj1rIOoOXxd1kqQnejqwyq6ZYPIzavlZi3wk0LJW_nWd6BXs4VTl54wpFuVBo6klkP8CZ-n-IoAY_t4rvsoqjQFYqk-xxohK78hHIu1cIp8m1xzLl/s1600-h/IMGP1991-779935.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA_q8MhHUD6sIu0p8oUf7kD5FA5_Mj1rIOoOXxd1kqQnejqwyq6ZYPIzavlZi3wk0LJW_nWd6BXs4VTl54wpFuVBo6klkP8CZ-n-IoAY_t4rvsoqjQFYqk-xxohK78hHIu1cIp8m1xzLl/s400/IMGP1991-779935.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442988775881279506" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>…and by golly, check out the nice balance on its side.<br /></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaqvxbAgAMlOz6BjWelYxDjepNydot5IliJJxAsPJd_FesfSPrYZXS2-roma4DouJapG3dS6FVzjemXWZoq62URDk5_FEFTt-CPmcqLO0s0R0EB1ktbK8pdZqndTu-sd4o2vxvCYmKUQJ/s1600-h/IMGP2022-776055.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaqvxbAgAMlOz6BjWelYxDjepNydot5IliJJxAsPJd_FesfSPrYZXS2-roma4DouJapG3dS6FVzjemXWZoq62URDk5_FEFTt-CPmcqLO0s0R0EB1ktbK8pdZqndTu-sd4o2vxvCYmKUQJ/s400/IMGP2022-776055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442988758358241986" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Wade dug the boat and, last update, is waiting for his tax refund.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">For a little more about the boat, check out <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW6xWsNQUlQ"><span style="font-weight: bold;">this terrific video</span></a> -- complete with great tunes, so turn up the volume -- from Daniel Arbuckle at <a href="http://www.penguinpaddlers.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Penguin Paddlers</span></a> in California!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> </div>Bill Walker, Ruby Creek Boathousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02301693846241500389noreply@blogger.com0