tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189992082012-02-14T06:17:25.754-05:00All things related to my kayaking experiences and interests, and everything else life throws at me.SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.comBlogger5861100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-4261115467747705352012-02-14T06:17:00.000-05:002012-02-14T06:17:25.761-05:00

Generous, patient, selfless, loving, handsome, strong, handy, creative, brilliant, funny, supportive; just to name a few. Thank you Love.  Thanks for everything.

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-77932172616391309652012-02-12T20:57:00.002-05:002012-02-13T10:22:31.199-05:00

Prior to Alan's trip to Europe, I'd been spending most weekends in Vandemere with him working on the boat.  Now Paul is spending some time working there,  and I came over to help out this past weekend.  It's about a 3 1/2 hour drive from our house to Alan's cabin at the B&B Workshop. For the past year Alan has been living in this wonderful funky little cottage, which is a stone's throw from

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-58912257908713203572012-02-11T21:46:00.001-05:002012-02-11T22:53:38.887-05:00

Alan's seems to be feeling better, my head colds getting the best of me, but work has to continue if we are to be ready in 3 weeks. Paul and Alan continue to work hard on Mosquito our Trimaran, it's going to be a build that goes right up to race day.  Today Alan had me cleaning our carbon fiber mast, getting it ready for a nice clear coat.  It's 33 ft long.  Is a mast supposed to be longer than

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-52027329636302234442012-02-08T15:22:00.000-05:002012-02-08T15:22:09.866-05:00

The trip to Michigan was a whirlwind, we spent all of an hour visiting with Mark, 15 of those minutes were spent returning to the house after tying down the boat to thaw out our fingers.  It WAS very cold. Alan is back from Europe and working on finishing the trimaran.  I'm hoping to get him in the Cruiser sometime this coming weekend so we can make a few plans, work out packing, portaging,

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-44222439352531523822012-01-26T19:40:00.001-05:002012-01-28T10:46:25.808-05:00

                                   On the snowy (Ohio) road to Michigan --- A 1400 mile weekend trip to Michigan in January.  I wouldn't do it for anything other than to pick up a Kruger.  MarkP of Kruger Canoes is lending Alan and I his Kruger Cruiser for the River Section of the WaterTribe Ultimate Florida Challenge.  Read more about it here.

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-13662551799204919542012-01-14T07:48:00.000-05:002012-01-14T07:48:53.606-05:00

The unfortunate drought in Northern Florida has rendered long sections of the St Mary’s and the Suwannee Rivers to be very low, in some places even without water.   This has completely messed up Stage4 of the Ultimate Florida Challenge, making it almost impossible to complete as originally designed, and requiring some changes to the rules to allow participants to figure out how to make it work.

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-30509578574653609362012-01-03T14:29:00.000-05:002012-01-03T14:29:51.901-05:00

Someone's training with workouts and someone's not. I've posted my UFC training schedule on my Watertribe Blog here.

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-14747518699310869652011-12-31T06:54:00.000-05:002011-12-31T06:54:12.564-05:00

It's time to start some serious training.  Not sure how to train for this!  Read more about it here. Cat launching off a beach on East Coast of Florida during a Tybee 500.

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-12294431646660172642011-12-29T14:01:00.000-05:002011-12-29T14:01:47.514-05:00

If you follow WaterTribe you've likely noticed they've updated the website.  The new site is watertribe.org, the old site still exists at watertribe.com while things get moved. If you don't follow WaterTribe, you should. The discussion forum is much changed and updated, with much more functionality.  This forum is a wealth of information for expedition, and expedition racing.   Membership is

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-16954963764876134942011-12-17T20:27:00.001-05:002011-12-17T20:27:27.660-05:00

Alan (SOS) has promised to update his blog before leaving for Europe on Tuesday, so I'll just give you a sneak peak of a couple pictures of us testing out Mosquito (the trimaran) on the water.  She paddles beautifully.  Sailing trials will have to wait till February.

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-82758161916351062632011-12-15T17:06:00.000-05:002011-12-15T17:06:03.519-05:00

It may seem like I’d retired my blog, but really I just got so very busy this past year.  I've put blogging way on top of my New Year’s resolutions list, along with more paddling, sailing, and adventure. So what’s been happening of late?   I finished the WaterTribe North Carolina Challenge (NCC) in early October.  As WaterTribe events usually are, weather offered us a real challenge, but also

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-20789083552016080802011-09-28T09:58:00.000-04:002011-09-28T09:58:13.787-04:00

North Carolina Challenge Route We are all doing the WaterTribe North Carolina Challenge this weekend.  Paul's written a bit about it on his blog  'Dawn Patrol'. Follow-along!  My SPOT tracking is here.  Paul (DancesWithSandyBottom) and Alan (SOS) tracking is here.  And you can follow along on the race websites tracking map here and any discussion on the forum here.

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-80704944739331291882011-09-11T13:56:00.005-04:002011-09-19T12:01:31.928-04:00

--by DWSB There was more practice today for the WaterTribe NC Challenge: kayakers SandyBottom, TwinSpirit, JayBird, and Rambler scouted routes among the islands between Pamlico Sound and Core Sound. Route:  Driftwood Campground's boat ramp into Cedar Island Bay, out Beach Creek into Pamlico Sound, past Hog Island and tiny Chain Shot Island to Harbor Island,  and then SW on Core Sound to

DancesWithSandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06744638027388491267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-234564118383721272011-09-10T09:38:00.003-04:002011-09-10T15:47:31.932-04:00

by DWSB SandyBottom is on the water this weekend with friends practicing for the WaterTribe NC Challenge (NCC).  The 2011 NCC will start at 7am on Friday September 30.    Late night start on Taylor Creek after shuttling cars,   Camping off Brown's Island,   Early morning progress up Core Sound (SPOT)  As of 8:40 this morning they are 20 nautical miles from a great seafood dinner at the

DancesWithSandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06744638027388491267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-42062558209015401062011-08-22T12:06:00.001-04:002011-08-23T06:55:48.928-04:00

It was a great paddling trip this weekend from Hobucken to Belhaven and around Goose Creek Island. Got a chance to raise my FEKS sail a bit, put in some miles (55 all totaled), and spend some time with some great paddling partners. I’ll check out the pictures and get a trip report out this week. In the meantime, I noticed Alan (SOS) has updated his blog to show the beginning build of the

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-41553021251602328222011-08-18T06:24:00.000-04:002011-08-18T06:24:44.060-04:00

Last night Paul helped me get my Flat Earth Kayak Sail (FEKS) all set up on my QCC.  Doesn't everyone work on their kayak in their house on the kitchen table?   Off this afternoon for Hobucken, and a 3-day paddle around Goose Creek Island, with a night in Belhaven, should have 10 mph winds throughout the weekend. SPOT tracks here.  See Ya. 

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-29379515346893870172011-08-15T06:17:00.001-04:002011-08-15T06:17:58.525-04:00

I really need a new camera, sorry no pictures. This weekend, I finally felt better and good enough to get in some paddling. I met Christine late Saturday afternoon for a 15 miler, and then we camped at a wilderness camp site on Jordan Lake. Sunday weather called for a 60% chance of thunderstorms and rain throughout the day. We paddled another 20 miles, and the sun shone all day long. It was

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-5397648901369016182011-08-07T17:30:00.000-04:002011-08-07T17:30:39.656-04:00

Tropical storm Emily may have stayed away, but the summer cold I started last week just continued to get worse. We ended up having to reschedule our trip this weekend, which I spent in bed rather than on the water. But Alan's kept me feeling better with occasional phone texts about his progress as he started to build our “super secret - super fast trimaran”, the boat he has designed for the 2012

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-10422201869039939422011-08-02T19:04:00.000-04:002011-08-02T19:04:36.099-04:00

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-15634643117039016702011-08-01T20:58:00.000-04:002011-08-01T20:58:21.735-04:00

Sadly Paul’s father passed way, though thankfully only a few days after his stroke. The funeral was a great remembrance of how he touched other’s lives, and all he gave to our world. Life will be forever changed without him and he’ll be remembered and missed. Life still goes on, and with things finally slowing down, I’ve planned a last minute needed weekend escape. Christine (WaterTribe member

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-87644525066066981732011-07-19T17:42:00.000-04:002011-07-19T17:42:33.542-04:00

I’ve just had to cancel my vacation to RAGBRAI this year. Paul’s Dad has gotten very ill, and I’m needed here at home. We’ve been very lucky to have both of our parents’ live long lives. They’ve been able to watch and enjoy our children growing up, and our kids have been lucky to get to know their grandparents and their family history. Even though our families seem to be all over the map, we’ve

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-45103979848515402002011-07-01T09:58:00.002-04:002011-07-01T10:00:30.260-04:00

As soon as I get pictures, I'll post a trip report of our last weeks ocean paddle.  "Growing Bolder" pretty much describes it, as we were in very challenging conditions, on that edge of danger and exciting fun. I've also discovered that "Growing Bolder" is a TV show on American Public television, though I'll need to check my local listing for it.  It's 1/2 hr shows are empowering stories that

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-33067225480479072212011-06-24T07:21:00.000-04:002011-06-24T07:21:03.268-04:00

Life's been so busy I just haven't had much time to blog lately, but promise to get back to it soon. I've mostly been biking weekends as David and I get ready for RAGBRI next month.  We're up to 50 mile rides, I think we'll be in good shape for the ride. This weekend I'm taking a break and going down to the beach, an ocean-side paddle from Swansboro to Beaufort.  A long first day, paddling 28

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-43213837589725014102011-05-19T07:58:00.001-04:002011-05-20T10:51:43.697-04:00

Going paddling and camping.  I'll be spending a long weekend paddling in Currituck Sound with a small group of friends.  We've been slowly paddling the inner banks of NC over the past couple years.  This about finishes it.  SPOT tracking found here.

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-34186899999614217112011-04-07T08:10:00.000-04:002011-04-07T08:10:22.046-04:00

It was another great weekend at the 2nd annual Goose Creek Paddle Weekend. Every time I go to Hobucken to paddle or sail, I’m reminded how great the people there are, and how welcoming Shawn and Pate’s BoatYard is. Paul posted a nice history of Pate’s Boat Yard that he researched while I was out there last year. Hobucken is quite a rural community, though the Island hosts a small Coast Guard

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-57930541179639795602011-04-04T15:59:00.001-04:002011-04-05T01:16:30.244-04:00

My body was at work today, but my head sure wasn't.  I've just returned from a wonderful weekend of kayaking, camping, and sailing down in Hobucken on Goose Creek Island.  You'll have to wait on pictures and trip report, including pictures of me with my new PFD on, and sitting in my newest kayak :)   And I've still got EC stories to tell. But this post is about an idea that's been circling in my

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-88174469638322748602011-03-27T19:41:00.000-04:002011-03-27T19:41:31.450-04:00

Keeping with our annual traditions over the past 5 years, we picked up Kristen (KiwiBird) before 5:30 am, towing the Dawn Patrol and with our 2 kayaks on the van, we headed for our favorite fried chicken lunch at the ‘El Cheapo’ gas station and grill in Midway Georgia. We arrived at the Ft Desoto campground about 6:00 PM, set up tents, headed for dinner at the Italian restaurant down the road,

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-56740057136070698332011-03-25T21:14:00.001-04:002011-03-25T21:20:36.718-04:00

We’re all back home now and life is as it was, almost as if our vacation and the Everglades Challenge didn’t happened. My wounds have pretty much healed, both physical and emotional (so hard to not have finished a challenge). Now it’s time to figure out ‘what happened’. I certainly don’t want a repeat, and I plan many more paddling and WaterTribe adventures in the future. Basically I was taken

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-82870647680107700872011-03-02T21:15:00.001-05:002011-03-02T21:16:04.609-05:00

Here we come. Another year, another WaterTribe Everglades Challenge (EC).  KiwiBird, and the not so little “Wee One” came over this evening to drop off KiwiBird’s kayak and gear; we’ll be picking her up very early tomorrow morning for the drive to Florida.  And, in keeping with tradition, FlysWithKiwiBird cooked us all a nice dinner and Tana made us all dessert, for our annual pre-EC dinner (

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-57871099331919212942011-03-01T17:12:00.000-05:002011-03-01T17:12:48.686-05:00

You got that right KiwiBird.  Tomorrow morning I'm off for an emergency visit to the Dentist.  Seems I have some kind of gum lesion that's getting worse rather than better. During the Everglades Challenge I'd probably be ok in a pinch, there is always KneadingWater, a cat vet who specializes in cat dentistry.  But I'm figuring he won't have his tools or novocaine with him, though a good hit of

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-64447550659024449142011-02-27T20:55:00.000-05:002011-02-27T20:55:56.433-05:00

Almost finished packing, and I've finished my food shopping.  This year I'm planning fruit with my granola bars and Ensure chocolate shakes for breakfast.  The package advertises no preservatives, no colorings, no additives, no fat, no genetic modifications, no water added, no dairy or gluten, nothing artificial; all fruit.  I bought 3 flavors, but I'm not going to try it out ahead of time, it'll

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-4645926134686833152011-02-26T20:25:00.000-05:002011-02-26T20:25:31.938-05:00

On the road in 5 days, today was all about gear and packing for next week’s adventure; actually it was more about finding gear. While we are in Florida, painters will be coming in to paint our house, part of getting ready to put it on the market. It’ll be a bit inconvenient for our house sitters, but, it also means the garage has become a place for storage. What a mess! It took two week to find

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-32585091240430331542011-02-24T08:59:00.000-05:002011-02-24T08:59:28.976-05:00

Lots of fun stuff on the WaterTribe Forum as excitement draws near. Warren Richey (Sharkchow), author of my favorite book ‘Without a Paddle’ has offered up a Poem.  Read the book, and the poem below, I’m mentioned in both :)        ODE TO EVERGLADES CHALLENGE 2011 With apologies to the Gilligan's Island theme song.) Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, A tale of a fateful race. That

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-86753887235471774652011-02-22T15:10:00.000-05:002011-02-22T15:10:34.739-05:00

At the start of my very first WaterTribe Everglades Challenge in 2004, my phone calls home to Paul each day began with “I’m having so much fun”. When I got to the 2nd Checkpoint, 245 miles later and 4 days into it, I dropped the word fun, and stated ‘I’m having such an adventure”. I even wrote an article about that first challenge, titling it “It’s not for the fun, it’s the adventure!”.

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-13755884163936108152011-02-13T16:46:00.000-05:002011-02-13T16:46:46.714-05:00

Check out Paul's blog "Dawn Patrol". He always says it so well.

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-44523145846254785762011-02-13T07:23:00.000-05:002011-02-13T07:23:08.146-05:00

Picture above was taken by David a few weeks ago when KiwiBird, David, and I got out on the water for a WaterTribe Everglades Challenge (EC) training paddle.   That's my new Flat Earth Kayak Sail, which I'm really enjoying and will use in this years race.  Today promises to be great weather, 60 degrees, SW winds 10-15, I'll be out there all day. Overall, training has not been as I'd hoped/

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-71599299519013252832011-01-09T07:29:00.000-05:002011-01-09T07:29:48.781-05:00

Paul and Alan joined us in Hawaii a week after our arrival and before Christmas. We’d planned a family vacation and celebration of Tana’s college graduation. In the end, this vacation completely centered around family (ohana), and family helping each other, more than we had ever imagined. My folks have had a hard year with various illnesses and medical expenses. Wanting to do something nice for

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-16652001701938101752010-12-16T17:34:00.001-05:002010-12-17T09:23:28.689-05:00

Tana and I leave early Friday morning to visit family in Hawaii for the Holidays.

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-31534927293292523072010-12-13T05:31:00.003-05:002010-12-13T06:07:13.702-05:00

Another weekend off the water, but this one was for a wonderful reason. Our daughter graduated from Appalachian State University on Sunday, up in the western mountains of North Carolina.   Congratulations Love!   Like most of the  country we woke up to a bit of weather,  fresh snow on the ground and with more snow days predicted.   Here back at home it's just really really cold.

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-62629705947220728622010-12-10T16:04:00.000-05:002010-12-10T16:04:50.082-05:00

When it rains it pours, when I'm training, I have a hard time not getting excited about all the possibilities, that I should eventually be in great shape for :) There are so many opportunities this coming year regards small boat adventure racing. There’s WaterTribe’s annual Everglades Challenge (EC) in March, the return of the WaterTribe Cross Florida Challenge (CFC) likely in early May, and the

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-54162805386347508242010-12-08T19:00:00.000-05:002010-12-08T19:00:54.098-05:00

That's a question I got asked a few times last Saturday night at the Carolina Kayak Clubs Holiday Party.  That's me standing next to the "saggy" paddle tree. My training plan is always a bit more optimistic than I can usually accomplish, life gets in the way, the winter is cold, its hard work… lots of excuses.  A little deviation is okay and nothing to beat yourself up about, but I’d like to be

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-33207287494628377362010-11-23T21:50:00.000-05:002010-11-23T21:50:51.655-05:00

November is when I usually start my training for next years March WaterTribe Everglades Challenge. This year is no different, except I’m starting a few weeks late :(  I’ve added a countdown calendar on the right to help keep me motivated and focused. My basic training plan doesn’t usually change much, but this year I want to be more diligent about keeping to it.  And I plan to get some personal

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-27442091493876899102010-11-23T07:20:00.002-05:002010-11-23T07:21:26.929-05:00

It’s been a rough week for me, busy as heck with work and other home chores all keeping me away from the computer.  Then I had the rug pulled out from under me.  Something of a private matter, but one that has left me somewhat disillusioned and disappointed. Some things are just wrong.  A big thanks to my old Kailua friend (you know who you are), you are a great voice of reason, no worries, I'm

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-13701742890236008952010-11-07T10:47:00.009-05:002010-11-08T11:54:28.601-05:00

 Report from SandyBottom in a call home at 9:30am Sunday:   We have been turned back by high headwinds and rough conditions.  Now safely back onshore at Corolla and looking to rent a car.  We did consider various paddling routes and options. SPOT track Sunday 7am to 9am:  out and back We started early (7am) in hopes of avoiding strong headwinds, but we were only making 0.4 - 1.4 mph. The

DancesWithSandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06744638027388491267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-64252720771500587572010-11-06T17:10:00.002-04:002010-11-06T17:18:22.645-04:00

Currituck Beach Light (photo by Dawn) Report from SandyBottom at 4pm Saturday:   Paddled / sailed / surfed downwind on a broad reach to Corolla.  Winds 20-25 mph with gusts of 30 mph.  Maximum speed was 8.3 mph.  Very exciting day!   The new sail works great.  Yesterday I sailed upwind at 1-2 mph without paddling. Here is a cellphone-photo of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in Corolla.

DancesWithSandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06744638027388491267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-46100656949588024922010-11-05T21:05:00.004-04:002010-11-06T09:55:49.390-04:00

What happens when you kayak on Currituck Sound not too far from the home of your friend, Steve, who is an avid sailor and outstanding photographer?    Check it out on Steve's  Log of Spartina.    Here's a sample.... SandyBottom and Steve   Jay, Dawn, Lee, Barrett In case you were wondering,  the blue object in the background is, sadly,  a dead nauga-whale (Naugahydeus hoaxus) which

DancesWithSandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06744638027388491267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-72570740672484825222010-11-04T22:06:00.000-04:002010-11-04T22:06:51.686-04:00

It’s been crazy busy lately, and I’ve another weekend kayak trip, paddling the Currituck Sound area.  I'll tell you all about it when I get back.  Spot tracts HERE - or copy and paste the following URL in your browser... http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0eKvPYc77aXmGvWgm8DWcRosA8rQiMlyD

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-37613001057872762612010-11-01T14:58:00.000-04:002010-11-01T14:58:08.278-04:00

The B&B Yachts Mess-about this past weekend down in Bayboro NC was great fun. At least 15 different boats, even a few B&B motorboats were there. It’s great visiting with folks you don’t see very often, yet share an interest with.   We had wonderful fall weather, great wind, and lots of sailing all weekend. I really enjoyed visiting with Joe and Sally, who I’d meet 2 years ago at a Balogh Sails

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-85239761723983743082010-10-28T07:26:00.000-04:002010-10-28T07:26:42.009-04:00

Could be our last real sailing weekend this year in the Dawn Patrol . It’s the B&B Messabout where we’ll all visit, sail, talk story, party, and camp with the designer (Graham Bynes) and other B&B Yachts builders and their home built sailboats. Pictures taken by Steve during our Tag Team 200 sailing trip this past June I’m be bringing the Grand Diva kayak we just finished building, (also a B&

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-47507860975950440142010-10-27T05:58:00.001-04:002010-10-27T07:36:29.357-04:00

Alan came home yesterday afternoon and he helped me get my new Flat Earth Kayak Sail mounted on my Explorer.  We'll experiment with the mounting before we drill holes in the Diva and get it mounted on her.  There's great instructions to be found on the Flat Earth website, as well as the blog Sea Kayaking with SeaKayakPhoto.com, and on the Gnarly Dog News blog, but,as always, there are different

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-49778362511581046112010-10-26T07:03:00.000-04:002010-10-26T07:03:34.076-04:00

One of the great advantages (aside from cost) of building a wooden kayak is in getting a lighter weight kayak. Many sized as sea kayaks are completed weighing 45-50 lbs, some as low as 40 lbs. Of course when building your own kayak, you also have opportunity to make changes and customizations, these are usually in opposition to “keeping it light”. My main goal with the Grand Diva was first and

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-81632588667105590942010-10-25T13:54:00.000-04:002010-10-25T13:54:57.328-04:00

As is often the case during the off season, our expected group of 22 dwindled down quickly as the weekend approached. Only Gumby and I were there to camp at the lake Fri night with temps down around 34F. By Sat we were a group of 11 who where there to play (though only 7 stayed and camped). The sun came out strong and we had a beautiful warm afternoon with highs in the 70s. With the right tent

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-86677910778544332492010-10-21T15:25:00.001-04:002010-10-21T15:25:59.719-04:00

This weekend will be all about paddling. My kayak club, the Carolina Kayak Club is having a gathering of Greenland-style paddling enthusiasts.  Low key, it's just a weekend retreat of paddling and camping, and with no real calendar of events, agendas, or formal classes. We’ll just paddle and roll and brace to our hearts content. Weather looks perfect. We’ve got a group of about 20 paddlers

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-38575161101264195972010-10-19T17:49:00.000-04:002010-10-19T17:49:59.096-04:00

Sailing last weekend, I was Captain of the Dawn Patrol all day on Sunday. And I even got to sail Spartina for awhile too.

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-72432833602525136442010-10-18T10:17:00.000-04:002010-10-18T10:17:29.528-04:00

"There is nothing -- absolutely nothing -- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."  Often quoted from the children's book 'Wind in the Willows' by Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932), and it describes our weekend sailing perfectly. Picture above of Steve in his beautiful home-built John Welsford Pathfinder "Spartina" on the Pamlico Sound off Goose Creek Island.  We had an

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-1871065199733038822010-10-14T23:14:00.000-04:002010-10-14T23:14:11.932-04:00

My Mom is 80. She’ll likely not be happy to see it so publicly announced, she’s been groaning about it this past year, a really big birthday. I’m sorry I can’t be with you Mom, so I thought I’d help you celebration with some reminiscing, and bringing some of us together who can't be there for you.  Lucky you, 80 has allowed you very many experiences.  And we have such a wonderful family, you did

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-19128751487181624112010-10-13T07:47:00.002-04:002010-10-13T07:50:48.101-04:00

It’s looking like we’re going to have another beautiful weekend in North Carolina, but certainly a Fall weekend with some cooler comfortable temperatures. We are looking forward to a little sailing vacation.  Just a short weekend sail, but it’ll let us switch gears and have some great R&R on the water. We’ll be joining our friend Steve who will be out in his home-built boat Spartina; he’s

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-17538918799637249202010-10-11T06:15:00.000-04:002010-10-11T06:15:53.974-04:00

Paul and I finally took the Grand Diva to the lake Sunday afternoon, first time on the water. We’d put in the back band, and before gluing down the seat I wanted to make sure we had placed everything right. I also wanted a sense of what other outfitting I’d need, both for fit and comfort. And of course I wanted to make sure it floated :) The boat has very hard chines; I was curious how it

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-77812122123452373682010-10-10T11:27:00.000-04:002010-10-10T11:27:57.871-04:00

There were just three of us, Robert the owner of WaterSmyth Kayaking, my paddling friend Lee and me off Wrightsville Beach for a surf class Saturday. It was a beautiful day, with 2-3 ft surf. We’d met at the drawbridge that goes over to the beach, and paddled north cutting through the marsh to Mason’s Inlet. Mason’s Inlet is a small inlet between the northern end of Wrightsville Beach and the

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-71026011703458953742010-10-07T09:17:00.000-04:002010-10-07T09:17:53.754-04:00

I was born and raised in Kailua, on the Island of Oahu in Hawaii.  I still have family there, visit as often as I can, and I like to keep up with the local news online.   It was interesting to read about a large piece of a trimaran hull that washed up on shore at Kalama Beach (great body and board surfing location) in Kailua.  News reports include this and this.  It doesn't look very

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-86535083836253880582010-10-04T10:15:00.000-04:002010-10-04T10:15:50.540-04:00

I finally felt well enough to get out on the lake Saturday morning for a short paddle with my friend Joe.  The wind was really blowing creating a nice fun chop (I've got to get that sail mounted).  We paddled an easy 6 miles up to the dam and back.  This past year we've tried to paddle regularly once during the week, early morning before work, paddling fast with some sprints.   Once we

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-9207925528849076942010-10-01T14:05:00.003-04:002010-10-01T14:07:39.384-04:00

I first heard about Flat Earth kayak Sails in a blog I regularly follow called GnarlyDog News by Damiano Visocnik.  If you don’t know of this blog, it is well worth a visit.  He’s done a great job of labeling his posts which make it easy to search a topic, like kayak sailing.  I’ve gotten many great ideas regards kayak outfitting, gear, repairs, etc… from reading this blog. Regards sailing,

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-77005852553350697632010-09-29T17:29:00.045-04:002010-09-30T06:27:46.573-04:00

My new sail has arrived, and it’s a beauty.  A big big thanks to Mick MacRobb, owner of  Flat Earth Kayak Sails in Austraila, for sponsoring me with one of his sails.  A downwind kayak sail, but not the V shape that is more commonly seen around here and within the WaterTribe. Future posts will cover how I mount the sail, and my experiences sailing with it, both on my NDK Explorer with skeg, and

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-65989606497830336502010-09-28T19:03:00.003-04:002010-09-28T19:06:00.207-04:00

Well the WaterTribe North Carolina Challenge is now one for the record books. I would consider the weather to have been mild for our area, yet it was still quite a formidable challenge for all. The challenges in this race are the distance and large fetch getting the Harlowe, then the current and tides getting into and past Beaufort, then the shallow water, winds, and nets on Core Sound. Sailors

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-52019751650826131672010-09-20T13:33:00.000-04:002010-09-20T13:33:30.725-04:00

Well there won't be a North Carolina Challenge for me this year.  What started as a simple cold, then sinus infection, has me left with an exhausting and debilitating cough (irritation to my bronchial airways).  It's looking like a couple more weeks before I"m back to normal.  So I'll be there managing the race, enjoying as much of the festivities as anyone can (whose not paddling :( The new

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-17474968836173836942010-09-11T07:32:00.003-04:002010-09-11T07:37:46.263-04:00

I’m still sick. I’ve been down now for 2 full weeks, and am missing some great paddling. I’d planned to do a 60 mile circumnavigation of Emerald Isle this weekend with my kayak club (some great ocean paddling and distance training for the upcoming NCC Challenge). So terribly disappointed to be missing this trip. It seems my horrible summer cold turned sinus infection has not been relieved with

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-18876340134688633752010-09-06T09:34:00.000-04:002010-09-06T09:34:40.052-04:00

Still laid low with this horrible summer cold (I"ve already missed a whole week of work) and still not feeling 100%.  Even with my new fast kayak, the WaterTribe North Carolina Challenge will likely now be a cruise rather than race for me this year. Of course we're (mostly Paul) still building it, but it's looking like it'll be done on time.  The cockpit coaming is finished, and Paul was able to

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-7521856612674548722010-09-03T14:39:00.002-04:002010-09-03T14:41:46.866-04:00

I’ve been down all week with a bad cold, and am still trying to shake it. I’d hoped to get to the Coast over the weekend for some paddling (training/scouting), but just don’t have the energy. I just got an email from Scott who lives in Beaufort, he knew I had hoped to come down, he said Hurricane Earl came and left fast without much of a trace in Beaufort. I’ve yet to hear how they all faired in

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-37685160485255968572010-08-31T07:55:00.001-04:002010-08-31T07:55:47.817-04:00

The (rescheduled) MR340 kayak/canoe race is over.  Eight WaterTribe members started and finished, with 4 finishing in the top 10 of their class.   Now, WaterTribers will start to turn their attention to their own upcoming North Carolina Challenge (NCC) September 24th.  We'll all be watching the weather as hurricane season is well underway.  Earl is planning a fly-by later this week but should

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-3297702028386360572010-08-25T06:10:00.000-04:002010-08-25T06:10:08.898-04:00

This past Saturday, I taught a kayaking class for my club, The Carolina Kayak Club.  We followed the ACA Coastal Level 2 Essentials in Kayak Touring agenda.  Focusing on all the basics, forward and reverse strokes, turns and maneuvers, variations of both solo and assisted rescues, and  discussions on equipment, safety, and basic navigation.  It was a full and long day. The diversity of kayaks in

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-73604367655690160112010-08-23T20:53:00.000-04:002010-08-23T20:53:39.397-04:00

Alan's home from his sailing adventure on the EYE of the World, he sailed the Virginia to Austrailia leg.  We picked him up at the airport on Thursday morning. Things at home are looking a bit normal again.

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-91580569745560090212010-08-20T04:53:00.000-04:002010-08-20T04:53:55.152-04:00

Well I finally made it around Goose Creek Island. Kristen (KiwiBird), David, and I got to Pate’s Boat Yard late Fri and visited with a few old friends from my April visit there. Some of us are going to plan an Oktoberfest weekend in October, lots of paddling by day, and partying by night. All who’d been out fishing that day warned us that the NE winds were still high and water fairly rough, so

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-76195187481984813612010-08-18T22:23:00.000-04:002010-08-18T22:23:47.713-04:00

While I was away this past weekend working hard paddling around Goose Creek Island, Paul worked on my B&B Grand Diva kayak. Her little sister Diva is on the B&B website . The Grand Diva is 17’ 6” long, 21” wide, and Swede form. The Swede form is characterized with the wider part of the kayak behind the true middle. Supposed to be fast, certainly will be lighter. I’m hoping we’ll have it done in

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-38853704131740587962010-08-13T06:58:00.000-04:002010-08-13T06:58:35.802-04:00

I’ve some unfinished paddling business that I plan to get done this weekend; circumnavigating Goose Creek Island. Early this past April, I’d attempted a day paddle circumnavigating Goose Creek Island, about 30 miles. But a little less than ½ way into the paddle I started feeling sick and decided to abort it (lesson learned: don’t party before a big paddle). That was the first day of a fun

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-19095508802661108402010-08-12T09:26:00.001-04:002010-08-12T10:23:16.793-04:00

We’re rolling out another blog named Dawn Patrol. Paul’s wanted a place to share his/our occasional sailing trip reports and sailing pictures, and especially his boat building and maintenance stuff.  Postings will likely be infrequent, and specific to all things related to our home built Core Sound 20.  I’ll occasionally note updates and link to it from this blog, nothing really changes on

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-56796342799706015632010-08-11T06:21:00.000-04:002010-08-11T06:21:35.079-04:00

I am anxiously waiting on the mail, I’ve ordered a new book. I’d just finished reading a short article and review of the book ‘Black Feathers’ by Robert and Jeanne Crawford, in the newest issue of “Small Craft Advisor” (my now favorite magazine even over SeaKayaker Magazine). I couldn’t order it fast enough. According to the review, the book chronicles the completion of a dream Robert had of

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-35274611899499523222010-08-10T07:20:00.002-04:002010-08-10T07:21:58.101-04:00

This posting is intended for the women paddlers.  My own personal visit to hell last weekend was different than what I’d advertised on our weekend’s "Vacation to Hell" trip.  I'd made a big mistake during the trip, and paid a painful price. I wouldn't describe myself as immodest, but certainly very casual.  I had decided to be a bit more respectful of other people by wearing a bra on this kayak

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-63137187649054616282010-08-09T06:58:00.000-04:002010-08-09T06:58:54.785-04:00

My son Alan has been sailing with the EYE of the World since November when they sailed out of Virginia. Last week, he and another EYE crew member Will, finished their part of the EYE in Australia. With 2 ½ weeks to travel on land from Cairns to Sydney, their journey continues. Alan has resurrected his Sailnaway Blog and has been posting some fun stories about their travels in a teeny tiny $700

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-18584783661982312122010-08-05T19:03:00.000-04:002010-08-05T19:03:34.877-04:00

Our club's weekend paddling trip is known as our Annual Vacation to Hell; hot, humid, buggy, and long.  Eight of us will paddle the 50 miles from Cedar Island to Beaufort, up the Neuse River and across on the Harlow Canal.  A challenge for some, training for other's as they prepare for the WaterTribes North Carolina Challenge. The weather won’t be too bad after all. Highs in the 80,s the usually

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-5033529816146502642010-08-02T17:33:00.002-04:002010-08-02T17:33:28.230-04:00

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-73340215955265261682010-07-28T17:50:00.000-04:002010-07-28T17:50:03.680-04:00

My last post 'Where is it We're Going?" was in anticipation of a coastal trip planned for last weekend. Well... I didn't go anywhere. A last minute unexpected trip to NY yesterday for work, had me needing to prepare for the trip over the weekend. I was disappointed. I did get to join KiwiBird and family and some friends for a nice pool/dinner party Saturday night which was lots of fun. And

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-42864512013041732802010-07-20T15:18:00.000-04:002010-07-20T15:18:45.690-04:00

This weekend I’m off with my kayaking club to Drum Inlet, off Core Sound on the Outer Banks of NC, or at least that's what I thought I was doing.  I haven’t paddled over there since 2008, when Lamar Hudgens started his Barrier Island Kayaks Symposium that year with a day trip paddling to Drum. That day we paddled across the Sound stopped at the ‘Old Drum Inlet’ then paddled a mile down to the ‘

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-89012779420723758702010-07-10T18:01:00.000-04:002010-07-10T18:01:56.706-04:00

I got an email from my friend Jay with the picture below.  He asked "Did you know there is a Sandy Bottom North Carolina?  Abbey and I were driving to Cliffs of the Neuse yesterday and ran across this sign." Pretty cool!  Checking a map, I found it not far from the Neuse River near Kinston NC.  Thanks Jay and Abbey.

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-38213599123123002732010-07-09T13:50:00.000-04:002010-07-09T13:50:45.737-04:00

How do you GP paddlers with key hole cockpits in your kayak, stay dry? I have a Seals and a Seal Line neoprene spray skirt.  Both slowly get saturated from the drips on the skirt from by GP, regardless of which GP I use (Lumpy, Betsy Bay, Superior). I"ve also surprised myself by falling back in love with my Betsy Bay paddle.   It was the first GP I started using, many many years ago.  More

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-46315078502591301162010-07-08T17:41:00.000-04:002010-07-08T17:41:52.552-04:00

I am a worrier, it’s just my nature. I have the one of the world’s most creative imagination with regards to things to worry about. I have learned to use this worrying to plan and prepare. Luckily, worry doesn’t enter much into my life when I’m in action, it’s only in the anticipation. So, for example I worry for months about being ready for a WaterTribe Everglades Challenge, and sharks, and

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-18042032083497237302010-07-07T06:05:00.000-04:002010-07-07T06:05:04.807-04:00

Paul and I are members of the Carolina Sailing Club, their focus is one-design buoy racing, which hasn't really interested us much, and of course "Dawn Patrol" doesn't fit the classes.  A couple of years ago Paul and Alan did enter thier large Govenor's Cup Race in the 'all comers' category, but they didn't know how to handicap our sailboat. This year the club started a new Day Sailors division

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-84370409982911158142010-07-06T07:06:00.001-04:002010-07-06T07:07:03.587-04:00

The sailing of this first real sailing trip was not the only thing I was a bit worried about. I wasn’t sure about all the “togetherness”. We’d be 8 days including camping on our small 20 ft sailboat, that’s pretty tight quarters. This would be the first real vacation Paul and I would take together without kids, in about 10 years. I also didn’t know how it would go with Steve and Bruce in “

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-88852714549438876672010-07-05T15:08:00.000-04:002010-07-05T15:08:56.251-04:00

My kayak club reserved a group camp site on the lake, and my daughter Tana called to say she'd love to come home and kayak and camp for the weekend.  Paul joined us Saturday afternoon and brought us dinner.  There was no no wind for sailing.   Interestingly it wasn't a well attended event.  We couldn't have had more perfect weather.   Night time temps in the 60's allowed for a nice bonfire to

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-4883757621481737872010-07-02T19:29:00.001-04:002010-07-03T00:24:55.222-04:00

Steve’s trips aboard his John Welford’s Pathfinder “Spartina” have all had names. His blog, “The Log of Spartina” offers posting on his trip preparations, and then he follows that up with great photos and trip reports.  These have included trips named “The Crab House 150”, “The Skeeter Beater”, and “the Weekend Walkabout”. I’d wondered if our trip had a name.  I finally noticed it, “Tag Team 200”

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-42920072722200667602010-07-02T05:54:00.000-04:002010-07-02T05:54:59.406-04:00

Tour de France that is, (or possibly Tour de Lance) starting Saturday July 3rd. This year’s Tour will be especially fun to follow as I intend it to be great motivation for me to get regularly biking again. July is also RAGBRAI, the Register’s (as in Des Moines Register) Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, a seven-day bicycle ride across the state. RAGBRAI is the oldest, largest and longest

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-79772202766319414772010-06-29T21:52:00.000-04:002010-06-29T21:52:49.008-04:00

While thoroughly enjoying everything about our sailing trip, paddling was always never too far from my mind.  Much of our route I'd previously paddled and there were some great memories.  Down time was spent reading the new book ‘Without a Paddle’ by Warren Richey.  Without a doubt, this is now my new favorite book, and not just because I am mentioned in it a few times :) Richey, known as

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-18015528654763235332010-06-28T15:51:00.000-04:002010-06-28T15:51:33.326-04:00

Our sailing trip covered a total of 210 miles (183 nautical miles).  The 8 days on the water varied in distance.  In order from day 1 to day 8 our daily distances were 15, 30, 29, 45, 22, 16, 40, and 13 miles. Quite an ambitious trip overall, we were up before sunrise each morning, on the water often by 6:30, one morning at 5:30 for our longest day, and anchored by 4:30, asleep each night by 9.

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-78330892644842135892010-06-27T06:55:00.000-04:002010-06-27T06:55:30.981-04:00

What a great trip and a wonderful vacation!  Any apprehension (and fear) I might have had about sailing is gone.  It was all fun, excitement, and adventure, everything I love.  Best of all, the 24/7 for 8 days on our small sailboat with Paul was not only a lot of fun, we really enjoyed each other. The joint venture with Steve and Bruce on “Spartina” was a great success. Both boats and crew

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-61416744577695087562010-06-17T16:31:00.000-04:002010-06-17T16:31:53.686-04:00

Still busy packing and making a few modifications to the boat to hold the motor (Ken was here last night helping us work it all out).  We are scheduled to sail just before noon tomorrow, so ready or not here we come. We'll have our SPOT tracking on, you can check our location here. Steve and Bruce on Spartina will also have SPOT tracking here.  We should be in the same general area, as

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-50602476544127495852010-06-15T16:54:00.000-04:002010-06-15T16:54:36.622-04:00

I’ve put in a few new blog updates to accommodate our trip that will help us occasionally report to family and friends. On the sidebar to the right I’ve added “mobile updates”, these will be short status reports made from my cell phone through twitter. Also created a drop box photo album in Picasa which will keep a slide show running (below the mobile updates) from photos taken via cell. I’m

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-58960606247418641622010-06-15T07:01:00.000-04:002010-06-15T07:01:29.329-04:00

We are all looking for our own little slice of Paradise.   My son Alan is currently sailing the Pacific Ocean on his way to the Samoan Islands.  Yesterday they made land on the island of Ofu, said to be one of the world's best beaches.  They'll spend a day before sailing another 50 miles over to Pago Pago. A little closer to home, Paul and I continue to prepare for our big sailing adventure

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-71073833172395320202010-06-13T15:24:00.000-04:002010-06-13T15:24:59.290-04:00

The only real shopping left for our sailing trip next week is the perishable food stuff, I’ll get that done right before the trip.  Still packing though. Steve and I continue to email to compare packing and other ideas.  He described how he keeps foods frozen and fresh on Spartina (he's also just put up a blog post on this as well.  I plan to do the same if our coolers will work together.   Our

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-82769731155715843162010-06-12T06:48:00.000-04:002010-06-12T06:48:55.953-04:00

Today Paul and I have been married for 28 years.  I love (and enjoy) him more today than ever. Tradition has it that wedding anniversary gifts should follow a certain format according to the number of years of marriage. Twenty-eight years calls for orchids. Our gifts to each other were some very nice Seattle Sports Navigator Roll Top Duffle dry bags.  They'll be perfect for packing on our sail

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-1913971378825048352010-06-11T11:19:00.000-04:002010-06-11T11:19:00.474-04:00

This post derives from a comment left on my blog yesterday after my Row Row Row your Boat posting. “Do these people who row across oceans, sail around the world, and do other "great stunts" actually ever work like real people? I mean really, how many people out there could take say six months off work to sail around the world and STILL HAVE A JOB? Get a life, people. These are either filthy rich

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18999208.post-83771289981671386032010-06-10T17:51:00.000-04:002010-06-10T17:51:10.863-04:00

My friend Ginger just lent me another book to read on my sailing trip.  This one is Roz Savage's book 'Rowing the Atlantic".  I certainly know about her and her accomplishments, but didn't actually start following her blog until her trip rowing to Hawaii, and now she's on her way to Australia.  This should be an interesting read. Other favorites of mine have included Audrey Southerland's '

SandyBottomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06229035938500562535noreply@blogger.com3