San Francisco's Aquan Fest

Here are some pics from an event I attended a couple of weeks ago in San Francisco. It was the first year of AquanFest which celebrated everything water. I met a ton of people who were being exposed to paddlesports for the first time and by the end of the day they had caught the bug. The night before the event, I helped the race team set up a course all the way around the lake. It was a really coolo course in that there were only select spots where you could pass people and then other spots where you would have to pull in single file. This reminded me of those roller derby courses. The race then went off with a bunch of excitement as the racers made 5 laps around the course.

Stand up paddleboards were also really well represented at the event and I had a good time playing on one for a few minutes. Standing on the water is a cool perspective but give me the glide of a fast hull any time. I see the stand up boards being a ton of fun in the ocean though.

Pak Boat 16

Folding canoes and kayaks are becoming a wiser decision with fuel prices jumping and our living spaces getting smaller. I started repping PakBoats this year and after several months of playing with the product I have to say that I'm quite satisfied. My interest started as I was searching for the perfect boat to pull behind my bicycle for the "green tour" that I'm planning. The green tour has been delayed slightly as I await a new Bicycle Trailer from Equinox Bicycle Trailers (http://www.equinoxtrailers.com/) and try to line up dog care while I'm away. The Equinox trailer is ideal because it will break down and fit into a carrying case for bus or train travel!

It took me about 1 hour to put this boat together for the first time but I think that part of the delay was that at the demo I was at putting it together I was stalled several times by interested customers...all asking how long it took me to put it together! I think I could now put the boat together in less than 25 minutes. I have now paddled the boat solo and tandem and I really like the performance. The optional padded knee pads are a must if you are going to kneel. The provided seats are quite comfortable. I would not hesitate to take this boat on any canoeing adventure. It is quick to respond, quite stable and easily solo paddled even in wind.

REI Spokane Demo Day

REI's Demo Day last Sunday in Spokane had some of the rare sun in one of the coldest and rainiest spring/early summers I've been through. I was thrilled to get some of Stohlquist's new Nemo Child's PFD on some young paddlers.

This was also one of the few events of the season where I wasn't presenting a boat line. Certainly easier on my back! I was able to have more "conversations" which I really enjoyed versus adjusting foot braces the whole time.

REI did a great job getting a good crowd out to Fish Lake (near Cheney WA). I was amazed that people were really after some higher end boats and paddles that unfortunately REI did not have represented in the store. It was great to get this kind of feedback from their customers. I know that REI can special order so hopefully people were able to order the boats and paddles that they were after.

Columbia River Paddlefest

I like this event in Eastern Washington on the Columbia River because paddling is really a relatively fresh activity to the locals. It is exciting to see people get turned on to paddling for the first time. I specifically enjoy the fact that some of the crazy dogma that seems to follow every paddlefest around doesn't yet exist here. But every year, we see more dry suits and more people working on their 2 finger back deck roll while not seeming to smile anymore. What is it with taking a sport to the higher level that seems to take the fun out of it?

I'm biased because I grew up on the Mississippi River in MN. We paddled around there because it was fun and it was a good way to get to the sandy island that we could run up and down. My boat carried a lunch and some water and maybe some sand toys. The Columbia in Eastern WA has that same "feel" of the Mississippi where I grew up. Everything revolves around the river. The river gives life to the crops and livestock. People go straight to the river on their day off. The parks are situated along the river and the river is the commercial draw for both tourism and industry. I enjoy seeing the locals have that "Eureka" moment when they realize all the fun paddling they can have on "their" river. What a unique new way to enjoy something they have been around all their lives.

We had great weather during the day and a powerful wind storm to make packing up interesting. Thanks to Matthew from http://www.seakayakshop.com/ for his help and http://www.columbiakayakadventures.com/ for their retail support of the products I sell. REI should be given big Kudos for sponsoring this event.

Bamboo enjoyed his new rubber Corn toy...a fitting toy for an agricultural area like E Washington.

Burn baby Burn

98 miles from home, I enjoyed the sight of flames coming from under the hood while cruising down the road. Thankfully, I had a fire extinguisher in the camper and was able to put the fire out. My alternator decided that was enough and presto...instant fire.

Thankfully, AAA RV Plus will get you a tow for 100 miles for free. After a few hours I was back home. Always keep a fire extinguiser around and get AAA. And if your vehicle starts on fire, make sure you get the dog and Martin guitar out first...then put out the fire.