Our overworked postman delivered a precious parcel from Canada today. Inside are 2 spot devices which are being lent to us by Avantura for our trip to Tierra del Fuego. Aleks Gusev has sent us the original SPOT 1, and the smaller SPOT 2, so we can chose which one we would like to take on our trip. Both are personal trackers which can work out our location and send the GPS co-ordinates to a google map on a website so that people can track our progress while we are away. If all is well, we will use the SPOT every evening to send an ‘OK’ message with our location, to let people know where we are and that we are fine. If things go wrong, we have an emergency SOS button that we can press to alert the GEOS International Emergency Rescue Coordination Centre and other pre-determined people ( and we will also have an EPIRB in case of emergency).
The new SPOT 2 is 30% smaller and can find a GPS signal quicker, but the battery life is shorter. Since we’ll just be using the SPOT once a day then we’ll probably take SPOT 2, but we’ll have a play with them both over the next 2 weeks to get used to them as see which we prefer.
Thanks a lot to Aleks for sponsoring us with the loan of the SPOT devices. If you are interested in hiring or buying one, then please visit his website, Avantura.ca.
This weekend, Barry and I paddled joined Kev, Gill, Chris & Matt for a paddle down the Menai Straits and an overnight camp at Aber Menai Point. Although, the snow on the Welsh mountains has largely melted it was still a frosty cold night, so was a good chance for Barry and I to test out some of the kit that we’re planing to take to Tierra del Fuego. It was exciting to sleep in our new Hilleberg Tarra tent for the first time and our first impressions are great. It’s roomy, very sturdy and a fantastic shade of red! We’ve both got a large porch to ourselves so there will be no squabbling over space to put our kit! The footprint extends underneath the porches so our kit is off any wet soggy (or frosty!) ground.
While we were testing out our kit, it wasn’t all serious! I am happy to confess that we spent most of the evening in Kev & Gill’s big family size tent, crowded round Kev’s homemade fire pit, drinking mulled wine and scoffing mince pies! Kev & Gill were in a canoe which meant they had lots of space to make life very comfortable!
I was also trying out a few new bits of kit from Kokatat. I’ve had the dry suit that I’ll take on the trip for a few months already and I’ve been wearing it most of the winter so far! but on Friday I received a box with some extra goodies in it. I tried out my new destination paddling trousers which I’ll live in when I’m on land. They are very comfy, and fit over my thermals nicely ( which was definitely needed on Saturday night!). I also had on Kokatat’s long sleeved base layer which is very warm and snug, and the new Msfit tour buoyancy aid ( PFD). The new Msfit has slightly larger pockets than the original one and has a new piece of material over where you can clip your knife, so that it’s less likely to get caught on anything. Thanks to Kev & Gill for inviting us to join them! I’m looking forward to a couple of months of camping in Tierra del Fuego. 3 weeks to go!
For those of us with snow outside the window, it’s that time of year when rolling your kayak is probably the last thing you want to do! Especially a whole day of rolling with 2 of the worlds’ very best rollers and rolling teachers. But read on….. for when the snow melts and the sun returns, Cheri & Turner will be coming to Wales and offering 2 days of coaching on 7th and 8th May 2011. The classes will be on Llyn Padarn, Llanberis and are a fantastic opportunity for anyone wanting to learn to roll, or to develop lots of fancy ( and practical) rolls.They use ‘skinny sticks’ (Greenland paddles), but you don’t have to use a Greenland paddle to benefit from the teaching. I’ve had a bit of coaching from Cheri & Turner and they are excellent teachers. This is what they do all the time and it shows. They are quick to spot what people are doing wrong and have lots of tips for correcting it. They are also lovely people with plenty of interesting stories about competing in the rolling competition in Greenland, making their own kayaks & paddles, and getting out on the water all over the world. Places are limited to 8 people per day, so contact Cheri & Turner if you have any questions, or to book your place. Email: info @ kayakways.net
For me, Christmas brings a mixture of excitement at the snow, the mulled wine & the festive spirit, but also dread at the thought of traipsing around trying to get presents for everyone!
If you feel the same then please consider making your life easier, and at the same time putting a smile on the face of the paddlers in your life with some inspiration in a box this Christmas!!
With this in mind, and because I haven’t released a new seakayaking DVD for a couple of years (shame on me… there will be a new one this time next year, I promise!)… I have collaborated with some kayaking filmmakers from across the pond and have brought in some award-winning films that people outside of North America have probably not seen. I have limited copies for sale in the UK, Europe & Australasia so get yours first!
The first film “Paddle to Seattle” is about the very likable and fun paddling duo of Josh Thomas & J.J. Kelley who make their own kayaks in Alaska, and proceed to paddle 1,300 miles down the Inside Passage. Guess where they end up? … Seattle! This is a 2 hour film which has won more awards than I have fingers, and it’s been shown on TV in various states of America. Paddler magazine called it “the best feature film on kayaking produced in the last decade”. It’s yours for just £15.99 ,plus a small contribution towards postage if you live in Europe or Australia. If you’re not already convinced then watch the trailer!
Also available is a box set bursting with seakayaking adventures from filmmaker Jon Bowermaster. This great value boxset contains 8 films (on 4 DVDs) that were originally produced for the National Geographic Channel. Jon kayaks in Tasmania, along the lost coast of Gabon in West Africa, amongst the islands of French Polynesia, in the beautiful Aleutian islands & in the South American Altiplano. He has run-ins with hippopotamus & crocodiles in Africa, and battles into icy winds while crossing between Aleutian islands. Jon’s films examine the culture and people of the places that he visits, while being immersed in the adventure! Get all 8 DVDs for just £29.99 (free postage to the UK, £1 extra to Europe, £2 extra to Australia).
Here’s a preview of one of Jon’s films. You can see previews of the others on his website.
Of course, all the Cackle TV DVDs are in stock and are also full of fantastic seakayaking and canoeing adventures. “This is Canoeing” was released earlier this year and has won 3 awards! I’m sure there are lots of paddlers who have been too busy paddling to buy it, but who would love to settle down with a mince pie and watch some of the 12 high definition films.
Last but definitely not least, for the bargain hunters, “This is the Sea 3” is on offer for £15 or US $22.50 for a limited time on our special offers page, & as always you can save money when you buy multiple DVDs. Shipping is always free on Cackle TV Products!
So check out the store and let us help make your Christmas shopping that little bit easier!
Our overworked postman delivered a precious parcel from Canada today. Inside are 2 spot devices which are being lent to us by Avantura for our trip to Tierra del Fuego. Aleks Gusev has sent us the original SPOT 1, and the smaller SPOT 2, so we can chose which one we would like to take on our trip. Both are personal trackers which can work out our location and send the GPS co-ordinates to a google map on a website so that people can track our progress while we are away. If all is well, we will use the SPOT every evening to send an ‘OK’ message with our location, to let people know where we are and that we are fine. If things go wrong, we have an emergency SOS button that we can press to alert the GEOS International Emergency Rescue Coordination Centre and other pre-determined people ( and we will also have an EPIRB in case of emergency).
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