Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

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.

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

It’s that time of year again!

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!

Last weekend Barry and I paddled in the Scottish islands around Oban. I’ve paddled there a few times before and was reminded what a gorgeous area it is & the snow on the distant peaks made it extra moody. On Saturday we raced 35km around Lismore island which proved good practice for Tierra del Fuego with all seasons in 5 hours! We had a force 5 headwind, flat calm, rain, hail & sunshine – everything but a following sea! Barry now reckons that ‘cyclonic winds’ means that if you are paddling around an island that the wind is always against you! The day was topped off by 4 otter sightings – a couple of them almost within reach of the paddle.

Sunday was a glorious sunny day, although still a day for poggies in the crisp November temperatures! My day was topped off by spending about 10 minutes in the company of acrobatic dolphins. Hopefully this little film clip will put a smile on your face too! Thanks to Rowland Woollven for putting us up for the weekend and letting me point my camera at him and all his kit on Sunday for a new DVD out next year.

This weekend I’m in the Lake District for the UK’s biggest adventure film festival, the Kendal Mountain film Festival. “Rannoch Moor” is showing on Thursday night as part of the ‘wild water night’ and “Dougie Down the Pet” is showing all weekend in the ‘wild water’ and ‘family friendly’ film programmes. Hope to see some of you there.