CASKA: Chicago Area Sea Kayakers Association

End of Summer creeping up on you??

The sun is rising later and setting earlier. If the end of summer is looking a little too close because you still have training, tripping or playing goals to accomplish, read on. Many of the Great Lakes Symposia have come and gone, but here are a few to check out.

                      Give them a look or call them to get involved.

(Note: This is not a comprehensive list, just a handful of opportunities FYI.)

 

August 12-15

Ladies of the Lake Sea Kayak Symposium Marquette, MI Contact: Arni Ronis, (906) 482-2500 [email protected] www.downwindsports.com

It's this week end if you're free to travel.

 

August 19-22

Lower Columbia Kayak Roundup Slow Boat Farm, Wahkiakum County, WA Contact: Ginni Callahan, (360) 849-4016 [email protected] www.locoroundup.com

What's New for LoCo 2010
First, what is LoCo 2010? The 4th Annual Lower Columbia River Kayak Roundup is an instructional retreat for kayakers of all levels.
Classes last the full day, with some afternoon games, and evening presentations. Most participants and coaches camp at Slow Boat Farm, where the event is held, although there are also a number of small B&Bs nearby.
Catered Meals. Sharon's Pizza and More in Cathlamet will be working with local farmers to offer fresh, locally raised food. Breakfast, Trail Lunch, and Dinner are available. Meals will be served at the Slow Boat Farm. Pick up your trail lunch at the morning meeting.
LoCo Meet-up. Kayakers who are not taking classes are invited to go paddling together unguided. Daily routes will be recommended for various skill levels based on the weather and tides. Sign up on the regular registration form. Modest fee of $20 includes the organization of groups, screening for skill level, camping, and evening program.
Sunday Morning Social Paddles (free with a 3-day program; $20 as a Meet-up option). Enjoy paddling with friends and utilizing your new kayaking skills. Separate groups will have different levels of challenge and length of trip.

 

August 26-29

Greenland Paddling Symposium Wawa, ON, Canada Contact: (800) 203-9092 [email protected] www.naturallysuperior.com

Every August, Naturally Superior Adventures hosts Ontario’s only Greenland-style sea kayak symposium on Lake Superior. Instructors include Bonnie Perry and Doug Van Doren, two of North America’s finest Greenland-style paddlers. Perfect for first-time and experienced Greenland-style paddlers alike, registration includes the use of a handmade paddle.

Where the vast majority of Greenland-style retreats have focused on flatwater skills, Naturally Superior's Greenland-Style Paddling Symposium includes surf kayaking at the mouth of the Michipicoten River. Novice and women-only programs make this event perfect for everyone. And Sunday’s Greenland-style competition combines a sprint race and portage with rolling and traditional hunting techniques in a fun-filled format.

With a maximum registration of 50 participants, there will be lots of personalized teaching and feedback from our instructors. Registration includes a beach campsite and hearty, home-cooked meals at Rock Island Lodge, and a Saturday night house concert.

 

September 10-13

Downeast Sea Kayak Symposium Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor, ME Contact: Melinda Rice, (207) 669-2338 [email protected] www.carpediemkayaking.com

Registration is now open for the 5th Annual Downeast Sea Kayaking Symposium !

Dates: Friday, Sept. 10 through Monday, Sept. 13.
Location: Mount Desert Island, Maine

New This Year: We're mixing it up this year, offering new classes (along with the usual favorites) and dividing them into series based on skill level and interest: Fundamental Skills; Beyond the Basics; Masters Series; BCU Series; and Just for Fun. Check out class descriptions and the symposium schedule at www.carpediemkayaking.com/symposium .

The Masters Series is for experienced and trained paddlers looking to push the performance envelope even further -- much further. If you feel you qualify, please call us, as enrollment in these courses will be limited, with prior approval required.

Coaches: We've got many coaches from previous years returning including John Carmody, Scott Fairty, Christopher Lockyer, Jean Totz, Russell Farrow and Steve Maynard, plus new coaches including Nigel Robinson from Wales.

Visit the website or call us at 207-669-2338 for more information or to sign up.

 

October 27-31

Sea Kayak Georgia Skills Symposium Tybee Island, GA Contact: Sea Kayak Georgia, (888) 529-2542 [email protected] www.seakayakgeorgia.com

 The British Canoe Union is a widely respected school of training, we invite you to join us for your skills development and assessment in this outstanding system. We are pleased to offer BCU courses as well as skills training courses developed by Sea Kayak Georgia and some of the world's leading kayakers. Courses are available for all skill levels and everyone is invited to attend.

Sea Kayak Georgia looks forward to hosting the 2010 symposium to allow paddlers to come together as a community to give and receive knowledge, to see old friends and welcome new ones. The Symposium is planned around the highest tides of the year. The high tides lend themselves to challenging conditions for the advanced classes and flood the marshes with higher water than usual. The marshes are an excellent sheltered water training ground. Navigation through flooded creeks enables us to offer the Exploration Series and the Naturalist Day Paddle.
Group dinners will be offered. Presentations will be given by different coaches evenings around 7:30 to 8:00.

Call with questions, help you plan, and receive your registration by phone: 888 529 2542.


Check in with Geneva Kayak Center for the September Midwest Sea Kayak Skills Fest

When

Fri Sep 17 – Sun Sep 19

http://genevakayak.com

You can always check the many posted calendars:

Locations for event calendars:

http://www.goneseakayaking.com/calendar.asp

http://www.paddling.net/events/

http://playak.com/calendar.php?eid=1458

http://www.seakayakermag.com/events_calendar.htm

http://www.kayaksession.com/calendar-kayak.php

http://www.paddlermagazine.com/component/option,com_eventlist/Itemid,138/view,eventlist

Capsurz - A New CASKA Sponsor

Dear CASKA Members, 

Please allow us to introduce ourselves as a new CASKA Sponsor. We are a husband and wife design team, Para Designers Inc., who have invented a product, Capsurz, that provides important functionality for hat-wearing outdoor enthusiasts, especially paddlers. 

Capsurz is the only patented cap accessory cord that retrofits to your hat and keeps it on your head, hands free! 

 

We invented Capsurz due to our own hat and wind challenges and are now working on letting all hat-wearing outdoor enthusiasts know how easy it is to be cap sure with Capsurz. We are native Illinoisians: Capsurz is made in Woodstock, IL and we'd like to help promote safe paddling and eliminate hat litter by keeping hats where they're supposed to be. 

Thank you to Tom Bamonte and Emily Kornak for welcoming us to CASKA. And as a thank you to the group, the first three members to email us will receive a complimentary Capsurz, as long as you'll use it, review it (pictures, too!) and post it to this blog!

Here's to your safe paddling fun,  

Mari & Eric

Para Designers Inc. 
www.capsurz.com
[email protected]

Aurora Paddlesports Festival June 12 & 13

Aurora Paddlesports Festival

June 12 & 13, 2010

Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mastodon Lake, Phillips Park, Aurora, IL

CASKA is one of the sponsors for this open to the public paddlesports event. Reminiscent of years past Paddle in the Park, it is not only a place to network and learn about local clubs, local outfitters, paddlesport centers, and places to paddle. It is a place to get your feet wet, or if you're a more adventurous, to get all of you wet. There will be introductory and not so introductory classes on land and on water, fleets of boats to try and a film festival!

This will be the 2nd annual two-day canoeing and kayaking festival with low-cost on-water lessons in solo and tandem canoeing, river and sea kayaking; test-paddling of canoes and kayaks; on-land programs about paddling skills and adventures, paddling safety and more. Meet Illinois paddling clubs, paddle sport retailers, and river conservation organizations.

The festival admission is free. Paddling lessons are $ 20.00 for adults and $ 10.00 for children 10-17 when accompanied by adult taking the same lesson. Test paddling canoes and kayaks is $ 10.00 adults only for the day with a signed waiver. The film festival is $ 2.00 per showing.

LOCATION:

Mastodon Lake was so named because the remains of the extinct elephant-like Mastodon were found in this 28 acre fishing lake in the 1930's and visitors to the lake can see a life size sculpture of a Mastodon and a restored prairie grass development, as well as enjoy a one mile walking path.

For more detailed information, directions, sign up forms and waivers go to:

http://www.illinoispaddling.org/upcoming-events/2ndannualaurorapaddlesportsfestiveltobeheldjune1213th

CASKA will also staff a table to provide information about our club, safety and activities. We will be putting out a call for members to sign up to represent our club through out the event. Keep your calendar open.

To sign up to staff the table contact:   Bill Burton, [email protected] or [email protected]

Lyn Stone

"Paddler's Book Club" - Back in Business

My name is Sherri Mertz and I have been a sea kayaker since 1988 and an ACA instructor for over 10 years.  Just an FYI that I have taken over Rick Isaacson's "Paddler's Book Club" blog at Rick's request.  He found himself suddenly too busy to keep it going.  I have new posts for chapters 3-5 of the book, "Sea Kayaker: Deep Trouble" by Matt Broze and George Gronseth. (Which should really be chapters 2-4.  Rick apparently counted the "Introduction" as chapter 1 when he started. :-))  I welcome your comments.  Even if you aren't reading along faithfully in the book, many of the discussion questions are broad enough that you may be able to contribute from your personal experiences.  You can find the Paddler's Book Club at www.paddlerbooks.blogspot.com.  I look forward to hearing from all of you!

Yep, tired of winter and it just started. I admit browsing the Canoepoia Gazette.

I gathered a handful of possiblities to dream about, some near and some far. All good.

This is by no means a complete or comprehensive list:

Locations for event calendars:

http://www.goneseakayaking.com/calendar.asp

http://www.paddling.net/events/

http://playak.com/calendar.php?eid=1458

http://www.seakayakermag.com/events_calendar.htm

http://www.kayaksession.com/calendar-kayak.php

http://www.paddlermagazine.com/component/option,com_eventlist/Itemid,138/view,eventlist/

EVENTS:

Sweetwater Kayaks Paddlesports Symposium

St. Petersburg, FL USA
Feb-26-2010 - Feb-28-2010
Tel: 727-570-4844
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.sweetwaterkayaks.com/symposiums.html

DESCRIPTION:

The winter's premier paddling event is back in Florida. ACA, BCU and Greenland instruction and assessments as well as personnel skills courses for the novice to advanced. Coaching courses also. Kayak, Canoe and Paddleboard courses. Sweetwater Kayaks in St Petersburg for more info.

Friday & Saturday evenings:
Social on "the deck"
Dinner & Presentation at the Banana Boat Weekends
Demos 9:00 - 10:00
Classes 10:00 - 4:00
Saturday - Shop Demo Day

Kayaking Event:
Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium

When: Friday, February 26, 2010 - Sunday, February 28, 2010

Where: San Francisco, CA US

What: GGSKS is a skills symposium, not a selling event. We aim to deliver a fun and exciting weekend of sea kayaking in one of the most spectacular and dynamic locations in the world — the Marin Headlands and San Francisco Bay.

This event is dedicated to the sheer joy of paddling well and paddling safe. You will find a little ACA and BCU in the program, but the goal is to address paddling for the pure fun of it. Some of the best coaches in the world will be here to coach you and inspire you.

http://www.ggsks.com

 

Kayaking Event: Canoecopia 2010

When: Friday, March 12, 2010 - Sunday, March 14, 2010

Where: Madison, WI US

What: Canoecopia is hosted by Rutabaga, a paddler-owned business in Madison,Wisconsin. Because we're paddler-owned, we're passionate about what we do. There are four main reasons we put on Canoecopia: Education and Inspiration; Exposure to Guides, Outfitters, and Schools; Charitable Giving; Access to Great Gear at Great Prices.

http://www.canoecopia.com

 

Kayaking Event: Southwest Kayak Symposium

When: Friday, March 26, 2010 - Sunday, March 28, 2010

Where: San Diego, CA US

What:  The Annual Southwest Kayak Symposium, held in San Diego on beautiful Mission Bay, is fast becoming one of the premier kayaking celebrations on the west coast! A great line-up of the top instructors from far and wide, exhibits and product demos by top manufacturers, affordable waterfront accomodations, proximity to world famous attractions like the San Diego Zoo and Sea World, and a festive atmosphere are the makings of a great event.

http://www.aqua-adventures.com/symposium%20index.html

 

Event: 21st Annual WMCKA Symposium

West Michigan Coastal Kayakers Association

Where: Camp Pendalouan, Big Blue Lake - Near Whitehall, MI
When: May 28-31, 2010
Check back for more information.
A great all round family oriented symposium.
Website: http://wmcka.org/

If you have any questions regarding Symposium, email,
[email protected].

Kayaking Event: Door County Sea Kayak Symposium

When: Friday, July 09, 2010 - Sunday, July 11, 2010

Where: Door County, WI US

What: At the Door County Sea Kayak Symposium paddlers of all ages and abilities will enjoy a supportive learning environment and a wide range of fun and educational experiences, complete with the opportunity to connect with others who love the sport.

http://www.rutabaga.com/everyonepaddles/page.asp?pgid=1016

 

Kayaking Event: Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium

When; Thursday, July 15, 2010 - Sunday, July 18, 2010

Where: Grand Marais, MI US

What:  The oldest kayaking symposium on the Great Lakes! Grand Marais Michigan, has a protected harbor that is ideal for class sessions and skills practice while offering a perfect starting point for unforgettable trips along the scenic Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Whether you are being introduced to kayaking for the first time or you have been on the water for years, attendees will enjoy learning from a team of qualified, highly experienced individuals who are passionate about the sport and eager to share their knowledge in a non-competitive, supportive, and encouraging atmosphere. All abilities are welcome!

http://www.downwindsports.com/glsks.html

 

Kayaking Event: Ladies of the Lake

When: Thursday, August 12, 2010 - Sunday, August 15, 2010

Where: Marquette, MI US

What: The 7th annual sea kayaking symposium, sponsored by Werner Paddles and Impex Kayaks, promotes "women kayaking with women for women." During the symposium there will be instructional courses, clinics on a variety of kayaking-related topics, interesting and inspiring slide shows, as well as opportunities to try out the latest and greatest paddling gear and clothing.

This year's theme will be eating! Whether you are planning an expedition around Lake Superior or doing an overnight at Pictured Rocks, darn it — we are going to eat well!

http://www.downwindsports.com/lady_lake.html

 

Event: Greenland-style Sea Kayak Symposium

Wawa, ON Canada
Aug-27-2010 - Aug-29-2010
Tel: 800-203-9092
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: http://naturallysuperior.com/workshops-and-events/greenland-style

DESCRIPTION:

Join renowned US and Canadian instructors for our 3rd Greenland Paddling Symposium. Focused on novice-to-intermediate paddlers, registration includes camping, meals, music, instruction, and use of a Greenland stick (paddle).
Limited to 40 participants.

Event: Qajaq TC (Michigan Training Camp) is a truly unique traditional paddlers gathering

August 27 - 29, 2010

The first event was in August of 2002 and, from the start, we have been affiliated with Qajaq USA. In fact, Qajaq TC was the first ‘all Greenland’ Qajaq USA event in the country.

One can rightfully state this is a full immersion event. There is no access by road, so start paddling! Our spectacular venue creates a truly intimate atmosphere. You will be among sixty (60) individuals representing a broad range of skills who want to do one thing — share and gain experience.

http://www.qajaqtc.org/

 

Event: Midwest BCU Week & Sea Skills Symposium

When

Thu Sep 16 – Sun Sep 19

20100916/2010092

Description

More Details Coming Soon...

http://genevakayak.com

 

Event: Lower Columbia Kayak Roundup

Cathlamet, WA USA
Puget Island's Slow Boat Farm
Aug-19-2010 - Aug-22-2010
Tel: 360-849-4016
Web Site: http://www.locoroundup.com/

DESCRIPTION:

Intensive, top notch instruction and fun times!
Lower Columbia River has spectacular paddling for all levels, from protected islands to the Pacific Ocean.
Camping and presentations will be held on Puget Island's Slow Boat Farm.

Learn, eat well, and be inspired!

Event: Sea Kayak Georgia Skills Symposium and BCU Week

October 27 through 31, 2010

Skills Development Courses & BCU Curriculum, Star Trainings and Assessments, 4 Star Sea Training & Assessment, Canoe Star Training and Assessments, Level 1 Coach, Level 2 Coach Training & Assessment
Modules, Transfers, Updates, Exploration Series, Skills Development Courses for All levels, Naturalist Day Paddle

http://www.seakayakgeorgia.com/Instruction/BCU_Week/index.htm

Cold Weather/Water Preparation: Links to Videos

By:  Jim Tibensky

The water is cold already. Look at these videos, even if you have in the past:

• http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=5gOW8ZaYqHA& feature=related 

  
• http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=DyBVWrqvkEg& feature=related 


• http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=0PAwzPgRYOI& feature=related  

If you are a cross country skier, as many of us are, look at this to join the pioneers of a new sport that will make you fit faster than almost any other (it is cross country snowboarding):


• http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=4w7sVSMbjyM


NE IL Water Trails Summit Registration

SUMMIT REGISTRATION

October 9, 2009

9:00 am-3:00 pm

United States Environmental Protection Agency

77 W. Jackson Blvd.

Chicago, Illinois 60604

Lake Michigan Room, 12^th Floor

The Northeastern Illinois Water Trail Council invites you to register for the 2^nd Regional Water Trails Summit.  The purpose of the Summit is to highlight our progress on local water trails, organize stakeholders to identify and plan for future work, present a model for water trail implementation, encourage coordinated interstate planning, and celebrate our accomplishments over the last ten years since the adoption of the Northeastern Regional Water Trail Plan in December 1999.

The Summit will present speakers who have extensive knowledge of regional water trails, and water trail planning and advocacy.  Invited to speak is Marc Miller, Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and numerous representatives of water trails throughout the region, including Indiana and Wisconsin.  A networking lunch, water trail implementation demonstration, and breakout groups for planning for each trail will be included.

We extend an invitation to you to attend this Summit and participate in this celebration and planning effort.  We know the Summit would greatly benefit from your knowledge, experience, and ideas.  Please register by calling Laura Barghusen at Openlands Project at 312-863-6253 or by e-mailing [email protected].  Please include your name, address, and e-mail or phone number when registering. There is a $15 registration fee payable by check made out to Openlands to cover the cost of morning snacks and lunch.  Lunch will be provided by Sapraffina Market Café.  You can choose your lunch sandwich (each sandwich is also available as a wrap), by going to http://www.sopraffina.com/dolce/category.htm?categoryId=104 and viewing the individual sandwich selections.  Please indicate your preference when you register.  Please send checks to Laura Barghusen, Associate Greenways Director, Openlands, 25 E. Washington St., Suite 1650, Chicago, IL 60602 prior to the event.

All Summit attendees will need to bring picture identification for admittance to the Summit location in the Federal Building at 77 W. Jackson.

Forward Stroke Analysis

From Jim Tibensky:

"You don't have to wait until the Olympics start to get a good view of what a perfect racing forward stroke looks like.  Take a peek at this video, especially the slow motion stuff at the end.  Even if you are not racing and don't have a wing paddle, there is a lot to be learned from this.

Notice as you watch:

The level punch:  the top arm does not dip down at the end of the stroke and is always parallel to the water.

The knees pumping: with the huge cockpit, you can see how much the legs need to be involved.  Very important even if you are just cruising!

The torso rotation:  at the end of the video there is a slo-mo sequence of a racer.  He has a vertical stripe down the middle of his shirt - perfect for showing what the torso is really doing.

The crossover of the top arm, giving great torso rotation:  this is really obvious at the end of the video in the same shot as mentioned above.

The height of the seat:  the paddlers' butts are moving a little in the seat, proving that a too tight backrest or backband is not good for power paddling.

The fact that at the end of the stroke the blade is quite far away from the hull:  at 2:53 in the video, look at where the paddle is in relation to the hull.  It's pretty far out.  Now look at the wake coming off the boat - he's got the blade right in this wave, giving him an extra boost."

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/player.html?assetid=4600fa4f-ff00-44be-a76f-fbc813af18e 6&channelcode=archive

Rules of the Aquatic Road

I believe this incredibly informative email from Paddlewise could be of interest, and use, for a lot of us.

~ Jim Tibensky

**********************************************

I have discovered that kayakers generally display an ignorance of the Rules of the Road

(http://www.navcen. uscg.gov/ mwv/navrules/ rotr_online. htm

for the USA) rivaled only by jet ski operators. If you, as a kayaker, are shocked by that statement then please read on.

In the USA (at least) there are two regulatory agencies which define the use of waterways; the Federal Government in the form of the USCG and individual state police departments. It turns out that the rules of one don't exactly match the rules of the other. Some states have seen fit to alter the Rules when applied to inland waters not under the regulatory authority of the USCG; these are generally inland lakes and rivers not considered to be "navigable".

Under USCG Rules (Rule 18, read it) there is no such thing as a kayak (or any "hand-powered vessel") having automatic right-of-way over any other vessel. So if you've been operating under that assumption as you paddle in and out of your harbor then you have been operating under a mistaken assumption. (In fact, you might actually have been liable for a violation of the USCG Rule 13... see below.)

Some states specifically *do* give automatic right-of-way to hand-operated vessels in their own rules. But if you've read this and applied it to your paddling, please remember that if you are paddling on waters under authority of the USCG those individual state laws are not applicable.

Confusing, huh?

It gets worse. Under USCG Rules a hand-operated vessel moving on the water at night must only carry a light with which to signal another vessel in the event of a collision. A mounted light of any sort is not required. But several states *do* require one. Specifically, and especially in the Northeastern USA, there is a requirement for a white light visible for two miles all around be displayed from kayaks, canoes and rowboats while being operated at night on lakes and rivers not under USCG jurisdiction.

So, what do you do? If you're a prudent paddler you'll google for the boating rules for your state and for any state you visit as long as you remember that these state rules only apply to waters which the USCG does not have authority upon. In general, if there are buoys and navigation aids on the water then it's likely that the USCG Rules apply. If it's an inland lake (like Moses Lake - where I live) then it's likely that the state laws apply. If you don't know, and get into an accident then you could be held liable for causing the accident or have confusion during the investigation of the accident which denies you justice (see Sea Kayaker Magazine for June 2008).

There are several USCG Rules which I believe are often ignored by kayakers. One is Rule 5 which I'll quote here:

"Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by *sight and hearing* as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision."

If you love to paddle listening to your ipod then you are violating Rule 5. 'Nuff said.

Another is Rule 9, the applicable part of which I'll quote below:

"(b) A vessel of less than 20 meters in length

http://www.navcen. uscg.gov/ mwv/navrules/ pops/def_ 3ij_length_ bredth.htm

or a sailing vessel

http://www.navcen. uscg.gov/ mwv/navrules/ pops/def3c_ sail_vsl. htm

shall not impede the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway."

What this means to you is probably different than what it means to the tugboat operator with a tow or the pilot of a ship. In simple terms, you have no right-of-way whatsoever over a ship operating where it cannot safely maneuver to avoid you. That means, given where most of us paddle kayaks, virtually everywhere. It takes a mile to stop a ship and it can take much longer to stop a tug and tow. While this probably doesn't apply to other pleasurecraft, it can under certain circumstances; such as within a marina and especially if the powerboat in question is large (over 20 meters).

What rights do you have as a paddler? Basically no rights that any other pleasure power boat has. (If you have a sail up then that changes things, however.) Because we don't paddle as fast as power boats can move, the Rule most violated by *them* is Rule 13 which covers "overtaking" . Part "d" is quoted below:

"d) Any subsequent alteration of the bearing between the two vessels shall not make the overtaking vessel a crossing vessel within the meaning of these Rules or relieve her of the duty of keeping clear of the overtakenvessel until she is finally past and clear."

This means that, for a power boat operator approaching your kayak from the rear, nothing you do can relieve that operator of the duty to keep away from you until it is well past and "clear". This Rule once had a clause which said that the vessel being overtaken must maintain course and speed but that no longer applies (although many people often "remember" it). I still don't think it's wise to paddle up the middle of the Range, but if you stray into the channel pleasure boats approaching you from the rear must stay clear.

In closing, I'd like to mention one more often misunderstood "rule": smaller vessels have the right-of-way over larger vessels. This is absolutely NOT true under USCG Rules but it may be true in some states on waters not under USCG authority. I would advise never operating under the assumption that it's true, however.

Caveat boater,

Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA

**********************************************

New Chicago Paddling Blog

We all know Sharon Bloyd-Peshkin is a talented writer.
See her 2007 article in Chicago Magazine about a harrowing crossing of Lake Michigan by two local paddlers:

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/April-2007/Lake-Effect/

Sharon and her husband Alec have recently started a blog entitled "have kayaks, will travel." You can find it here

http://bloyd-peshkin.blogspot.com/

The blog chronicles the kayaking life of Sharon, her husband Alec, and their kids Hannah and Jeremy.
Sharon and Alec are CASKA board members and they and their kids are true ambassadors for fun, safe and skilled paddling

Through Sharon's voice and accompanying pictures by Alec you can share their rich experiences on the water and on land.

Tom Bamonte