skip's notes

Nothin but blue skies and sunshine

2011-06-29T18:02:00.000-07:00

Paddling just does not get better than our trip of 9 or 10 miles up and down the Black River today. A glorious day. Allyson was along from Grand Rapids on our Wednesday on the Water paddle. Plus there were 15 people on the Pigeon on the naturalist trip. A big day on the water.

We paddled out the channel toward the pier heads to watch a fishing kayak guide across the channel mouth. Then back up 4 or 5 miles and back to Black River park takeout.

Okay
, Okay we celebrated with Sherman's ice cream at the end of the trip and identifying some additional put in spots.

Cheers,

Skip

tomorrow---Black River in South Haven

2011-06-28T04:22:00.000-07:00

For our Wednesdays on the Water tomorrow, we will head to South Haven and the black river. Be at the shop a little before 10AM. Make sure you give me a call for a spot. We will schlep the boats on our trailer. We take a $5 donation to Historic Ottawa Beach Society and its Pumphouse Museum project.

See ya there!

Skip

Mighty Muskegon

2011-06-28T04:18:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday there were 15 of us from Community Bible who put in at Croton Dam and went 8 miles down river. Another beautiful day on the water. The water was high, fast and cold. Lots of trout fishermen caught their limit that day.

Just across from our takeout, an eagle was soaring. Then afternoon we grilled burgers and had some more conversation we headed for home.

We are going back there next month for another run on that stretch.

Cruising the Grand

2011-06-28T04:12:00.000-07:00

Dave and I were the only ones on the Grand paddle. It seemed like we were making history on that glorious, broad stretch. Ottawa County is doing us all a big favor making that into a water trail. Sign and mile markers will be great improvements. We had a map that helped put the paddle in perspective.

It was a glorious day. A stiff wind developed mid way into the paddle. A westerly comes right up the river and makes the small bays and bayou's welcome relief.

Of the 31 miles on the stretch we have about 20 to go.

WOW-Wednesday on the Water this week.

2011-06-06T15:49:00.000-07:00

Fresh from planning the Grand River Water trail and some activities for the festivities of 2012, I thought we would paddle one of the Grand Reach's this week. It is a change from the schedule but I want to get on the Grand early this season. Join me at 10AM at the shop 360 Douglas Ave, Holland.

But call and make a reservation so we do not leave with out you.

Cheers,

Skip

Busy Week end

2011-06-06T15:38:00.000-07:00

It was a great paddle weekend. Here in Holland, Don Harper organized the annual "meet at the beach" day with camping at Holland State Park and paddling from there. This is a wonderful wooden boat outing with about 20 fantastic boats. Pix are due in any time.

Then Bob Miller, back from Red Cross duty helping others, was part of the Lake Michigan Water Trail down around the Indiana dunes. Sounds like about 50+ kayaks were part of the group. I'll keep more info coming about this new water trail that should be lots of fun.

More locally, more work is being done on the Grand River water trail. This will really be promoted in 2012 the Park Department's 25 Anniversary. We are planning a June 2012 paddling month with the Department.

paddling the Kazoo

2011-06-02T10:23:00.000-07:00

The water was high and the current swift. We had a ball. Dave, Jim, Dean and Skip got to charge down the river, facing 20 knots gusts and small swells that are only spring time events. Weather was fantastic, far better than the torrential conditions Sunday and cooler than the Memorial day bright sun.

In at New Richmond and out at Wiley Street to avoid the heavy head winds in the flats of Douglas. I'll post some pix.

Join us next week,

Skip

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the store is

2011-05-28T14:39:00.001-07:00

yaking to spring!!!

2009-04-28T06:42:00.000-07:00

2009-04-28T06:39:00.000-07:00

“In all of nature there is something of the marvelous”…..Aristotle.

It does not take long in banging around the rural roads, bike paths and rivers and streams of Michigan that we begin to resonate with Aristotle. For you philosophers this is not some soft pantheism, but I must say that the beauty of this state for me is both marvelous and mysterious; enough so, that just being out paddling or biking is physically exhilarating.

I was leafing through much of the literature handed out at the last Quiet Water Symposium held in Lansing and was amazed at all the literature about the natural trail systems in Michigan. These trails include hiking trails like the North Country Trail which is designed to rival the more famous Appalachian and Pacific Crest trails(North Country National Scenic Trail, National Park Service,700Rayovac Drive, suite 100, Madison, Wisconsin 53711). Or the more than thousand miles of Michigan bike paths, with hundreds of miles in west Michigan alone( see www.michigantrails.org). Finally, I was visited by john Mitchell of the Heritage water trail from South Haven to Bangor and discussing its 21 beautiful miles; talking about breaking through log jams and using that beautiful river for longer paddles. Probably more than any other type of trail, Michigan has more miles of water trails.

Thus, the theme for Kayak-kayak this year and perhaps permanently is getting into nature. I was struck with a comment made in the recent publication of “Dividend” from the Ross School of Business at the U0f M, the statement was “the 21st Century will be the Century of Natural Capital” . I would amplify that to say that it is the “Century of the merger of Intellectual (human) Capital with Natural Capital”. This means to me that the real returns on these forms of capital are rising and we will all benefit as we participate in them.

Okay, so what does this mean for us? It means that Kayak-kayak wants its friends to take advantage of the good things that are out there and we will be providing leadership in trips to see some of these wonderful places and encouraging others that are going other places to share their experiences, so we can all benefit.

Beginning in June Kayak-Kayak is having Tuesday paddles starting at about 10AM on the water through about 3pm in the afternoon. Some paddles will be longer, some shorter. Combinations of river and Lake Michigan are planned for later in the summer when the Lake water temperature rises.

Kayak-kayak is sponsoring overnight trips later in the summer. The second week of august Aug 9 thru Aug 12, we will paddle the inland waterway outside of Petoskey to Cheboygan. August 30 to September 3, we will have the annual Drummond Island paddle ( our next blog and new web site will carry the details). Finally in September, we will be paddling the caves on the Bruce Peninsula on Georgian Bay. You will be hearing more about all of these trips. We are also thinking about some joint bike and paddle trips in South Haven and maybe some other spots.
Other local high quality nature activities are the DeGraaf Nature Center and the Outdoor Discovery Center. We have links to them on our web site and they provide excellent programs for all ages.

Skip

The Cruelest Month

2009-04-22T15:56:00.000-07:00

Picture is of Don Harper taking his prijon across the straits of Mackinac.

April is the Cruelest of Months…thank you T.S. Elliot. While it is how Mr. Elliot saw the tease of the changing of seasons. Paddlers particularly in the Midwest must feel the same because there is the teasing of the intermittent sun to draw us on the water, which has not warmed much at all. It is the time of the year that paddlers must remember that we dress for water temperatures, not the warmer air temperature. The shock of sub 50 degree water can render us helpless within minutes. Remember, of all times to paddle with a buddy this is the time. Also if you have a paddle float for reentry, make sure it is a solid foam paddle float and not one that you need to inflate. By the time it takes to inflate a paddle float in 40 degree water, your limbs may have lost much of their strength.

Last week we opened the store on Douglas Avenue and welcomed back a stream of friends. Mary stopped in; she is enroute to an adventure in Alaska. Rick reported in with 91 estimated miles this year so far. Clock Doc has been out four times. Krazykayak seems to be out most days and has picked up white water and a roll from his winter pool time. These are just a few. I have not seen Scott yet who usually brings in some very cold weather paddling pix from his mid winter efforts.

It is great fun catching up with these friends and meeting new ones.

John Mitchell dropped by, he is the president of the Black River Heritage trail in South Haven, one of our beautiful rivers. He mentioned that there are about 5 miles of log jams after the winter runoff and they will be working the river in the next several weeks. If anyone cares to help contact John at h2o_trail@yahoo.com. Macatawa Greenway is also working on the Black River in Holland/Zeeland over the next few weeks contact Derk at greenway@macatawa.org.

My next few writings will include some of our paddling plans for this year. Many of you have commented that my web site could be refreshed……I appreciate the reminders and it is underway. Keep checking us out at http://www.kayak-kayak.com/. I came across a great statement that was printed in the recent issue of Dividend, the periodical put out by the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan,…..”the 21st century is going to be the century of natural capital”. I agree with this and it is why we will be focusing on some interesting nature paddles this year. Michigan is an outstanding venue to paddle and we want to enjoy it.

Incidentally, I’ll be introducing our new Nifty series of Kayaks to augment the Prijon and Emotion lines. I am very pleased with our product offering.

Cheers,

Skip
www.kayak-kayak.com

New Season Beginning

2009-04-11T10:56:00.000-07:00

Green shoots surround us, giving signs of spring. Warmed by the sun, the waters of local lakes and rivers capture our thoughts as we prepare for another season of glorious paddling Michigan's abundant waters. We are really fortunate to be living in such a paddler's paradise. Never far from a put-in spot, we are surrounded by opportunities.

Kayak-Kayak opens this week on April 15. We are located at 321 Douglas Avenue, Holland, Michigan, 49424. Our phone is 616-366-1146 and our web site is http://www.kayyak-kayak.com/.

Our web site is in process of being updated. We will be listing trips, tours and other paddling topics on this blog. We are happy to have your comments.