Comments on: New Year’s intentions

By: pamf

pamf — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:58:22 +0000

Hi Dan – And Happy New Year to you! Sorry to hear about your accident. It’s those silly, freak injuries that cause the most havoc. Have today heard of 2 folks who have broken something through falling on ice. The A&E depts must be full!

A swim in that water – no thank you! I don’t envy your companion – one of the reasons I stay away from anything too “splashy” in these temps. I’d love to see the spraydeck snowmen

There are plenty of eider up here – they’re all oohing and awwing away. The cold doesn’t seem to bother them, funnily enough

Glad to hear that the “teeth” method of donning pogies appears to be quite normal. I was concerned that I was missing something fundamental.

Hope you heal soon.

By: Dan Thomas

Dan Thomas — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:47:37 +0000

Congratulations to Allan – I sympathise. The first proper winter for years and I’m hobbling around, unable to get up the hills due to a freak kayaking accident (really!) in mid-November. I can still just about manhandle a boat down a beach so I’m still getting on the water. On New Year’s Day there was enough snow landing on the boats to stop in mid-paddle and build little snowmen on the spraydecks. That didn’t deter my companion of the day from having a refreshing swim. She insisted on landing through surf instead of finding a quieter beach and it all went downhill from there. I was happy though, because I’d just seen some eider. I’ve never seen them around here before.

I use my teeth to fight my way into my pogies too, but I wouldn’t be without them.

By: pamf

pamf — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:43:06 +0000

Hi NK, Loved your photo! One for the Palm catalogue, I reckon. I wish I could think of an easier way. If I do, I’ll be sure to contact you. Take care.

By: Northern Kayaker

Northern Kayaker — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:11:58 +0000

Glad to see you out. Looked like a lovely winters day.

I have palm descent ones too. I like them but found my hands sometimes got a little cold – I concur the River Tec ones are SO COSY but there must be a better way of getting them on! I will email you a photo I was sent the other day….

By: pamf

pamf — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:10:12 +0000

Mackayak, Sometimes these setbacks teach us something. As they say, “Your enemy is your teacher”, and I think this applies to broken ankles. I hope you have many special “moments” on the water and that the ankle continues to heal well.

Douglas – I was a bit hesitant about neoprene pogies, having found neoprene gloves to be not terribly warm. But thanks for your thoughts (always appreciated!). I can’t not wear my River Tec ones as Alan gave me them for Christmas! Seriously, it’s a struggle to get into them, but they are beautifully warm once on.

Cheers guys!

By: Douglas Wilcox

Douglas Wilcox — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:17:21 +0000

Pam, my river tec paddle mits reside permanently in my Optio drawer. The ones you want are the Palm descent white water pogies. No teeth needed!

)

By: Mackayak

Mackayak — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:05:30 +0000

An excellent intention – one I will be trying to keep to myself both on and off the water! Being restricted in opportunities to paddle through injury its important to pace myself and enjoy the moments when I am fortunate enough to be afloat, even if I can’t go as far as NK quite yet!