Winter on the River

I just love this time of year on the Sacramento River. There are many times when I hate to pull myself out of my warm bed at 6:AM, but the second my boat hits the water, my heart starts to warm my whole body up.

It is very hard to explain to anyone but the guys who meet me on the "early" Friday Morning Paddles. We usually catch sight of a beaver or two and there are always multiple geese, ducks, mergansers, heron, small birds and other animals. We stare at the animals and they stare back, as if to say; "what are these crazy people doing out here".

Winter flows on the Sac are usually around 5,000 CFS, which makes for a perfect up-river paddling flow. Paddling up rivers in sea kayaks is something that most paddlers have not yet discovered but I feel that it will become a very popular segment of our sport in the future. I can even see special kayaks being designed and built for just this activity. I might even be the one that brings it to the market. We'll have to see. For now we will trudge along with what we have and enjoy every second of it.

I can't help but think of the future when the current youth is paddling up river in special kayaks, with special names for every move and thing they do, and some old guy like me comes along and says, "in the old days we used to paddle up these rivers in Sea Kayaks". I can just hear them laugh and say, "yea, sure dude, like you guys used to be nuts".

Well here's to all of those pioneers of sports that we do today who didn't have specialty equipment! Thanks to you old Eskimo guys, we love you for this cool thing called a kayak that you invented!

Captain Penguin

Giving Thanks(giving)

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

This is a confession, because as they say "confession is good for the soul". I went to the Bay Area last weekend with some of our club members and other local area paddlers. We paddled around Angel Island on Sunday and out the Golden Gate Bridge on Monday. The Bay was foggy so we couldn't see much, but the conditions were perfect for paddling.

My bud Sean Morley and I had fun guiding our group around. (except when we got kicked off a beach by some jerk off-duty ranger and had someone get sea-sick and puke and then I had to run 3 miles across Angel Island in water shoes and then tow two kayaks across the bay and then...) Oh well, what's a paddle without a little drama. Only the drama didn't end there, after the paddle came a frantic search thru busy downtown Sausalito to find a restaurant and when we finally found one it was packed and they only accepted cash. I felt completely overwhelmed and thought I might lose it in front of everyone. Next I did a terrible thing, I slipped out the door and hid in my truck. After a while I realized that it would be best for me to leave and go back to the hotel.

I realized something, I need some time to myself. Time to get some perspective. I really love to paddle. I love to teach people how to paddle, I love to take people where they could never go on their own, but there are times when I wonder if any one cares or understands how hard I work at helping them get better and go places they would never be able to on their own.

What is it, with us Americans, that when we get a little instruction in something, we think we are so good and we don't need to listen to anyone else. (even if they have 20 years more experience than us) I think it is pure American arrogance, that's what makes us Americans. Americans think they are better than the world! This leads us to pride and pride leads us to a fall. I can't help but make the connection to the American auto industry right now. They think they build the best cars but all other countries are kicking their butt in every area you can measure! I also think about every single story of kayaking mishaps that Sea Kayaker Magazine has published and there is a root of pride that starts with them all.

Today is Thanksgiving and not a time to complain, but to truly give thanks we must first confess, then ask for forgiveness, then give thanks. So with that said, I have confessed and now I ask for forgiveness; Lord, please forgive me for getting upset at people for acting human and the same as I have acted to others. Forgive my pride and allow me to learn more day by day and never assume I know it all. Most of all I thank you for my family, friends, business, kayaking and all of the penguin paddlers.

What a huge blessing it is to be a healthy American with the ability to kayak for a living, may I never take that for granted!

Captain Penguin

To the Dam & back!

Holy moly, today was a marathon paddling day. We held our Annual Penguins Spawning River Paddle. This is an epic paddle that starts at the Cypress Bridge in Redding and goes up-stream on the Sacramento River all the way to the Keswick Dam, in the town of Keswick, and then back to Cypress.

We started with eight enthusiastic paddlers and ended up with three at the Dam... whew! Everyone had a great time with the challenging eddylines and rapids. We even had a Fan Club following our progress along the river and taking pictures at several locations.

There were many funny moments along the way, but I will let everyone tell their own stories... no doubt these stories will circulate for quite some time.

Get out there and make your own "Epic Tales".

See you on the water, Garth

Kuhl Product Review

Well after all these years I return to a product that has always been on my "Favorite" list, Kuhl Alfpaca Fleece.

With winter decending on us in the north, I turn to my closet each year to see what's left. Spring cleaning usually gets rid of most of the warm stuff to make room for new T-shirts. The one piece that I can never get rid of is my Kuhl Stovepipe Alfpaca Fleece top. Then it hit me, I really like this top, why don't I get another, or several. As fate would have it, one of my Sales Reps just secured Kuhl! I almost couldn't belive it. But it was fate.

With a cautious first order, I gladly brought Kuhl Alfpaca into the store. Of course, I had to take a few items home just to "check them out" and make sure that their quality is the same as my older stuff. Yep, it is just as good and very "KUHL" literally.

Every now and then you come across a company that does an awesome job and then they usually get bought out or get too big and lose their focus, but I can tell you that Kuhl is doing a superb job and I hope they stay the same. I am very proud of business owners that keep their specialty the one thing that never changes.

Rock on Kuhl! Garth

Penguins are taking over the world!

What a strange phenomenon that's going on... first is was "The March of the Penguins", then "The Penguins of Madagascar" and the other day I saw previews for two new penguin movies coming out.

Happy Feet

Surf's Up

Yes, this is our master plan to have penguins take over the world.

Penguins Rule!

Wonderful Day!

Ok today is fabulous and sunny. I just had to post a little something about a great morning I had.

I went for a road bike ride with my wife and really enjoyed it. She just got a new road bike a few weeks ago and said she would ride with me. That's huge considering that I have been riding my whole life and now, poof, twenty years of marriage later, she wants to ride!

Riding for me has always been a time of silence and cleansing but now it is taking on a new meaning. It felt different when people were looking at me ride by, they were looking at us now. That's different because I could always tell what lookers were thinking before, like, "I wish I were riding" or "Look at that idiot getting tired". Now they might be saying, "Look at that cute couple riding together" or "There goes Mr. & Mrs. Fittness" or perhaps, "They must be newlyweds, just give 'em a few years and they won't ride together anymore".

I'm proud to say, after twenty years, we seem to be heading in the right direction and that's together.

Have a great day yourself, Garth

The hints of Winter.

Well, the first rains of the season have begun to fall. I think the firefighters in Nor-Cal will be very happy to get a break and go home.

This is a wonderful time of year to paddle. All the boats are off the water, the air is fresh, things are quiet... very quiet. I enjoy a good rain paddle here and there and as I always say, "there is no such thing as bad paddling weather... just bad paddling clothes".

I found a new paddling top this year that I love, the "Aleutian" by Palm. It is very comfy, dry and really good looking! After all, you need to look good while paddling. OK, I'll admit it, I'm a gear junkie! I guess that's why I own a paddling store.

I'm looking forward to paddling in the SF Bay area this month with my buddy Sean Morley. The taste of salt water is somehow different this time of year. I don't know how to explain it, but it tastes a little sweeter in the Fall.

I hope you all get out there and enjoy yourselves, if you do, you might see me out there!

See you on the water, Garth