Elvis the King

Elvis is the name of my favorite kayak. He is a P&H Quest LV Team Boat. Not another kayak like Elvis in the world and he absolutely has the "Bling" factor. With an orange metalflake deck and the clear P&H logo showing through in Carbon Kevlar, you can't help but notice him. The clear Carbon Kevlar hull doesn't hurt either. I had a super tough keel strip installed by the Arma-Coating shop that does spray-in bedliners for trucks and now I can grind on or over anything.

Paddling Elvis is a supreme joy and I haven't found any kind of water where he feels out of place. Up-river paddles, rock gardens, twenty foot swell, surf zone play, tripping and anything else I have thrown at him just make him smile... if kayaks could smile.

Put a Quest LV on it's edge and paddle your guts out and then you will know what pro-performance is all about!

Captain Penguin

Kick back and relax.

Well this photo of a "dried out" sleeping Harbor Seal I took says it all... winter time paddling on the northern California coast. This is the best time of year to paddle here. The air is crisp and clear. The animals are relaxed and subdued. There is no fog and you can see for miles. A couple of weeks ago, I went over to Trinidad and did some paddling with the club and I got to play in the rock gardens and surf for hours. I feel just like this seal when I'm doing that. Relaxed and happy, this is just what I needed to help fight the winter blues.

The other morning I was paddling on the Sacramento River all by myself at 7:AM and I came across a Bobcat chowing down on a dead Salmon. I didn't have my camera and that bummed me out, but I just floated right up to him eating away. He didn't run or even care that I was there, I think he must have been real hungry. I sat there, about 4 feet away, for over 10 minutes watching him pig-out. It was really great and I had a big smile on my face while I talked to him in a soft voice. I thought the morning couldn't get any better so I just paddled off heading up stream. Then it happened, I saw something I have never seen before, a baby Beaver. He was real tiny and very cute. I followed him real slowly and when he finally saw me he just dove under and disappeared. Again no camera!

I wonder if the ancient Eskimos and Greenlanders ever had it this good? I bet they were like many of us men these days and used "Hunting" as an excuse to go kayaking and see the sights. I was laughing with the guys on the river the other morning about how we justify kayaking by saying, "We need our exercise" or "We have to go out there because so and so needs us out there." Well, anyway you slice it, I think the ancient paddlers made excuses to go out paddling. They probably said, "We need to go out and test this new design for hunting" or "In the village they said there is a big herd of seals coming this way." You know they got to see tons of wonderful things along the way.

Well I think it's that time of year to come up with some new excuses to get out of the house, out of work and delay the Honey-Do list. Yes, we need to kick back and relax, hit the water and let that kayak do what it does best... float and cruise the beautiful sights and sounds of our local waterways. Only next time I will remember my stupid camera!

Happy paddling,
Captain Penguin

It's 2007 already?

Well here it is, 2007. Wow, that kinda snuck-up on me. Happy New Year!

I am really happy about the new year but it started off with it's difficulties. First my family got real sick, some kind of flu bug, then I got it. I'm still recovering but it has sent me into a winter depression. So the logical thing to do is pray and go out paddling! I need a clear head to plan for the year. There is so much to do and not enough time and money to do it, so I really need some good planning to get a hold of the reigns of 2007. This year brings some scary and exciting things my way so a clear head and health will be real important.

This year I plan on pushing the local paddlers to excel and learn more than ever. I'm really looking forward to teaching more. There is only so much retail a guy can handle. I would also really like to hone the Up-River paddling crowd. There are a lot of paddlers that just don't know what they're missing and the river is the perfect place to get better and gain confidence.

I like the photo above, it was taken during one of our long Up-River paddles and we had to dodge rocks, rapids and fishermen. It's funny to see the looks we get "Going the wrong way".

Well, may we all go the way we want this year and may the obstacles be dodged with the greatest of ease. Here we go 2007, let's see what you can do!

Captain