Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Camping Question

The Hennessey guys looked cold off the ground. My MEC overbag/summer bag 
combo was great for me in my new tent, even if I did add fleece clothing to 
the nighttime garb. Lots of wine and off-sales beer from Poet's Cove resort 
helped too. And then there was the food. Man, lots of food - all shared in a 
huge MSR communal tent. For horrible April weather (last time it snowed this 
late was back in 1955 or so), spirits were very high and for an 
internet-based un-club, everyone shared an amazing camaraderie.

The plastic feet on my Coleman heater collapsed. I saw it buckle out of the 
corner of my eye so saved the nrw tent floor from melting, with only minimal 
burning to my hands (the rim of the heater is dangerously hot). I brought it 
on a whim and had wanted to load  up my new Forager with tons of gear to 
test it out. I only used the heat for a few minutes.

Dave paddled back to North Pender to his vehicle via the east side and on to 
the Otter Bay ferry, while I left early to paddle the west side of North 
Pender (I typically only do this side of Pender in a big blow, as it is all 
cliffs with tremendous clapotis - for inland waters, anyway). I had to wait 
between ferries to illegally gain shore access to Otter Bay ferry terminal 
between staffing runs. This is an old favorite  trick of mine for returning 
after storm paddling the Gulf Islands in my younger days, usually involving 
throwing my Nordkapp over different chain link fences of various outer gulf 
island ferry terminals with locked-down access. I uphauled my new Forager, 
with mass quantities of gear still in it, up to a ledge under the ferry 
ramp. I left half the hull behind on the rocks and barnacles. It was a good 
test of the epoxy stitch and glue hull and my regaining strength. Doug 
Alderson's boats are the most well built S&G's I know off. I didn't think 
the gouges and sever chipping the hull received during the uphaul was as 
durable as the Nordkapp's gelcoat/factory glass layer/Lloyds inner double 
6oz layer construction. The epoxy S&G matrix scuffs away more material as 
the epoxy chips in large chuncks. However, the boat was lighter once 
commando-unloaded and rammed up through the restricted access gate. I'm 
getting too old for this kind of stuff Craig.

Fortunately I didn't involve any other paddlers.

And one day I might just be content to lazz about on my thick thermarest, 
not look for jobbly water, and paddle home to my vehicle in a normal 
fashion - after enjoying just the kayak-camping experience for the simple 
pleasure of it, cold or warm. One day...


----- Original Message ----- 

I would give a lot to be able to hear the chit-chat at the S. Pender 
campsite right about now (8am Saturday morning). It was 29F at 5am today but 
at least we didn't get any snow. I think the Puget Sound and Gulf Islands 
area got some. I know Everett did.

I'm thinking Doug is going to appreciate that new tent. Hope he has a good 
sleeping bag and a nice, thick, comfy pad. Those and a good book will get ya 
through a lot.


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA (with the furnace set to 71F)




On Sat, Apr 19, 2008 at 2:41 AM, Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca> wrote:

Okay Bob, it's 2:30 am westcoast time, I'm all packed up for Pender Island 
in the morning - up at 6:00am. Meeting Dave from Astoria en route and a 
bunch of other paddlers from Westcoastpaddler.com for a couple of days. The 
kayak was a bit heavy to get on the roof racks - covered in snow. Report of 
possible waterspouts in Georgia Strait. So, what item should I take despite 
weight. Thinking about the Colman catalytic heater. Not sure if it will fit 
in the kayak though. Back deck? :-) Bought an overbag today, too.

Bought a ton of new gear. Alaska or bust some day.

New tent: North Face Heron 23.

Doug L 
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