RE: [Paddlewise] "Lost in Iceland" article by Greg Stamer now online... and more

I'll be hearing Freya at Ocean River here in Victoria later this week. I'm
looking forward to her presentation. The last time I saw a presentation on
an Aussie circumnavigation (early 80's) the audience sat in stunned silence
as we saw pics of Paul C surfing in, 25 footers pushing him shoreward. And
this chick, Freya, did it without a real support team. My goodness girl.

Well, just asked my daughter if she was looking forward to the 2010 Winter
Olympics. No, she wasn't as in no, not watching. I told her that was
unfortunate as she and her sister will be paying for it for years to come.
Hope it snows soon. Doesn't look like it will. But then, that's why folks
move to Vancouver to avoid the harsh winter, right?

Doug Lloyd

Craig said:

A while back Greg Stamer's account of the circumnavigation of Iceland he and
Freya made was published in Sea Kayaker magazine. Greg has now put that
story online on his blog at http://www.gregstamer.com/ . There are other
stories and photographs that you might find interesting. I know I did.

I understand that several Paddlewisers have already heard Freya's account of
her Australian odyssey so perhaps they'd be kind enough to give us a review.
I am hopeful of attending in Seattle on Feb 16th but that's not on a weekend
and I live 160 miles away (and across a major mountain range) from Seattle
so the trip is problematic; even during a warm winter. I guess I'm most
curious to know if she spoke wearing the same clothes she paddled in. :P

On the global warming front, the lake ice in front of my house has gone
completely after four weeks of high temps in the mid-to-upper 40s and a few
50 degree days (all temps in F). As long as I've owned this house (back to
the 1990s) the lake has been frozen from Nov. 15th to March 15th with but
two exceptions (and one was last year). This year it froze on Dec 15th and
has thawed on Feb 7th; which is a new record. I understand that people to
the east of me are not having it so good and all I can say is, "neener
neener".  The news continue to cover the bad weather there but I know that
if *we* had that bad weather they would barely notice. So they're getting
more time in the news. :P

I had intended to take advantage of the thaw and paddle today but our house
was invaded by aliens in the form of two 8-year-old girls and part of the
routine was to go ice skating last night (Saturday) and again today. Plus
staying up 'til midnight, two walks to the school playground and back (5
blocks each way). And including several impromptu races up and down the
stairs. If you want to train for the Olympics I can offer them up as
overkill. I fell asleep at 6pm waiting for the last one's mom to come get
her. I'm hoping to book them for a couple more visits before summer. Remind
me to order more hydro-codone.

There is also a copy - in Danish I imagine - of Fridjof Nansen's book on
Greenland Life entitled, oddly enough, Greenlandliv; originally published in
1891. There are some interesting illustrations. Paddling Planet (
www.paddlingplanet.com) had the story in Danish but with a link to an
English translation (of the web site, not the book) at the bottom:
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=kajakbloggen.dk&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sl=da&
tl=en.
There are some chapters on Greenland kayaks and paddling; apparently
Nansen became proficient at the skill while he was in Greenland. Another
interesting read.

And now, if you'll excuse me, my pain pills have started to wear off.


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
www.nwkayaking.net
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