Michael Storer
A review of the Goat Island Skiff from Mike McNamara of McNamara Sails UK
Ralph Gersson in Holland got a very nice mail from Michael McNamara from mcNamara sails UK. He made a nice sail for Richard Harvey’s GIS “Blanche” and Ralph has decided to order.
Michael, a racing sailor with a lot of background talks about the experience of sailing the Goat Island Skiff.
The Paddling on the Colorado River continues.
More paddling on Lake Powell, Utah, part of the Colorado River.
Remember that I am not a real Canoeist. I have paddled quite a range of different boats at some time or another, I do know basic strokes, I have used canoes to do several day tours (Noosa River, Hawkesbury River) but this trip was to much more remote areas. Closest towns 50 or so kilometres away, we were likely to be pretty well the only people on that area of water after the weekend, we had to carry everything including food as there are no shops.
USA Day 14.5 to 16 – The fleet gathers and heads up Lake Powell and the Colorado River
People as far away as Texas, California and Australia (me). Not a huge number, this cruise works well with up to around 12 to 15 boats. A huge thanks to Jim Thayer who thought up the event.
Before we look at the boats and meet the people the scale of the area has to be seen to be believed.
USA Day 14 – Walk up a Slot Canyon in the Colorado River Canyon
I am sleeping on rock (using an air bed) but the rock is incredibly beautiful – it is part of the ancient ocean floor even though the elevation here is around 3500ft. Pushed up by volcanic action. There are other patterns in many different places. Boating up the Colorado River in Canoes and other small boats tomorrow
USA Day 12 – Central Oregon, cold water and dam-ation
Yesterday spent the day traipsing around Central Oregon With Andrew Linn. We had a canoe on the roof and a boat behind.
The boat behind was a delivery – Andrew had sold a Laser look alike – a now defunct class.
And was pretty nice to get foot mobile and do some short bushwalks.
USA Day 11 – Portland to Astoria Maritime Museum
Astoria Maritime Museum – Now the really cool thing happened. Long had organised for us to see the storage sheds across the road.
USA Trip Day 7, 8, 9 – Timothy Lake Messabout with the Coots
It is the highest I have ever sailed by far – about 2500 to 3000ft above sea level.
A very nice bunch of folks. And got to meet BobWes (from my forum), John Kohnen (the author of the “mother of all nautical links”), Jon Kowitz and Andrew Linn (puddle duckers that sailed in the Texas 200 so triumphantly) David Luckhardt (who I missed in S.F.) and a whole bunch of other boat people and a swag of interesting boats.
USA Day 6 – Down home in a Columbia River Slough
Lon knows lots of interesting people. Also dropping in on this day were Irene Martin and her husband. They work fishing for salmon in this river (the Columbia River). Irene is also a writer (Lon got his copy signed)
Rick Landreville is the Canadian PDRacer Champion in an modded OzRacer.
Rick LAndreville wins the Canadian PDRacer Championships in an OzRacer carefully modified to match the PDRacer rules.
Travelling Day 4 – SF to Portland, Or. Day 5 a little bit of work
I am really glad I travelled by train rather than flying – even though I am pretty tired again. Gave me a strong feeling for how small and how far flung some of the towns are.
There were plenty of farms with a paddock full of defunct cars from the Model T right through to Studebakers from the 70s. What do you do with an old car in a country town?
SF Missed appointment, Walk, Asian Museum and some fans
USA Day 3 – Missed Appointment, Walk, Asian Museum (and a couple of little boats) and meeting some fans
Day 2 – S.F. Chinatown, Maritime Museum, two Goats and a Lucky Fortune Cookie
Walked through Chinatown again to go to the Maritime Museum with Oly an internet boatbuilding Friend from the PDRacer forum.
Saw two of my boats there that were built by kids from the less advantaged part of the city. Spoke to Seth (right, Oly is left) one of the teachers/organisers.
But what to do about the vegemite?
About to leave for the USA – Let me calculate …. that means about 45 important emails I have to answer when I get back to civilisation!!! Not to mention about 150 posts on the PDRacer forum and another 200 here.
Heading to the USA on Thursday
Well, this is the first real post on Wordpress and it is about my trip to the USA for the Puddle Duck World titles plus a couple of months of other boating adventures.
