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So if you have been visiting here lately, you know that I am very much into Kayaking all the sudden. At least it would seem that way. . . Actually I was into it years back, and times got tough with a daughter in college. And it all started back when I picked up the Perception Rhythm in May, which is still a boat that I will defend as a great boat for the money . With that said however, I have been looking for something that might be a little more friendly when it comes to spending hours upon hours in a boat, and maybe even doing an over nighter or two. Now when I am home, the back yard is starting to resemble a Kayak Farm! The Rhythm, the Swifty, the Swifty Tandem, and now adding to that is an Old Town 139 XL. I purchased this boat used from a guy who's back yard resembles mine. However, he is really into White water boats and decided to sale the Old Town to put toward the purchase of a new white water boat. His loss is certainly my gain, believe me! When I spoke to him over the phone, he told me that it was the solid forest green. This didn't excite me . . But when I saw this boat in person, that all changed! In fact, I LOVE the color. If you look at it close, you can see black spec in the deep green color that really gives it character. So I brought it home, grabbed my life jacket and paddle, a couple of cameras and off to the local lake I went! So on with the impressions!
Tracking and Handling- There has been quite a bit of debate about tracking on the review of the Rhythm 11 that I did when I first purchased this boat. I have had great luck and no trouble keeping the Rhythm going where I want it to go. Others who have purchased this boat don't agree with my assessment ! The Adventure 139 tracks forever! Man, I am talking this thing digs into the water and I am loving it. I will concede that the Rhythm does not track as well as the Adventure does. I am not saying that the tracking on the Rhythm is not adequate however.
Stability -Rock solid stability! Secondary stability is awesome also. I was leaning this boat to the extreme within minutes of sitting in it. While I am here, just let me say that I couldn't believe how stable this boat is to enter/exit. This baby hardly moved when I climbed out of her tonight!
Comfort - I am not going to say I like the seat as well as the Rhythm seat, but for the 45 minutes that I paddled, no complaints. Plenty of cockpit room, easy to paddle as it's not too wide at the hips, and what a feeling I get when this thing starts gliding across the water! I didn't seem to have as much room for my feet with sandals on, but after a while it wasn't like I was thinking "I wish I had more room for my feet" . . . The cockpit is plenty large for someone of my build (5'10", 210 pounds) to get in and out.
Turning - Wow . . being used to an eleven foot boat and turning it and then turning this one is like turning around a Mini Cooper and then turning around an 18 wheeler. BIG Difference! I will adjust and I am betting I won't even notice after a few more times out, but the change today was huge when it went to turning this boat. Reviewers over at Paddling.net praised this boat for it's ability to turn. I probably will too after I am better aquainted with it.
Storage - I am loving the front and rear bulkheads. There is also adequate room behind the seat. A small cooler could reside between the feet.
Initial Observations - This boat is fast! Now don't tell me it isn't, because out of the ones I own, this one is quick! Out of the hole, give me the Rhythm, but once she is up to speed, it is pretty easy to maintain her, and the Rhythm would be struggling to maintain what comes with ease with the Adventure. It is a great all around boat for doing lots of different things. It is very easy to cruise at a nice clip with light and smooth paddling strokes. It is very quiet in the water. I would not want a boat much heavier than this. At 56 pounds, it is a little heavy. Currently I am hauling this in the back of my truck, and when heading to my local lake, I have been launching from a dock. But if I had to put this thing on an SUV Roof Rack, I wouldn't be too keen on hoisting this thing up after 5-7 hours worth of paddling.
I have done a lot of comparing this boat to the Perception Rhythm, and maybe that isn't fair. The Rhythm is billed as a recreation boat and the Adventure a "Day Touring" boat. It is longer, leaner, and really a different all around boat than the Rhythm. But to this point, the Rhythm has been my favorite boat, thus the many references in comparison. The Adventure looks good too. I wasn't the only one who thought so because as I paddled out of the park I started in, a lady at the dock commented that I had a beautiful Kayak! Not more than maybe 40 strokes later, two boys yelled at me to me I had a pretty Kayak. I can tell you that for the moment, the Rhythm has been retired! I absolutely loved how the Adventure paddled and can't wait to get it back out on the water again. I am confident that she will be awesome on the flatwater rivers I have been running using the Rhythm. For rougher stuff, the Rhythm might be my first choice simply because of it's ability to turn quicker.
Here are a couple of shots of the Adventure that I took just prior to launching her for the 1st time. (click to enlarge)
Good Times! Rick, Shawn, Jordan, John and I headed out to do a fourteen miler. It was pretty windy when we started and it sprinkled on us a couple of times . . . Big deal! It was still all kinds of fun. Below are some pics and a video I threw together to highlight the trip.
If there is indeed a perfect day, it happened to me yesterday! A church member invited a few of us up to his farm that borders the Holston River. So we loaded up Kayaks and drove up. I can only describe this as perfect class one conditions. Kernie, if you see this, all I can say is thanks! I had a ball! Once again, I was reminded that God really is the greatest artist ever
Wow! The king of pop died today. Where was I when it happened? Out on the lake on my Kayak! Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson die on the same day! Two of the icons of 70's and 80's. You know, we have spent two decades making fun of him . . His face, his strange behavior, his obsession with Children . . . . But make no mistake about it! He was a performer. He changed the industry! He made MTV legitimate! Yes, Michael, you were a weirdo! But in spite of yourself, you were loved and respected for your talent and your creativity! May you finally rest in peace.
Today I got off work a little early, and decided that today would be a great day to hit the water on the Kayak. I did about an eight miler round trip. I put in at a local park and paddled to a dam and then turned around for the return trip. I took a few pics which I have included below, and quite a few movie clips. Since I am now in the camper on the netbook, with limited internet connectivity, the videos and pictures will have to wait for another time. On the return trip I saw three kayaks and as I approached, I recognized that one of the fellows was the guy I bought the tandem Kayak off of. We talked for a while about kayaks, fishing and camping. It was a very enjoyable conversation.
I got home and was drained. I think the combination of sun, humidity, distance in a Kayak pretty much did me in. My legs are burned pretty good, but I am thinking everything else is on it's way to being tan. Below is a small clip I streamed from my phone. When I get a chance, I will add some new pics.
If you have a smart phone then you need to get Qik installed on it! Available for Nokia, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices, this very well could be the next big thing in mobile computing. Basically, Qik sets you up your own user page and installs an app on your phone that utilizes your phone's video abilities. The app then allows you to stream live video to your user page. It doesn't quit there however. It allows you to automatically send it to places such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Also, it allows the ability to schedule events so that people can "tune in" when you broadcast! It should be fun to watch how this service grows in the coming months! Powerful stuff. This should give someone the ability to report any event that happens to them "live".
This morning, I was sitting in the back for Church and thought I would try streaming the service to my page. The sound is lacking and I seem to have a problem keeping my finger out from the front of the camera, but streaming quality is decent. Sound isn't a problem from my HTC Touch Pro from 9-12 feet out from my subjects, but to do an event from a distance, is a problem.
It would be sweet if I could acess my camera controls and zoom, but the app only gives you the ability to "stream". Still, this is a nice app for mobile phones, and I would recommend you head to Qik and install!
According to a report from the Boston Globe, a man claims that he was typing a text message into his cellphone when he lost control of his SUV and fatally struck a 13-year-old boy on a bicycle. In a stark and sad reminder of the cause for recent laws put into effect governing texting / phoning while driving, it appears the man was so distracted that he didn't even realize what had happened until later that night. Ironically, the friend of the boy who had been walking with him attempted to call 911 on his phone, but was unable to get through. The driver is being charged with motor vehicle homicide, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, and driving without a license. A tragic story - but hopefully a cautionary tale for anyone who regularly juggles driving and texting. Don't. And while I am here be aware that adjusting the radio is enough to distract you! Please be careful when behind the wheel of a vehicle! And NEVER drink and drive!!!!
I am a middle aged guy who finds much pleasure in today's technology. Once upon a time I kept a blog about mobile tech, a web site that featured my bike rides, and then a personal site where I shared photos and videos, basically of Family. After a time, I decided it made much more sense to combine all those sites into one. But what to call it? Well, not very creatively, this site became "just duke". Just stuff I am interested in and try to follow.
By day I work for a large chemical company, and by night I play bass in a Christian Rock band. But every day I check out the web sites following the trends around mobile devices. When I have time, I enjoy designing Templates for Joomla and Wordpress. You can download those here on this site! Just click on "Just Templates on the left.
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