The End Of My Paddle Dilema

If you remember a while back I was having trouble deciding what kind of paddle I should use for The Whimbrel, (upon completion) and after some poking around and what would seem to be dumb luck I think I've settled on shaping a version of the Greenland Paddle, created by the Inuits of Greenland and since then been perfected by modern woodworkers. Its unique design and shape make it easier on the muscles for longer trips and they still move you around just as quick using a sliding stroke, kind of a combo between paddles/paddling styles.

3-Piece laminated version

The neat aspect of this paddle is that it can be made with tools that I already posses, except a spokeshave, but I should probably own one of those anyway. And depending on the wood you choose, it can be made for under 20 dollars. A far cry from the 100-300 cost of buying one. I found some plans online and it seems fairly straight forward. This will be a project for after The Whimbrel is finished, but it should be a cool expiriment and a cool hamdmade paddle to go along with my handmade Canoe!

What's The Time? Lumber Time!

This weekend should be relatively exciting as I will be going up the lake to a great lumber yard (as detailed by Justin the Shipwright) to check out supplies of the plywood that will soon take the shape of the hull. As well as the plywood I'll be looking for the timbers that will be used for the chine logs and gunwales.

On a side note, I've been wondering about paddles. Should I go with a Kayak style double-ended paddle or should I get a Canoe paddle? Maybe both? I dunno, I think a classy wooden Canoe paddle would be pretty B.A. but I think that the Kayak paddle will 1) Make it so much easier to get around, and 2) The boat is designed so that you can use a Kayak paddle. "Can't decide, Can't decide....BRAIN ANEURYSM!"

The Plan

So after thinking about this little trip (and I know I'm ahead of myself here but it's fun to think about) I checked out a couple maps and inquired about easy paddling stretches of the river I've found a pretty sweet trip.

Starting at the top of MA, we pick up the river as it flows out from NH and VT (the black dot and the orange) on DAY ONE and travel probably the longest stretch of the trip ending in Greenfield County right before the Connecticut Water Trail. DAY TWO will consist of traveling the length of the Water Trail indicated by the yellow in which we would finish the day near Hadley. DAY THREE is a nice stretch of water leading us down into the middle of MA near North Hampton in green. On our last day on the water DAY FOUR is a shorter stretch to help pick up cars and travel home in the pink ending in Holyoke.

Now, to be perfectly clear, I have no idea how long any of these stretched are, it could be anywhere from 14-20 Miles... Maybe a lot less, so really I would just play it by ear and have a good time. It could take two days or maybe even five, but what's an adventure without some uncertainty? Right?

So all you need is a Canoe or Kayak, Minor Camping Equipment, Beer, and A Sense of Adventure!

Looking Ahead

With the start of a new week I'm looking forward to PROGRESS it will be a great feeling to get some work done after a bit of a lull in work. On my drive back from a friend's house in Albany this weekend I found myself thinking about the possibilities of my soon to be "Light Watercraft." Where I will take her and where she'll take me. As she is designed for slow moving and smaller bodies of water I think it would be ideal for a short distance, maybe 2-3 day trip down the Connecticut River.

Connecticut River (NH)

While I am currently dreaming of such a little adventure, it really isn't to outrages and I believe could be easily planned/executed. The trick is to cruise the flat lengths of the river between dams. Those interested in such a journey need only talk to me about it, I think it'd be a ton of fun and a different way to camp than I've done before. What do you say Tris?

Not A Lot Of Progress

Sorry to anyone (who actually follows my blog outside of my brother Tristan) that I haven't posted anything substantial recently, I hope to start making a lot more progress in the next two weeks. We haven't had great weather, and on the good days I find myself always busy doing something else. But with Little league wrapping up by next week I should have a few more bright afternoons to work on getting things together/finished so that when I move into the new space I will be able to put it together much like a kit. My next step is to buy the plywood that will become the hull, and to build the "frame" which helps by adding stability and the shape of the craft.

I'm now able to update any of my networks without logging in or anything...pretty neat, pretty lazy

Trying to figure out Ping.fm