Kayak Trips with John: Minnesota River

Friday, June 27, 2008

Minnesota River

On June 18 I took a short 5 mile trip on the Minnesota River just downstream from Granite Falls, Minnesota. Without anyone around to help shuttle I had to use my bicycle to shuttle myself. After dropping off the kayak and gear at Memorial Park I drove down to the landing at Kinney Landing and rode the 2.4 miles back so I could kayak. The trip included a short portage along a route on the right bank around a dam.

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Background / Thoughts

After following the activity on some other good blogs I decided to create my own. So, I started by putting in some pictures from a couple recent trips while vacationing in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Then, I added some pictures from a couple mid-winter trips. As time goes on I hope to add more pictures and text to make this a better log of my kayaking.

When I first got a kayak in the fall of 2002 it was a used Aquaterra Spectrum (14 footer) there were not many kayaks around. I still have that boat and used it when we went out this winter. It is a good stable boat and is good for those winter trips and for going out to take pictures. In the spring of 2005 I took whitewater kayaking lessons at Bear Paw Outdoor Adventures in Wisconsin. I bought my Necky Jive whitewater boat shortly after that and have used it a couple times at Palisades State Park. Other than tht it has been used for playing around a few other times. In the spring of 2007 I got my Wilderness Systems Tempest 170. It is a true sea kayak and is fast. Certainly not a boat for beginners as it feels tippy, but it is fun to use and cuts through the water and waves.

This past winter Chuck Kevghas and I had the goal of going out at least once a month all winter long. With open water on theMissiour River at Pierre and with the good fortune of at least one 40 degree each month, we succeeded. We had said that even if all we did was go out for 15 minutes that we would consider it a success. Luckily we had at least one good day each month and were out for at least 2 hours each time. Water temperatures were always pretty low and we both used our more stable 14 foot boats and leave the sea kayaks in storage.

Now - for some thoughts. Life Jackets - wear them - each and every time you go out. Like seat belts in the car, hopefully you never really need them, but it only takes once. Rudders / Skegs - This is a good debate. Some people love rudders. I have only used a boat with a rudder a couple times, but I am not sold on them. One reason is that I feel that I don't have the solid foot contact with them and I would be afraid of getting too reliant on one and then have the cable break or have some other problem when you really need it. My Tempest has a skeg and I use it part of the time in cross winds. But, I sometimes retract it just so I don't get to used to it. Feathered paddles - another one of those topics that seems to bring out differing opinions. For years I went with a straight (unfeathered) paddle. Again, there are advantages to both feathered and straight. Since getting my new paddle last month (Werner Corryvrecken carbon fiber bent shaft) I have settled on using a 60 degree left hand control feathering most of the time. It just feels comfortable now. Plastic / fiberglass - OK another topic with differing opinions. All of my boats are plastic. Fiberglass or kevlar may have the advantages of being lighter and maybe a little more sleek. But, the price difference and vulnerability to rock damage make me wonder if the very slight weight advantage is worth it.

There - some of my thoughts. Any differing opinions?????

Kayak Trips with John

Friday, June 27, 2008

Minnesota River

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