Downwind Squamish Surf Ski Dash and immigration Comedians

    (c)Worldwildadventures-7457  Last night Tara and I crossed into the USA, thought not before we had an “EPIC” Surf Ski adventure. I had just spent a day helping install the new amazing custom” ‘Yak Wagon” roof rack that now enables 16 x 7 feet of storage space on the roof of the bus, and after an evening paddle in Deep Cove North Vancouver, the day ended with a pleasant long sleep in the ‘Yak Wagon. The next day, as I popped out of the bus to go find the amenities, I bumped into Bob Putnam, the owner of Deep Cove Outdoors and Canoe and Kayak Centre, and after a catch up, Tara and I were soon invited for a Downwind Surf ski Paddle……. We were supposed to cross the border today….. let me “Think” about a surf ski outing…. well traffic would probably be quite high between 3 – 8pm, so if we go paddle we could cross at 9pm lower traffic amount…. “OK Done! We are in!” I exclaimed. “now let me go tell Tara!” (c)Worldwildadventures-1078 The fun part here is that Tara had never been in a surf Ski before, both of us had not done down wind surf ski runs before, though we both had super strong cross over skills, so we were exited by the novelty of the idea. Earlier in the week, Tara had paddled a K1 racing kayak around the lake without falling in, so combined with her solid rough water expedition and white water paddling skills, she would be all good.   (c)Worldwildadventures-1086After visiting Deep cove to discuss TRAK kayaks, I confirmed with Bob we would come, and we loaded a ski on the Wagon and off we went to Porteu Cove, here we meet the rest of the crew we were paddling with, and they all had slight nervous doubt when Tara and I told them we had not paddled surf ski’s in conditions like this, and in Fact Tara and not used either a surf ski or a wing paddle before. Bob knowing the backgrounds of both Tara and I, had a kind off sly twinkle in his eye it seemed. Tara was a little nervous about it all, though I knew she would be fine and joked with her about it.   (c)Worldwildadventures-1088 Soon we were on the water and it was so much fun, the speed, the surfing of waves, and water in the face, along with the challenge of a different vessel in advanced conditions, all added up to 2 hours of great fun. The biggest thing I learnt this day was to read the waves 2 -3 sets in front of you, in order to predict where to steer the ski in order to keep catching and staying on surf able waves. And by god it worked, a revelation for my skill set right there, awesome.   (c)Worldwildadventures-5(c)Worldwildadventures-2 Charging up Howe sound hooting hollering, and ripping along in 3 foot wind waves with 35 knot winds at our backs we all to soon found ourselves in Squamish estuary, ducking and diving amongst the kite and wind surfers, to get into the harbour. Soaked head to toe with big smiles and aching muscles, we helped load up the ski’s and then it was off to have beer and pizza at the local brew pub. What a fun day and yet another paddle discipline I want to indulge in. (c)Worldwildadventures-4 All to soon we were back on the road and heading for the border, and at 9.20 pm we walked in to immigration after reporting at the booth, and we were greeted, not with the expected surely USA immigration officers, but by some rather human, endearing and humorous individuals. It all seemed your usual routine, until our case officer left to get our passports from the booth officer, and while he was gone another officer made a comment that we were left standing at the altar by the priest. And soon it was all on, wise cracks flying left and right. The next target was my bus… “what are you …. errr driving …. some sort of …..err caravan?” asked the officer with some sort of bewilderment as he looked at the bus through security camera monitor showing it parked outside. “or is it a….. Bus?” On telling him it was an ex well chair transporter, he smiled and stated cautiously “ I was going to say it was some sort of….. um…..some sort of…..” “oh man don’t say it” jibed the other security officer with a look of mischief” Our case officer said “ I was going to say it looked like some sort of “Handicapped Enabled” vehicle!” “OH MAN YOU SAID IT” laughed the other officer, “Ha ha ha ha ha ha….it is not that bad man, look it is a tour bus it even has marketing decals on it, it looks great really!” we all laughed at the truth of both realitys of what the ‘Yak wagon was and had become”. Tara had been processed and just as I was about to be processed, the whole system crashed… and soon came a whole bunch of new jokes followed by “ don’t joke about this stuff, we are supposed to be putting across an air of high tech surveillance, we are meant to have all this fancy CSI stuff our systems don’t crash” followed by some more chuckles. Eventually the process worked while being harried along by more friendly banter, and while I went out to get money from the bus to pay for the visa waiver stamps, Tara informed me they even attempted to impersonate me and my accent… Who would have thought we would have had a laugh at the border crossing with immigration officials, I guess there is a first for everything. Soon we were in the USA , with a fully kitted out ‘Yak Wagon, a lots f different Kayaks, and the realisation suddenly hit me…. the Yak About Adventure with TRAK Kayaks and the TRAK on Tour had really begun, this will be a lot of work, though will also be a lot of fun. TRAK on TOUR in America Clear Background Copy

TRAK on Tour Begins Sunshine Coast and the Skooks’

  (c)Worldwildadventures-1I am finally on the Road; the TRAK on Tour project has begun, I will be spending the Northern summer traveling the West Coast of North America from Canada to Mexico and back and so far it is a fun challenge of balancing work and life on the road with the need for a life slightly apart from work, and getting some white water boating in.  (c)Worldwildadventures-0928(c)Worldwildadventures-0932 My old bus has been wrangled into service and will be transformed over the next couple of weeks into a rolling billboard and house for the trip. So far I have visited Shops on Vancouver Island from Victoria to Campbell River, though the fun really started once I crossed on the ferry across to the Sunshine Coast. This area is an old stomping ground, and it was great to catch up with old friends the first night at dance party in Lund (at the end of the road heading north). The next week was a good balance for shop visits from Lund to Gibson’s landings with some great kayak fun, Paddling sea kayaks and K1’s out from Lund and then Ripping it up at Skookumchuck narrows at a 14knot current forming an awesome late evening wave that allowed stunning sunset surfs. (c)Worldwildadventures-6354 I got to share the wave with some of the Team Pyranha kayakers, including Dave Fusilli and Hailey Mills, it was inspiring and humbling to paddle with these great boaters, and I even managed to help amp them up about rough water sea kayaking at the same time and teach them a few tricks. Between a TRAK Seeker, a Jackson Karma RG and a P n’ H Hammer there was a great representation of Sea Kayak/ Long boats, alongside the little Carbon Jed play boats that the team had. The wave was big and quick to form at this tide exchange and the foam pile was large and surging. I started in the TRAK Seeker making the most of the big green face and small erratic foam pile. It is always exhilarating to get big fast carves out of the the Seeker especially on a large fast wave like this. soon the foam pile was to large a prominent and I switched to the Jackson Karma. The Karma mad good with the big pile, being able to side surf, back surf and almost flat spin. The nose was quick to engage and ender and at one point I almost got a front loop out of the 11.5foot  beast. a couple of hours later I was exhausted and the eddy fence into the wave had got to big that the Karma RG wasn’t getting across. I at this point below a firey orange sunset sky, had a surf in the Hammer and with its slightly longer length and rockered nose it was still possible to drive on to the wave while all other boats had to walk up above the wave and then drop in. Soon the darkness settled in and we had to leave the wave ( still roaring and asking to be ridden) behind as we all headed to lay our heads and sleep. (c)Worldwildadventures-6230(c)Worldwildadventures-6368 Unfortunately the next day I had to keep rolling, though longed to stay and play on the wave for the coming week. I said goodbye to the Pyranha team and would see them again in a few days the MEC paddle Fest in Vancouver and a week later in Victoria.

My second Published article with Images

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My second published article is out in the new addition of  Adventure Kayak Magazine, this time I was asked to share some pointers I have learned about getting great photography results from the Gopro in the field. I felt quite humbled by the opportunity to be published amongst a feature article with a group of amazing photographers like Erik Boomer and Freya Fennwood.
Also featured was a two page spread of myself and my TRAK Kayaks “Seeker” Surfing at Surge Narrows, BC Canada.  I had been taking photo’s of everyone else, when my mate James told me to go get some surfing in and I will get some shots of you with your camera…. this was the best of the shots he got of this beautiful day surfing .  For more images from the day go to my blog here to get the full story

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AKv14i2-1Read more in the free online addition of Adventure Kayak here

Pacific Paddling Symposium 2014 Victoria

  (c)Worldwildadventures-5741 PacificBanner The change of the months brought the second PPS event in Victoria. At this event I was representing TRAK Kayaks, though also I was the official videographer. The PPS event is held at the amazing venue that is Pearson College and is located in an isolated bay near the southern most point of Vancouver Island. It was awesome to roll up and be part of such an awesome event and enjoy the company of old Kayaking buddies, Like Rowan Gloag, James Manke, Matt Nelson, Kate Hives, Costain Leonard, JF Marleu, Allie Carroll, to name a few, and also to make many new friends such as David Johnstone, Alex Mathews, Nigel Foster, Michael Pardy, James Roberts, Dympna Hayes and many more. This “symposium” is literally more than that; it is a “retreat”, a kids camp for big kids. The grounds are idyllic and reminiscent of Hogwarts from the Harry Potter novels, there is water access right into a sheltered cove that itself opens up to the exposed southern coast of Van Isle and Race Rocks. On grounds there is a pool for controlled coaching sessions, and expansive green space and quite buildings with amazing views to hide away from the crowds amongst. There is yoga in the mornings and the accommodations and food and are wonderful, hearty and filling. This event is limited to around 140 attendees including volunteers and organisers. So this means just over 100 participants can attend. Last year it sold out in 36 hours, this year it was 26. This event is in high demand, and after a long weekend at the event I can see why. (c)Worldwildadventures-5493(c)Worldwildadventures-5774(c)Worldwildadventures-5782(c)Worldwildadventures-5791(c)Worldwildadventures-6187(c)Worldwildadventures-00029(c)Worldwildadventures-5732(c)Worldwildadventures-5764(c)Worldwildadventures-5584(c)Worldwildadventures-5626(c)Worldwildadventures-5731(c)Worldwildadventures-5768(c)Worldwildadventures-5713 One of the most amazing parts of the Symposium for me was to get out to Trail Island, this place is a restricted conservation area, not only is it right off the southern end of Van isle exposed to all the roughest weather the winds can throw at it, it is also not a place the public can access. getting out there is a real privilledge and in fact i felt like I was visiting the South Georgia Island of the coast of south America. All that was needed where penguins, other than that there were Sea Lions and elephant seals all over the place, a true gem and I am glad it is un touristic and kept simple and barely disturbed with its one lighthouse keeper guardian. (c)Worldwildadventures-6164(c)Worldwildadventures-6150(c)Worldwildadventures-6099(c)Worldwildadventures-6077(c)Worldwildadventures-6112(c)Worldwildadventures-6114(c)Worldwildadventures-6131(c)Worldwildadventures-6135(c)Worldwildadventures-6159(c)Worldwildadventures-6168   I got out on the water a couple of times, most notably with Nigel Foster for Paddle control, and then with Bob Putman and Alex Mathews to work on Surf ski skills. Both where great learning chances for me, it was also great to meet fellow Lendal Paddle Team members James Roberts and Dympna hayes, I very much am endeared to both of them and want to spend more time getting into trouble with them in the future. Other than that I was quite happy filming some great stuff, enjoying the grounds and mingling. I have captured some great footage and I hope to have a short film together on it shortly, though I am leaving up to Janette (PPS co-ordinator) to get more thorough use out of what I shot.   I hope I get back again next year! Jaime (c)Worldwildadventures-5942

Spring Back into Life in BC (Part 2)

Spring Back into Life in BC (Part 2)

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Goodbye Mark and Hello Tara, my spring has been one of visitors and new friends and Tara Mulvaney is both. As I said goodbye to Mark Bardsley, after his great trip to BC, I then said hello to Tara. I meet Tara in New Zealand when camping on 90 mile beach in NZ, she paddled in through the rough west coast surf, and she was in the middle of paddling around the North Island Solo and on her way to becoming the first woman to paddle around all three main islands of NZ. She succeeded at this and now she was sitting in the passenger seat of my bus with a kayak she purchased in Vancouver and she was going to now paddle around Vancouver Island Solo. Before she left I managed to get her to hang out for about 10 days and have some adventures.
SKGABC Guides Exchange
Before I said goddbye to Mark, we attended the guides exchange on salt spring island. This was wonderful way for Mark (a Sea Kayak Guide in the UK) to learn a bit about how things are done on this side of the world, and for me it was also a great chance to give back (by leading a currents and group management class at polier pass). Above all else these events are always fun social times and a great way to network with people in the same industry. This is also where I reconnected with an awesome character I meet last year at the MEC Paddle fest Leenie. Leenie is a most charismatic and Gregarious character and a true joy to be around, he and I lead the Current and group session and of course had great fun shooting the shit and I promised to come see him and his wife Serena in a couple of weeks when the Puntledge River festival was on. Despite the calm sunny weather I had a great weekend with old and new friends and it was great to get out in the water using the TRAK Seeker Folding Kayak for all the guides to see. Soon the weekend was over and being ten years since my last visit, I was sad to leave Saltspring Island, though I needed to head to Victoria to do some work for TRAK Kayaks and send mark on his way to the Broughton’s to go paddling. (c)Worldwildadventures-5015 (c)Worldwildadventures-4966(c)Worldwildadventures-4957(c)Worldwildadventures-4949    (c)Worldwildadventures-4904(c)Worldwildadventures-4908(c)Worldwildadventures-4925(c)Worldwildadventures-4940     Quadra Island and Surge Narrows
When Tara turned up, I was just getting ready to head off to shadow a Level 2 sea kayak guides Assessment, so we prepped together and headed to Quadra Island, where we camped out by a lake and in the morning meet up with Don Webster (Guide Assessor and rock star international guide). Tara was unable to join us on the guide assessment so she headed off on an intro solo camp out on the BC coast, while I enjoyed helping out and learning more about Training, instructing and Assessing Fellow guides. It was a fun challenge and helped me learn how much more I can still learn, it was also fun to work in the fast currents around the area and have people swimming for real. It was a sunny and beautiful weekend and we had a great camp site where, early the next morning during land Nav’ exercises, a pod of Orca Swam right by our camp literally only 50 meters or less away. I love this place. DCIM101GOPRO DCIM102GOPRODCIM102GOPRODCIM101GOPRO    DCIM101GOPRODCIM101GOPRODCIM101GOPRODCIM101GOPRO    (c)Worldwildadventures-5193(c)Worldwildadventures-5184(c)Worldwildadventures-5214     On the return to the launch site the next day I found Tara sitting by my bus, she unfortunately had not seen the Orca, but had a great time out there. I helped check assessment sheets, joined the debrief of everyone passing and becoming level 2 guides, then said goodbye; Tara and I remained though as the flows at Surge Narrows where maxing right now. I talked Tara into coming back out with me, albeit slightly “kicking and screaming” and without a helmet (I couldn’t convince her she needed it, as she stated “this isn’t white water kayaking!”). Tara quickly learned that a helmet is a nice piece of kit to have at surge, even though you may not need it, it certainly adds a sense of security as you play amongst the rocks on waves and foam piles caused by shallow rock shelves. I Learnt that I had to be a bit more pushy with talking Tara into good ideas, like coming kayak surfing at Surge, wearing a helmet and bringing your Camera and Gopro; all this inforced by Tara recognition that she was having fun, it was cooler than she thought it would be and she wished she had brought her camera and a helmet. Ha ha ha ha ha. DCIM102GOPRO
Tara was a natural dispite it being her first time in a skeg boat and intentionally going into swift water to play with a sea kayak. Soon it was getting dark and Tara without a dry suit was getting a bit chilly, so we headed back to our lake side campground for the night before heading back to Van isle.
Puntledge River Fest (c)Worldwildadventures-1010098
The following weekend it was back on the road again to the Puntledge River Festival and, as promised, to meet up with Leenie again. Tara and I where greated inthe street by the Grinning Leenie and the heavily pregnant Serena, as I parked up the ‘Yak Wag’n. Soon we where merilly eating great food in the yard under the tree’s and drinking home brew beer and cider. Leenie and Serena are both sea kayak guides “done good” as could be said. They are now following different carriers though have managed to accumulate two houses between them and maintain a pretty outdoorsy lifestyle, yet another inforcment to me that “there are other ways to lead life and be successful by the standards of society”.
The night went on late with lots of drinking, and Tara and I awoke in the morning with pretty decent hangovers. After a fabulous breakfast of homemade Granola (muesli), Tara and I where off to the Puntledge Festival. Rolling in to the waves and smiles of friends is always great and it was no different as I rolled into the campsite and had Shayne run up to tell me some strange story about him mistaking some other bus for mine and waking them up early to fin it was not me. It did end up being Cody’s van who had come out to surge and to that Vancouver white water festival with me last month. This weekend was a great one and I had Leenie’s P n H Hammer Play sea Kayak 14.5 ft, and Jackson’s Karma RG river ocean Hybrid 11.5 ft. It was gonna be fun to get these big boats out steep creeking. (c)Worldwildadventures-1010108 (c)Worldwildadventures-(c)Worldwildadventures-1010133(c)Worldwildadventures-1010112  (c)Worldwildadventures-1010090 Despite a totally gumby move on my first seal launch in the Karma RG, where I slid down a path into the water, clipped another kayak, got tipped upside down, got my paddle stuck in some tree roots underwater forcing me to handroll up ,then continue to fight to get my paddle back from the submerged grips of a small strainer, I pulled myself together and paddled on with gusto. Indeed both boats handled the upper Puntledge and its class 4 rapids like a charm; These Rapids consisted of long rock slides and 14 foot waterfalls, despite the skeptics who commented on day one when I placed the 11.5 foot Karma on the shuttle. The next day everyone was asking if I was bring the big boat back down, I smiled and stated, “nope I am bringing a bigger one” and out came the Hammer. Everyone looked uneasy, though both boats just nailed the lines and the run. Tara had an amazing time and as usual was overly modest about her abilities, though was most certainly able to run everything we did with a big goofy smile. You can read about her version of the story here, and about how she almost disowned me for being a total rookie boater. www.tarasjourney.com blog here (c)Worldwildadventures-35
I must admit on the first run I was reasonably nervous, though after nailing my line of both waterfalls the first time in the Karma RG, and getting a solid Boof out of her, I was more than happy to run it in the bigger hammer, on later runs. The event was an awesome social event with over 100 people showing up, and the upper Puntledge is an amazing and unique river run for Vancouver island, it is very uch worth visiting. And Thanks to Lendal North America Paddles for Supplying two white water paddles for the raffle you enabled the event to make much more than usual. (c)Worldwildadventures-5413
Tara Sets Off
All too soon Tara was leaving, and a long day working on the computer I soon pulled myself away packed my boat and Paddled out with her on the start of her trip. We started late in the evening and we didn’t go far in the magic hour of light before sunset. We pulled up on nearby southerly Island in the Windchelsea’s and made camp. As soon as I put on the water with her I was longing to be part of her coming adventure, and I was sad to know I would be turning back in the morning as she went forward. We sat up late around the campfire sharing tall tales and I giving her as much info as I could about the coast and what was in store. In the morning we ate breakfast and then pushed off onto the water, Tara complained she wanted to go white water kayaking now instead of sea kayaking, and I laughed at her. We said our farewells, and I hoped to see her again in a couple of weeks and perhaps paddle some more with her, though most likely I would see her mid July when she came near the end and I returned from a work trip to the USA. Tara is a humble, driven and inspiring young lady, I feel honoured to almost be able to call her a friend, despite how much she insists that I am not cool enough.
Follow Tara’s Journeys Here (c)Worldwildadventures-5435 Sourced from My Yak About Adventures Blog

Spring Back into Life in BC (Part 1)

 

(c)Worldwildadventures-3677 (c)Worldwildadventures-4830The New Zealand Yak About Adventure is over though the Yak About continues as always in my life, it is wonderful to be back in BC and spring is just arriving, there is still snow on the mountains and the nights are cold, though the days are sunny and getting warmer, while the tree’s bud and flowers are starting to bloom.
It has been a busy year so far, many wonderful adventures and some financial risk, I am now out of money and it is time to work (which still involves kayaking a lot) and fit in finishing film projects where I can. Though the great thing on the island here is, spring means snow melt, and snow melt means…..RIVERS!
I am ashamed to say I have lived on this Island for Ten years and I have paddled only 2 rivers here… this spring I finally connected with the local crew in Nanaimo and we hit some of the most awesome river runs on this planet, it almost brings me to tears to realise I have been missing these magic rivers and these great people over the last ten years. My list of Island Rivers has now gone from the Cowichan River and the Middle Puntledge, to the Upper and Middle Gordon River, the middle Oyster River, Cameron Creek, The Middle Ash and the Upper Puntledge. And there is so much more to get amongst out here, the sad thing is the snow base is really low and the rivers are drying up quickly, so Island boating won’t last long. Spring is also a great time to get out camping in sea kayaks, the weather is calm and there are not many people out on the water yet. My friend Mark Bardsley from the UK turned up this month with a weeks’ notice, and I happened to be around, he arrived just in time for my Birthday, which culminated in a rag tag crew from all over enjoying a seafood BBQ, whiskey and drinks around a Bonfire. Then on the actually day of my birth, we spent out on Quadra Island Surfing sea kayaks at Surge Narrows. It was fun to get Mark out to one of the well known BC tidal Races and he was loving the experience, even if he did get eaten a lot… though he never did swim (as usual the TRAK Seeker loved surfing the foam of the feature). After a great day surfing at surge (that took me two days to recover from because I was so sore) and a week of work I then dragged Mark off to the mainland for the Vancouver White Water Festival which he thoroughly enjoyed, despite getting trashed in my play boat so bad on one run that he took a hit to the head that cracked my helmet I leant him. Despite this Mark had an amazing time in BC, for his last week here I set him up with a yellow TRAK Seeker Folding Kayak and he headed out for a solo trip into the Broughton Archipelago. (c)Worldwildadventures-3844 (c)Worldwildadventures-3823(c)Worldwildadventures-3829(c)Worldwildadventures-1741(c)Worldwildadventures-1760(c)Worldwildadventures-1761(c)Worldwildadventures-1782(c)Worldwildadventures-1796(c)Worldwildadventures-1824(c)Worldwildadventures-1842(c)Worldwildadventures-3683(c)Worldwildadventures-3715(c)Worldwildadventures-3716(c)Worldwildadventures-3742(c)Worldwildadventures-3796 Here are some more highlights from the rivers and Oceans of Aprils adventures.
Oyster River
After a great night of Playing Kayak Polo at the pool in Campbell River I connected with some fun Characters to paddle the Oyster, it is only a class 3 run, though it was great to get on the water, despite the snow on the banks and my hands being frozen in the river. There was a lot to play with on the river and it was fun to be back in my LL “Stomper” Kayak.
The Gordon River
This river has wonderfully step gradient and features, this tight gorge cuts its way through the western part of the Cowichan Area, and it is classic beautiful low volume step creeking at it best. This was a fun run for me as I trusted the Crew I was with comprising of Joe Box and Shayne Vollemers and we read and ran almost the whole river (which is a class 4/4+ run) these guys new the river so well, that they could talk me through the line, lead it and I just followed. This was a surreal feeling on some drops that where significant waterfalls… that feeling of running bind of a drop you simply have been given a description too is indescribable as you crest the lip and plant your blade for a last drive or dive. I must admit I certainly did not style the run though it was super addictive and I was sad this would probably be the last run for the year before it dried up. (c)Worldwildadventures-4777 (c)Worldwildadventures-4794 (c)Worldwildadventures-4806 (c)Worldwildadventures-4824 Bellinas Islands
These islands located of the coast of Nanoose bay, are a beautiful and remote spot, two island jammed together make a wonderfully sheltered channel with a large crescent pebble beach. My Friend Sam and I set up a couple of TRAK Seeker folding Kayaks and paddled out there for the night. Sam was training for a kayak race and this was a great way to get her on the water and help her with her technique. Also in the island channel was a haul out of California Sea Lions, whose ruckus barks kept us company during the day hours though thankfully silenced at night.
The next day was a stormy one despite the calm sunny morn, on the paddle back we had lumpy quartering sea’s that made the going a touch tough, however when we turned into Nanoose bay it was out our back and we could skim along the waves back to our launch spot. (c)Worldwildadventures-4868 (c)Worldwildadventures-4888 (c)Worldwildadventures-4846 The Cameron River
This is certainly another classic, a tight technical creek with loads of flowing fun moves that you can run down in 15 minutes, or meander in 45 mins. Multiple runs are obviously possible, though the take out involves a very steep climb and gets the legs working as well. This run I did with a great crew, again lead by Shayne (the local drive and knowledge for Island Boating) and included Corey May, and an old acquaintance Dave Prothero, and for this run we had the wonderful Mark who was happy to drive our Shuttle (any excuse to drive a large American Ford Truck that’s running on Veg’ Oil). (c)Worldwildadventures-3886 (c)Worldwildadventures-3893 (c)Worldwildadventures-3884 The Ash River
Again with Mark as Shuttle Driver, Shayne, I, and a wonderful Woman called Toni, hit the Lower Ash after work during the week. This was a simple class 3 run, though has a solid Class 4/5 waterfall right at the start that you portage around. This was a pleasant run and I was stoked to be out on the water, though to be honest I was not feeling it that day, and I screwed up a lot of simple lines, though just being on the water, the homebrew Cider of Toni’s at the take out and a late night Feed of Subway in Port Alberni, made the trip a good one. DCIM101GOPRO (c)Worldwildadventures--2 (c)Worldwildadventures--3 (c)Worldwildadventures--4
Vancouver White Water Festival.
This was a fun Social Event and Mark, Cody and I all piled into my Yak’n Wagon and headed to this mainland event. I got to meet a bunch of new people and catch up with older acquaintances. The rains and snow melt had the river up, and compared to last year when I paddled this stretch with Jimmy Mcdonald and it seemed like a bit of a bore, this time round the Canyon run, was good solid class 3+ fun, solid holes, large wave trains and of course great people. Slussy Creek was another fun class 3 run at high flow. It was a wet Raining weekend, and we had a great live band to dance away to under a giant Rain fly and at 1am we found ourselves sliding of to bed.
Other highlights for me where, Meeting Steven Wright and doing a freestyle clinic with him, I was amazed at how much I learnt from him and how much can apply across to rough water sea kayaking, I even got my stern stall sussed finally. Another was meeting up with the Jackson Kayaks crew and having dinner with them on the last night. From this meeting I organized to get hold of the new Jackson Karma RG for a few test runs, and so I can give some feedback on the design. 1560471_604338253007688_224847558322889754_n DCIM100GOPRO(c)Worldwildadventures-34 (c)Worldwildadventures-40
Spring is an awesome time in BC, in fact all year is! I love this place.
Stay tuned for more in the next Post, when I hit some steep creeks in long boats, with Tara Mulvaney (first woman to paddle around all of New Zealand). Jaime DCIM100GOPRO   sourced from my Yak About Adventures Project Blog here

The New Zealand Roadie is Over Though the Yak About Continues

 

Today I hop back on a plane to NZ, the trip here is over, I say goodbye to my homeland and head for my chosen home of BC Canada. We had an amazing adventure this season, I now have loads of Film and Photo to edit, debt to work off and a smile on my face (not to mention some stress and apprehension, everything comes with its costs), though the Yak About continues, from here it is white water season in BC, I then have a Sea Kayak Trip in Sardinia to run and then it is the summer season in north America and I am bound to be on the Road Again with TRAK Kayaks, promoting their Folding Kayak “The Seeker”. Stay tuned for more adventures and updates on the “short film Series”. below is some of the photographic highlights of the southern summer in NZ. J Zack
ff_140115_53261005938_293271910798093_271659819_n1477408_10153705224355608_689321521_nff_140115_53551524193_292139570911327_1138815897_o1532144_289043447887606_1921784415_n1548143_294099844048633_1993051954_o1619095_294411030684181_1788343183_n1779686_294411427350808_913631983_nff_131231_1321ff_140102_1716ff_140103_2060-Editff_140106_29741IMG_9668(c)Worldwildadventures-00003DCIM101GOPROIMG_13732014-02-14 14.28.10IMG_1288IMG_4447 - CopyIMG_8416IMG_8464IMG_7016 - CopyIMG_1378IMG_9652ff_140108_3159ff_140109_3416ff_140112_4219ff_140113_4457ff_140105_25521IMG_7412 - CopyIMG_7552 - CopyIMG_8203 - CopyDCIM100GOPROIMG_4353 - CopyDCIM100GOPRO Sourced from My Yak About Adventures Project Blog

My Life In a Shed and a Van and other images Published in Adventure Kayak Magazine Spring 2014 Issue

This spring I got Asked by Virginia Marshal (editor of Adventure Kayak Mag) if she could do a feature on my life living simple in order to paddle more, and here is the result. I also had a number of other photos published from adventures over the years and from the Bay of Fundy Symposium last Fall (Bay Of Fundy Blog Here). Enjoy. 
Also thanks to TRAK Kayaks   (featured in the main image) for helping my life be lived the way it is.

http://www.rapidmedia.com/ak/adventurekayakmag_spring14/

Sea Kayaker Magazines Last Issue and my Only Appearance in the Magazine.

It is sad for things to come to an end, especially things that helped define a culture. I am pleased got one appearance in the legendary Sea Kayaker Magazine before it disappeared, with the publication of a Pygmy Kayaks full page advert.

This Photo Also featured on the Cover of Ocean Paddler Magazine (UK) #39 in December; Link.

 

 Sea Kayaker Magazine Writes in there blog for the last time.

 “For nearly 30 years, Sea Kayaker magazine has been
an exemplary cornerstone of the sea kayaking community and a defining
influence for the standards of our sport. We’ve been pleased and proud
to share 157 issues with the kayaking community, but now we must
announce with great regret and sadness that this Issue of Sea Kayaker
magazine will be our last. In the course of our many years of service
to kayakers around the world, we’ve seen many changes in sea kayaking,
the industry it supports, and the business of print and web media. For
our first two decades the changes generally worked in our favor, but
over this past decade, the tide slowly turned. Though
the magazine and the website continue to draw nearly universal praise
from our readers, we recently recognized that we’ve been paddling
against an overwhelming current and it’s time to come ashore. And so,
we’re celebrating the final chapter of the Sea Kayaker legacy with our special 158th issue, the February 2014.

AKv14i1TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS – It is difficult to bring an end to a publication
supported by subscriptions. For many of our loyal readers, this last
issue will be shy of the number of issues they expect to receive. We
have been working with Rapid Media (www.adventurekayakmag.com) and have
arranged for our incomplete subscriptions to be fulfilled by Adventure Kayak, a magazine devoted to sea kayak touring. Our subscribers will receive an issue of Adventure Kayak
for every issue remaining on their subscription. We encourage you to
give the magazine a try. Rapid’s founder and publisher, Scott MacGregor,
has graciously invited Sea Kayaker magazine’s editor Chris Cunningham to contribute to Adventure Kayak and he’s look forward to adding a touch of Sea Kayaker and some of his views to the magazine.”

As published at  http://seakayaker.us/our-last-issue/

I have also been fortunate enough to have been published in this issue of Adventure Kayak Magazine aswell. Check it out here

Yak About Adventures Film Series Funding Bid

I am in New Zealand or rearing to go on the new project and our Kickstarter campaign for the new film series is running full steam, there is less than 14 days left to raise the $14000USD to help make this project run. check out the video below and follow the link here to contribute to our series. Yak About Kickstarter Here
we have great rewards like trips to Sardinia Italy, 3 piece Carbon Greenland Paddles, T shirts and a folding TRAK Kayak, and Hi Fives and any shares to your friends are just as welcome.

The Yak About Blog is also here YAK ABOUT BLOG

Jaime
 


Yak About Adventures 2013 kickstarter video from Wandering Wolf Productions on Vimeo.