world paddlin

2009-12-05T14:37:00.000-08:00

So its been about about a month here in Chile. The water levels are still high due to the unseasonably cool weather and massive amounts of rain. I have found some new and old friends to paddle with providing me with good company on and off the creeks.
It´s funny, since traveling chasing the kayaking seasons I have run into people I have met from all over the globe. I am reminded of how small our world kayaking community really is. I also am stoked to have good friends from all over the globe with in whom I can truly call friends.
From Australia, Uganda, South Africa, Sweden, France, Germany, Italy, Philadelphia, Montana, Alaska, and Chile, all are here and all are brothers in kayaking. Pucon is going off right now and its awesome to see and be a part of it. I hope you enjoy looking at the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them.
Keep coming back. Ill keep posting more pics

2009-12-05T14:17:00.000-08:00

Middle palguin lower angle

2009-12-05T14:08:00.000-08:00

chile, month one

2009-12-05T13:36:00.001-08:00

lets try this again

2009-11-10T18:16:00.000-08:00

. Ok, so I admit, Im not too good at updating this blog. In my defence I was busy last year finishing my degree while in chile. This meant typing alot and alot of email which left me with little time or want for more computer time. Im sorry though, and am happy to try and keep up to date this time.
I have arrived four days ago in Santiago, where my friend im made from last year, Bastie, picked me up at the airport and took me back to his apartment. This was much nicer then last years crazy experience of taxies, buses, and trains to get to Chillan. However,I was not allowed by Copa airlines to bring my trusty kayak. This was my first time with an airline that strait up refused me bringing a kayak. After being devastated I and others, mainly my super cool mom worked on other options on trying to get me a kayak. Turns out my old and new contacts Jared S. and Ian G. had a line on an Pyrana Everest for me in pucon.
While in Santiago I have borrowed some boats for some of the sweet runs around, but am headed to Curacao, and then Pucon for the steeps. Before I leave Santiago though I was hoping to hop on the Rio Yeso, Colorodo, Upper Maipo, and Maipocho. But, this all depends on if I can secure a creek boat those days. Otherwise, vamose to the south.
I should have some pictures soon. For now im still transitioning though. So till next time, CHOW!

Ps. thanks to Patty, Tom, Meghan, and my other friends who have been taking time out of there days to help me here. with out you, I can not imagine doing this. You allow my dreams to come to fruition. Bungunalow, thanks from all of my heart

week 2, mission del Sur

2009-03-06T10:33:00.000-08:00

So, it´s has been two weeks here in Chile. From Santiago, I headed to Pucon and was lucky to have met up with a group headed south chasing the water. The group was six people, two Chileans, two Belgium’s, one German, and one Italian. With Will and I, it was at 8 and maximum capacity for the small Peugeot delivery van we were to tour around in.
The first stop on the trip was the Rio Futaleufu. Here there was a festival and many kayakers from all over South America and the world. The festival was in response to the future damming of some Patagonian rivers, amongst which included the Futaleufu and the Baker. The festival was put on by Patagonia Sin Represas, and was a demonstration to gain support for the preservation of these rivers and give awareness to the potential future of the Futaleufu.
We showed up at the festival later than expected because all the boarders and roads headed to Futaleufu were closed due to a volcano eruption in Chaiten. It rained ash for half a day and made a dusty mess. When we finally got there the first event, boater-cross was going on and they let us in. Imagine how I felt. Two days flying, one day in a bus, three days in a van, and my first time down the class four Futaleufu was to be in a race. Big holes, big waves, black eyes from another racers paddles, and it was all new to me. I loved it, and it was quite a unforgettable experience. The next few days allowed for a chance to take in the river and its surroundings.
I can´t do justice in words or pictures as to how absolutely stunning the area is, but I’ll try. I was told that Futaleufu essentially means painted by God. I think that’s very appropriate. Teal water, huge steep snow caped peaks, lush green every ware, and a local community that was aware and truly loved their area. I would love to stay here forever. But, vamoose!
We were headed south after a week in Futaleufu. We had hoped to run the Rio´s Baker and Bravo, buy unfortunately, our not so trusty Peugeot broke down near the town of Caiaque and we were stuck. After two days we rallied together and found a driver and a van that could take us the Baker. Unfortunately, this dug into our budget and time and the Baker, which has only been paddled by two other groups, had to be sacrificed. So, here we were in a smaller van, cramped, tired, smelly, and very excited to finally be headed to the Baker again.

Day one, Santiago hustle

2009-02-14T10:26:00.000-08:00

Well after a 24 hr layover in Atlanta GA, I've made it to Santiago. It was no surprise for me to here Spanish when I landed. What was a surprise was that fact that most of the locals speak about as much English as I speak Spanish, not much. After my primarily English speaking Ugandan experience, I’ve gotten lingualy lazy. As usual though, I was blessed, a nice local, my taxi driver, helped me figure out the trains. It was funny though, he too didn't speak any English.

I'm getting really good at non verbal, gestures and facial expressions as a means to convey and respond to communication. No worries though, I have two and half months to learn up on my extremely weak Spanish. For now I’m just killing another day waiting for another form of transportation, the train. My train leaves tonight for Chillan, where I will somehow, hopefully find my friend Will and his contact. Once again I find myself wondering where I’ll sleep tonight. I should have some pics posted in the next week so as always, keep checking.

Next up, Chile

2009-01-20T20:34:00.000-08:00

Well Uganda was sweet. Lots of good people, waves, and overall experiences. I have had about a month back in the states and in two weeks time I'll be in Chile. I should be meeting up with a fellow paddling buddy, Will Hartmen, who was one of the six in the Uganda group. We have some idea what we want to do while there.
Landing in Santiago, the capital, we plan on heading to Futalafu. The "Futa", offers a wide range of class 2-4 river running style rapids. It is the most notable of rivers in Chile and will be dammed within eight years. While there we are hoping to find some creeks as well. We anticipate this will take us a little north to Pucan. Either way, I'm sure we'll fall in with some chill and informed local paddlers who will offer some great experiences.
On another note, I plan on being a little more disciplined with blogging in Chile than I was in Uganda. Infrastructure and web access should be more available, also I'm fulfilling my internship within this trip. The internship requires I find a computer once a week to write and send a weekly paper to my adviser. So those, if any who pay attention to this blog, the blog will be a little more active and up to date on this trip. And of course, I promise more and better quality pictures. I plan on really focusing on my photography as well as kayaking this trip. I'll be working on different styles and compositions.
Hope you enjoy the postings, and thanks for all comments and followings. It is appreciated. Check out the love it live it, Riot kayaks, and WRSI blogs as well for more info.

steve and mike on Bladerunner

2009-01-08T13:28:00.000-08:00

Boda Boda shuttle ride

2009-01-08T13:20:00.000-08:00

2008-12-18T10:23:00.000-08:00

Don't get bit

2008-12-18T10:12:00.004-08:00

Don

2008-12-18T10:12:00.003-08:00

Don

2008-12-18T10:12:00.001-08:00

2008-12-18T10:03:00.000-08:00

Africa living... while out of the kayak

2008-12-18T09:54:00.000-08:00

2008-11-26T03:54:00.000-08:00

2008-11-26T02:28:00.000-08:00

club wave, just below nile special

2008-11-20T05:52:00.000-08:00

2008-11-15T06:39:00.000-08:00

The local kids at the take out of the Silverback section.

2008-11-15T06:30:00.000-08:00

Steve given-er on Nile Special

2008-11-15T06:21:00.000-08:00

Mr. Fisher mid pistol flip finishing up a K Y combination

2008-11-15T06:06:00.000-08:00

A typical day at the Nile Special wave. well, maybe a little cloudy.

african internet

2008-10-13T23:32:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to say sorry for those of you who follow the blog. I planed on posting more regularly and posting pictures too. Unfortunately the internet is not easy to get here and when I have access the Internet is too slow to upload pics. I have tried a couple of times and it takes about three hours and is not always a garente. I have been told of hotel nearby that has the best Internet connection in Jinja so i will try that next week.

We left the Hairy Lemon island a few days ago but are going back today. The Lemon is essentially kayaking camp. It is definitely helping all of us. We eat breakfast and kayak on club wave for about two to three hours. Then we eat lunch wait for the water to rise ( the dam release in the morning but the levels take till four to reach the Lemon) and head out to Nile special for about three hours. The Nile special wave has a sweet but tricky entry with a tow rope that crosses the eddy line and drops you into the wave. If the kayaker is feeling lucky, when they drop in they can pull themselves on the rope rite as they let go and try a clean pan am or blunt. This all ways results in much cheering because either it works or the person got a nasty edge catching flush.... and that is always funny. There isn't much to do on the island at night so we all read and play poker or chess ect.... its good.

I'm am hoping to try again in about six days to load pictures to complement these story's. In this neck of the world that will most likely be a half to full day endeavor. Take care all

upper nile adventures week 1

2008-10-01T07:50:00.000-07:00

So we made it and only one bag lost in transit which has since found its way back to us. Uganda has proved to be as beutiful as we've been told and more some. The people are nice, water warm and big, and the food....ehh good and cheep. We have been camping at NRE, Nile River Explorers. The water is HUGE, but very warm. The river has found ways to push each of us in our own respects. Every day we go out and charge the different lines in the upper nile trying to shake out the cob webs and improve upon our big water paddling skills.Next week we will be down on the lower half at the Hairy Lemon tuning our playboating skills on Nile Special, the local epic surf wave.

Forget this cold weather... Endless summer anyone?

2008-09-24T07:38:00.000-07:00

Its the first few days of fall and moment of truth has come. We are headed to Uganda in about 24 hrs. Half of our group is taking a diffrent flight so we (Mike, Steve, and I) shall meet them in Kempala. We Three however are meeting in NYC tonight and taking off tomarrow. LOL,,,,im mildly apprehencive about getting the kayaks on the plane. But, Im sure it will work out.....we're paddlers, these things do. I believe its all the sacrifices to the river gods that give us this "rolling with it" ability.
I just wanted to say a huge thanks to Kim, Ty, and Nick at WRSI, Matt with Riot, Nick and Jeff at H2O for helping me personaly achive my paddling goals. O, and even though I didn't get my gear in time, ken at Peak UK has been more helpfull in trying and more importantly getting back to me.
Well the next time I'll be posting it shall be in Africa and hopefully I'll be slam'n some sweet Uganda shots up too.

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2008-08-25T14:21:00.000-07:00

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2008-08-20T15:30:00.000-07:00

Crazy happinings all around

2008-08-14T12:37:00.000-07:00

Flight reservations check, hep a, b, c , oral typhoid pill, doxicycline pills, yellow fever ......check, check, check...oops forgot yellow fever ( always been a gamblin man). ..... Kayak check, gear check, friends check, northern Ugandan rebels check....lol...ehhh...for real though...ehhh.
This is the first of many blogs documenting the start of my friends and my world travels. The five year wait to finish college is over and the life goal of kayaking around the world is manifesting. Yup, I’m ready to jet for the Sept 25 flights to Uganda and Zambia for four months of paddling. Next year, around spring-ish season, the goal is the Patagonia region of Chile. For the finale....Norway, the huckers Valhalla.
I'm currently, talking with and looking for, sponsors. NOT monetary as much as gear, especially since we’ll be leaving our boats and some gear for the Ugandan locals. The hopes, to create a means of employment as safety boaters for guide companies. So if you’re interested let me know… if not, eh follow the blog anyway. I guarantee many good and some ridiculous stories. And lets face it we all like a good short story.