jason

One can debate on how waterproof the last generation ones were and I don't think that one can get 35MM that cheep any more. Looking on Walmart's site the best I could find was $8.70 plus tax (you do get 4 rolls).

As for the currents you can go to the source, it's free as we have already paid for it. http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/currents14/cpred2.html

I have had the two and I really like the velcro wrist closures better. I have never had them scratch me or cause any issues.

Many of us could you how we do cowboy re-entry. I have a keyhole cockpit but my legs are too long and have to treat my boat like an ocean cockpit boat. Many people at NSPN have cockpit boats and are skilled at cowboy re-entry and can show your how they do it. With practice it works fine. That said in conditions it's a mix the re-entry in roll is quicker but you end up with a boat with some water in it (possibly 1/4 full) and with the cowboy you can return to a boat that's just about dry (when you flip the boat over you have to push it up out of the water before flipping it right side up)..

My last one is a Carmody model which is ordered as an expedition without the hood. I have never had a hood but I just didn't like the idea of it for moving water. The expedition without the hood is less expensive than adding the reflectors and the pockets to the Meridien. I don't often use the pockets, but I like the idea of the reflective tape.

How about the 18th or the 25th?

We will be there for you.

I can tag along just as I am now. I have been on a few 5* exams (none of my own). I do have my old 4*, and have been do a dozen 5* trainings (I expect that I will take a few more before I get back into exam mode). For now I am working on moving, a IWD and when I am and possibly a ICE this fall.

Julie and I would be glad to head over and watch you collect your 5*. Please just give us some notice as to pick-up cheap flights and rental cars etc.

Sounds good, I have my pass for the year. If we can't find a Chipolte, I know a great Thai place: http://www.dokbua-thai.com/ it's closer to where you live than walden. I don't think that this is the cowboy, as that's not new to Lorrie. The cowboy can be done with normal boats and ones with ocean cockpits. With an ocean boat you just have to slide your legs in. I haven't found a video of this new (to me) scramble to see what it is yet.

On the page: http://www.northernlightpaddles.com/paddles/ they list that they have a shoulderless option.

I would love to see the taco scramble. But I too am now hungry, what time does Chipotle open?

They aren't official USCG buoys. The local harbormaster attempts to mark the channel and as you point out it's ever moving thus the buoys are just a rough guide. It's a nice place to paddle if you don't mind walking next to your boat in search of deeper water.

Another NSPNer pointed me to this: http://www.outdoors.org/publications/outdoors/2014/learnhow/keeping-bears-at-bay.cfm

I would think that it would be much easier to roll. If the batteries a securrly mounted to the bottom of the kayak they will lower the cg and make the roll easier. I find rolling a full boat fairly easy to do. It just rolls a bit slower.

Being water cooled the windings might not melt with you doubling the voltage. My guess is you should put the batteries in parallel if you want them to last for the full lap.

I love this picture from the article.

I just found this article it seems very appropriate: http://gizmodo.com/how-to-enjoy-nature-without-getting-yourself-eaten-1566212588?rev=1398531761&utm_campaign=socialflow_gizmodo_twitter&utm_source=gizmodo_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow It covers even more than bears. It will even help with sharks (think the cape).

After re-reading it it depends on black powder that one can't take it on a plane. http://safetravel.dot.gov/index_ammunition.html If they were smart they would have picked something like this as the alarm noise maker: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hilti-0-22-Caliber-Yellow-Booster-100-Pack-50398/202057637

I guess you need someone that's not on the trip to purchase it. Wonder if you get your $'s back after the bear eats it too.

Even the locals have to be careful: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/10/16/forestry-worker-mauled-by-bear/ This one was able to get away to tell the story: http://www.adn.com/2013/04/06/2855260/10-years-later-bear-mauling-survivor.html From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_bear_attacks_in_North_America These ones scares me the most: A number of other campers where dragged from tents. This one looks like it was due to food in the tent: http://www.adventure-journal.com/2011/02/family-seeks-2-million-from-forest-service-after-son-killed-by-bear/ Setting something like this might help one get some sleep: http://www.icebearalarm.com/ or http://www.electrobearguard.com/photo_album.html

B&H just e-mailed me about this new waterproof Camera: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Ricoh-WG-4-GPS-Digital-Camera/ci/24665/N/3937957377?cm_mmc=EML-_-Newsletter_Newsletter-_-140424-_-Body_Retail_WG-4-GPS-Digital-Camera I haven't used it touched it or really looked at it. It's nice to see that new options exist. I would really love to see one that had the speed of a SLR..... I doubt that this one does.

I was under the impression that bears where practicing toss and release with undersized humans. Sort of like we do with lobster.

This one might have a proper bear repelling ring: http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/bigbore/1895SBL.asp

We won't know about other writers that couldn't write about "avoiding the digestive tracts of grizzlies" as the other Grizzlie didn't go "harrumph," and trot away. I think that they were a little under prepared, not even a jet boil....