Paddlefest starts in the parking lot, when you first have the challenge of finding a spot, then you get to see the boats that everyone brought! It's kind of like a swap meet as folks can buy, sell or trade their boats here too, plus you get to talk to people who have different roof rack systems and carry methods that you always wondered about.
Once you are in everyone has a booth set up, from the paddling association to safety organizations to different boat dealers. The tent on the left is the only food seller to have made it there, Extreme Pita.
Everywhere you looked there were boats.
And more boats.
And even more boats.
Did I mention there were boats?
I only say it because there were a lot of boats.... like these....
Of course boats in the grass are pretty, but a boat really only works in the water. My wife's cousin was the only one that showed up to go with me, so you see her in a lot of photos...
Got to adjust the foot pedals. Always nice to have a helping hand!
After paddling a number of different boats Christine decided that she liked the 13 foot range best, and in her mind the Current Designs Vision 135 was the best boat of the day.
It took her a while to figure out the rudder though, having never used one before. Once she got the hang of it she seemed to really like it.
Here she is in a 15 foot version of the CD Vision. She liked the green better, but preferred the size of the yellow one.
This is a little Jackson Rockstar that was for sale. I was really tempted but as I said, I didn't have the cash to throw at it right then and there. Sooner or later I'll get one...
I didn't come away empty handed though. i picked up this almost brand new set of paddles for $65.
Apparently someone used them a couple of times, broke the center lock and returned them. MEC replaced the lock and I got a $200 set of paddles for less than half price, and there are only a few small scratches on the blades, scratches which it would have gotten on it's first couple of times out anyway.
I've always wanted to try bent paddles, but at $200 and up I never wanted to experiment. For $65 I figured what the heck, and after the little bit of paddling I did at Paddlefest I have to say I really like how they feel. It remains to be seen how I like them long term, but so far so good. And, if I decide I don't like them, well, I can probably sell them for at least what I bought them for.
Christine and I also took a rescue course. I had never taken the course, but I ended up not bothering with the exercises because I've done them all already. I'd hoped they would teach something I hadn't figured out on my own, but it was an intro course and the water was cold so I stayed dry while everyone else rolled their boats and climbed back in, either aided or alone.
Here's my friend Frank experimenting with getting in and out of a boat.
I had jumped in that day as well and it was cold. I'd climbed back out of the water and into my boat, then a few minutes later thought "naw, it can't be as cold as I thought it was, I just need to get acclimatized to it" so I went in a second time, and sure enough it was still cold. I stayed in a little longer the second time but when I came out my toes were blue and my muscles were locking up, and I needed help getting out. An hour later Frank decided he didn't believe me that it was that cold (despite the fact that my toes were still blue) and he decided to jump in. I'm just glad he had his camera rolling!
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