Recent content by RatAssassin

I was talking to my neighbors kid (now 40) a few days ago and we got on doing trips when he asked me if I and the wife have anything fun coming up as far as out outdoor travel pursuits. My wife has known this guy since he has been about 3 or 4. Nice guy, nice family. Lives 5 hours away and...

What I have learned over a very long time doing outdoor stuff. What people like us do, is rare in the sense of the general public. When talking about your trips in casual company, you notice things. Everyone loves the "idea" of doing it. And even a lot of people say that as kids, they and their...

Not as much as I wanted. But I am retiring this year after spending way too much time setting up my business to run without me. I realized that if I didn't have an exit date, family would just keep me working. This year should be a whole lot more.

I put a set in my little OT Pack. Kayak adjustables. It took a cute little pond hopper and made it into a much nicer and capable canoe.

A neat tent/shelter like that was the old MSR Missing Link. Half tent, half shelter. More weather coverage and bug protection, but enough openness screening for catching some fresh air.

I don't really know. I guess the saying, "It's in your blood" really applies to me. my Great-Grandfather was a very rich guy (before he went broke and died alone in a trailer in Fl) with some big connections and would go on adventures and safaris all over the world. My Grandparents were huge...

Everyone who loves what we all love, should do the Nam. It's surprisingly a most excellent canoe trip by any standard.

Bob B. below your comment nailed it. The quiet water section is nice. Really nice if the water is lower which keeps a lot of the motor traffic out of that "Voluntary Quiet Waters" section due to shallow stump fields and weeds. And that's ok because it's my favorite part of the lake. The fishing...

For rivers? My Penobscot paddled backwards has never left me without a smile on my face. Love that all-rounder.

Always a nice trip. One of my favorite haunts to paddle and camp.

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is about 35 minutes from my home back in PA. Lots of day tripping tubers from the cities and a wonderful tripping river with multiple campsites that hardly anyone uses. I used to do at least 3 trips a year from About Milford down to Kittatinny take...

Coffee.........some more coffee and a nice breakfast. Quick clean up and hit the water. Unless the forecast is for wind. Then I break camp right away (maybe after one quick cup of coffee) and hit the water before it comes up.

You live in a giant playground......use it! Paddling opportunities are really great there. I'm close by and spend lots of time there.

Lower that seat 1" and throw in some adjustable footpegs. Changes everything.

For me, I was running from a long line of just things that weren't sitting right with me in life. I was handling it, but wasn't happy. I saw no end in sight, no light at the end of the tunnel. Just left my job one day, cleaned up a divorce and took off for 3.5 months of paddling and backpacking...