Recent content by SouthernKevlar

I have been using an Exped Orion 3 since since 2019. It is my Go-To tent (out of 6 tents) for any trip unless I am going ultra-light, need my 6 person tent for space or a car-camping pop-up tent for rough use and a loaner. I have spent 34 nights in the Orion 3 during conditions ranging from 40...

I have gone out with just a tarp in non-buggy seasons and bivy sacks when I was trying to keep weight to a minimum. I wore out my old bivy, it might be time to look for another one. Mostly now I prefer to tent. My go-to shelter when going into potentially rainy or unknown conditions is an...

I may do that next year. If the 2026 WPASCR falls on the usual first full weekend of June and the 2026 Maine Canoe Symposium falls the weekend before, I will probably give this year's original plan a try: A couple of days driving to Maine. Classes at the Maine Canoe Symposium for 3 days...

I tried out the Hemlock SRT and Peregrine, a Colden Dragonfly and Nomad, a Bell Wildfire, and a FlashFire. I have already had a Flashfire, but just wanted a comparison to what I remembered. I liked the Nomad, but didn't relish the idea of it sitting in a parking lot on top of the car for a few...

Chapter 3 As I drove through the countryside to Peterborough I took my time. I stopped for a bite of lunch, made a gas stop, looked at the building clouds and the whitecaps on the many lakes that I passed. I entered Peterborough and found the Comfort Inn, where was told that I had no...

Chapter 2 After a fine Monday morning motel breakfast, I drove out on Highway 60 and checked in at the West Gate of Algonquin Provencial Park. My next stop would be the Rock Lake Access Point, where the office did not open until 11:00, so checking in at the West Gate was essential. The access...

Chapter 1 Last December I started planning for a week of canoe-based fun. This year’s Maine Canoe Symposium was scheduled for May 30th through June 1st. The Western Pennsylvania Solo Canoe Rendezvous was scheduled for June 6th through the 8th. It was a long way for me to drive to either event...

Welcome to the site. There are many very knowledgeable canoeists here and I have learned a lot from them. Have you tried paddling the canoe yet? 1 1/2 " sounds like a lot of deformation but if it is symmetrical on the left and right (port and starboard) I wonder how much it would affect the...

A post on my trip to the WPASCR, Algonquin and the Canadian Canoe Museum will be coming soon. It was quite a week! The museum is fascinating. I ended up spending 4 hours there, including talking with several of the staff and lunch at their wonderful cafe. They do allow photography, but no...

At the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, Ontario, on my way back from Algonquin a couple of weeks ago.

Friday was a cold, rainy day and I think only a couple of paddlers actually got on the lake for a short time. The vegetarian Pot-Luck dinner was GREAT! The weather, while poor for paddling, made it a good time to meet, talk and listen to "old hands". Saturday morning was still a bit wet, but...

If I were a turtle, I think that I would rather walk along while being herded with a stick than having someone grabbing my tail. Personally, wouldn't want to risk a foot-wide Snapper getting a taste of me!

As I walk my dog along the road by our neighborhood's small lake, I usually help several turtles along during each of the warm months. They are mostly Painted Turtles, Snapping Turtles and Box turtles. The Snappers usually get moved along with the help of a large stick, but at least they are...

Ahh, so many levels now: Flexatarian> Omnivore> Polotarian> Pescatarian> Ovo-Lacto Vegetarian> Vegetarian> Vegan and probably a few others I missed. I just like food!

That sounds GOOD! There are always tasty eats at this event, at least the times I've been. I'm curious to see that Dragonfly too.