Recent content by SouthernKevlar

That looks like a great choice for a solo. it has an interesting transition into the tumblehome, or would that be called a very high chine? Good luck and I am looking forward to reading your build reports.

Oh Good. When I saw "bow pinning" I envisioned getting your bow stuck between a couple of rocks in whitewater. It is hard to do stern carve when you are in that situation! Flatwater "bow pinning" is a very different concept.

The signs were a surprise for this first timer to Sparkleberry. I think they were put up by hunters and fishers as markers, and the school bus sign marks the channel to Sparkleberry Landing. There are a number of others scattered around the swamp. We did not stop at the cabin, just paddled by...

So you can't find the river for the water? Sounds like seeing the forest for the trees. I could definitely see how higher water could add to the "Where am I" factor in a swamp. Being used to mostly whitewater and well-channeled rivers, having to find the river in all that water just strikes...

I think if you were well experienced with GPS and also had some maps of the swamp to mark, you would probably be OK if you were solo. I waited until I had a guide and in this case a group. It seems that water level can matter quite a bit. It was low on this trip and some of the planned...

Welcome to the site, Farback. My wife and I spent a bit over a month in Nova Scotia in September/October this year and are making plans to return next year. With the drought this year I didn't even take a canoe, but did rent one at Kejimkujik for a short paddle. I may have to ask you about...

On November 6th of this year I noticed a post on Paddling.com titled “An Open invitation to paddle sparkleberry swamp sc tues,wed, thurs. Nov. 11,12,13” I had read of this area and had been wanting to paddle the swamp (with a name like Sparkleberry, who couldn’t be intrigued) but had also read...

"Let us know what turnout is like & what you think of the swamp. (I'll be jealous if you see gators but the Cypress should be changing according to Ms Powell..." should be even prettier)" I'll take a few photos and post them on my return. I'm looking forward to paddling a new-to me area and...

Gamma, Thanks for the preview. Though I've heard about this area for a good while, I will be doing my first Sparkleberry Swamp paddle this week. I logged onto Paddling.com this a few days back and noticed this thread: An Open invitation to paddle sparkleberry swamp sc tues,wed, thurs. Nov...

BlackLite formula: >S x T= <W (S =number of Scratches on canoe, T =Time canoe has been owned, W =amount of Worry about canoe getting new scratches)

For years I've been using cut-down closed-cell "anti-fatigue" mats sold at woodworking/industrial supply shops for my kneeling flatwater canoes. I do not glue them in but they tend to lay well in place, have a "grippy" surface and give a good bit of padding. With either shorts or long pants I...

AI-written, real, physical books. Arrrrrgh! Banish you, AI, back to the dark, electronic world of which you inhabit! I have checked out a couple of new books from our county library that seem to have slipped past the selectors. They looked mildly interesting at first glance, but as I started...

I first paddled the Nanty back in 1982 or '83. It made me decide to buy a wetsuit; that water was cold! The NOC store was THE place to find whitewater gear in western NC back in those days. I paddled the river many times and with many friends over the years, but back in the early 2000's it...

Yes, travel is becoming more difficult and regimented with "wilderness travel" even more so. What else is to be expected when the population of the USA increases by 65.1 million people (nearly 19%) in the 25 years from 2000 to 2025? What percentage have our wilderness and backcountry areas in...

The color turned out beautifully. I think it looks much better than my "basic" carbon black Phoenix, but I do like the weight of the BlackLite. I also have to agree about helpful attitude of the folk at Northstar. Everyone I talked to was very knowledgeable and willing (happy even) to share...