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Reading "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling" by Henry Fielding (1749), 1,000 pages in 2 volumes (vol. 1 & 2 of the Harvard Classics Shelf of Fiction, pub. 1917)

Hm, this is an interesting question that got me to wondering. Typically, my BWCA trips have about 15 portages totaling about 2.5 miles. Since I double portage, total portage-walking distance is about 7.5 miles. In a single trip I've done as few as 4 portages (1.1 mi.) and as many as 20 (5...

There are five seasons, and with variable durations: spring (2 weeks), construction (8 months), fall (3 weeks), winter (6 months), and mud (3 weeks). Never mind the math; this is what it feels like.

Glenn, if anyone should call you supercilious, they should be upbraided for their inability to render a truly understated assessment. What, pray tell, would you say is the standard to qualify for appropriately-designed equipment? Would three weeks of canoe tripping a year be enough? Less? More...

Bear Vault for anything that gives off aromas. Everything else goes in small stuff sacks. No special kitchen pack, whether going solo or with one other person. I hung food bags on my first two BWCA trips. On the next dozen trips I've stashed them, always in a dry-bag type container, following...

The Bear Vault is certified bear-proof by some organization that certifies stuff. Better than that, it's dog-certified odor-proof. My dog (an Aussie who lives by his nose) just loves the smell of beef jerky and trail mix. If I put that stuff in the BV and leave the lid slightly open (not...

My main pack is Kondos Outfitter Explorer. https://www.kondosoutdoors.com/produ...itter-explorer It's like an accordion - can be compressed down to handle a small load (~40 lbs) and expanded for a big one (~60 lbs). Of course, all the straps are fully adjustable. I got it used at Voyageur North...

Thanks, Alan. How lucky you are to have your Dad to share his memories with you. I can't help but wonder what kinds of memories GenXers and millenials will share with their children. They seem to get pretty tired of boomers' stories.

I hesitate to comment, but a bike tire's surface area is just one of several relevant variables. Consider also the hardness or softness of the rubber, the amount of tread, the pressure, and the wheel diameter. That said, I've ridden 32C slicks for over 20 years because they're incredibly fast...

Those look like transom plugs for (sail)boats. Be sure to grease the threads - they can get stuck.

Yes! It makes a difference where the blade's center of effort is located, but otherwise this is true. Other than that, the primary differences among paddles - assuming equal blade area - have to do with handling.

I haven't gathered any statistics, but I'd say nearly all my strokes involve some element of turning. I mostly paddle solo, and my standard stroke is a shallow "C" which is a double turning stroke (combination draw and pry). That's true whether I'm using a straight or bent shaft. Others'...

Here are a couple of YouTube vids about Z-drags. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X5JAz5QONA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLKOSND4IJI This goes into more detail, but no video: http://borealriver.com/en/learn/whitewater-rescue/unwrapping-pinned-canoes/ Theres another method that involves...

The double bend may or may not take some of the effective bend out of the paddle. The purpose of the second bend is for better alignment of the shaft with the hand that holds it.

No, it's the elbow. Bringing the shaft hand as far back as the hip puts too much stress on the shoulder. When executing a properly rotated forward stroke, the elbow does not go behind the hip.

Charlie, your comments are well-said and well-taken. I would, however, quibble just slightly with your comment "never carry the blade aft of the body". Taken literally, that would eliminate a lot of strokes from anyone's repertoire. Did you mean to say something more like, "never bring the...

Mem, that's fantastic! Much of the honor paid to the canoe by the Warao seems to apply to the automobile in today's culture. I can't help but wonder how many beat-up cars would languish in garages, yards and fields if the same celibacy mandate also applied.

No Title There's a simple way to reduce or eliminate the risk of a seat frame breaking. Just screw a piece of galvanized sheet metal under the front rail, which takes nearly all the paddler's weight. The one pictured was contoured to fit the seat. The seat drop screws go through holes in...