I once again find myself in a position in which I have a sum of money at my disposal and no immediate need to apply it to something practical. It is therefore time to enter my annual post in which I contemplate which unnecessary purchase most appeals to me! Weeee!

Here are the possibilities:

1. A new kayak - this is probably a poor choice since I’m not entirely sure I spent any time in my kayak last year. My rationalization is that if I had a new, more capable boat, I’d spend more time in it. This, however, conflicts with the desire to get…
2. A new bike - No, there’s nothing wrong with my trike. Nothing at all. But I would very much like to also have a recumbent of the two wheeled variety, preferably one that folds so I can transport it even when I have to take Gareth and his wheelchair to school. Though, my transport issues could be solved simply by purchasing outdoor storage for my trike since the reason I don’t take it with me regardless is that I have to store it in my basement which has only an indoor entrance.
3. A bike rack expansion - The company that makes my current bike rack has recently started selling an accessory for it that allows one to hang a trike off the back of the rack, which would mean no more bug splatter all over the front of my trike from being on the roof. It would also mean no more lifting the trike to the roof of my element and having to secure it from both sides of the vehicle.
4. A PS3 - Now that Blu-Ray is the de facto winner of the HD media war (for now), I feel as though I can justify a PS3 purchase. But the games, oh the games. Are they really there just yet? Does that even matter? If my goal is to have a Blu-Ray player, then no, the games don’t matter. I like to think, however, that I would one day like to play games on a game console.
5. A new camera - While I’m not a fan of carrying around a bag of lenses (been there, done that), I am a fan of higher image fidelity, RAW mode, larger image sensors, and hot shoes. My DSC-H2 has done well by me, but I’m tired of filtering out purple fringe or of being limited to 16×24 prints.
6. A new PC - This is the least likely option as I’ve simply abandoned PC gaming. Perhaps I’d get back into it were I to have a capable machine, but Brandy and I are trying to set ourselves up to spend more time with each other while one of us is computing, not less. A gaming PC wouldn’t aid that in any way. A gaming laptop might help, but I hold gaming laptops in low regard (high price, low shelf life) and will actively avoid such a solution.

So yeah, it’s a rough life, I know. No matter what, I’m going to be doing about a month of research before I can make a decision. Bikes and cameras in particular are not purchases to be entered into lightly (at least, not if you’re really picky).

UPDATE: Two days after writing this, I picked up a PS3 and a widescreen monitor.  So much for patience.  Still, though, I’ve got enough left over for a camera upgrade and am looking forward to judging the performance of the Olympus 570UZ when it comes out.   I’m just not ready yet to go back to carrying a bag of lenses around with me.

The CDT has an article today on the impending removal of the McCoy Dam midway between Bellefonte and Milesburg. Having kayaked Spring Creek, I can say that the Dam was a major pain in the ass, and I’m happy to see it go.

Though, I do have to say that it’s an interesting site due to its age, so maybe go visit it while you can.

The plans have been on the table for a few years now to remove it and turn it into a creek access point. With the removal of the dam, this stretch of Spring Creek will become a rapid four foot drop in the creek level which means it will turn into a popular spot for whitewater paddlers and playboaters. The plans also include putting in some parking as, right now, the site is accessible only by either paddling to it from farther up the creek (from the Sunnyside Paddle Park) or by parking on the road and walking a narrow dirt path down to the site.

Residents downstream express concern about the increased sediment that will flow once the dam is removed, but what they should really be worried about is all of the garbage that has piled up in the water to the sides of the dam from the variety of local fishermen who frequent that location. McCoy Dam has been very popular as a fishing spot as trout swim upstream and are blocked in at the foot of the dam. This actually is a bad thing for the trout population, but a very good thing for fishing enthusiasts looking for an easy catch (all fish caught at this location must be thrown back).

I’m really looking forward to seeing this spot developed into something useful. As it is now, most people don’t even know it exists. If you drive by, you’ll see the top half of what was the generator station and not see anything else. It isn’t until you climb down there that you see the rest of it and see the dilapidated state it is in.

As for the kayakers and canoeists who actually run the dam… they’re nuts.

And now, because the CDT archives stuff far too soon, here is the article in full:

Read the rest of this entry »

Okay, really… how hard can this be… I’m trying to find a wide brimmed hat that has a neck drape on the back for protecting the neck from sun exposure. I’ve found a few online, but I’d really like to purchase it locally so I can try it on.

Does anybody know where in State College I can buy something like this:

I haven’t had a chance yet to try Appalachian Outdoors, but I have tried Target, Wal-Mart, Dick’s, Tussey Mountain Outfitters, and a few shops at le Mall.

The reason I want one is that Laz and I are going to canoe about 30 miles of the Susquehanna soon. That’s a lot of time in the sun, so I’d like to have a little backup protection beyond the sunscreen.

Speaking of Laz, he and I are going to go see Hot Fuzz at the College 9 tonight at 7:30. Feel free to show up.

Since my last entry, I’ve dumped my 2005 Ford Focus and picked up an ‘06 Honda Element. It’s an awesome vehicle for what I enjoy doing these days. It’s always handy when an auto can haul my trike, Gare’s tandem, and my kayak all at once (not that we would ever be transporting more than two of those items at the same time).

Just got back from Baltimore last night where I was attending some really horrible Vista training. The upside was that I got a chance to take my trike out on the Gwynns Falls Trail. Not a bad ride at all and only slightly more bumpy than driving the Element over potholes. I didn’t get as much of a ride in as I would have liked, but the sun was starting to set, and the parks closed at dusk.

My kayak is now out of winter storage (which consists of it having been wrapped in a tarp for six months). Now I need to get a launch permit for ‘07-’09. Should only be about $18. The only painful part is leaving work early enough to get it somewhere that does boat registration. Can’t wait to get back out on the water.

In anticipation of a new boat this Spring, I’m looking to sell my current kayak. If anyone is looking for a rock solid boat for $500, give me a holler.

I feel a bit sad about selling it, just because I had a lot of fun times paddling it, but there is very little use in my having two boats.

Paddles and PFD are not included, but you’ll get a cockpit cover and a foam block roof “rack” for hauling it around should you lack a vehicle with an integrated or 3rd party rack. Paddles and PFDs can be found for cheap at Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Since our morning is going to be consumed by Gareth’s gifts and the arrival of my family for breakfast, Brandy and I exchanged our gifts this evening. Here is the haul:

• Pink Floyd The Wall, CD and DVD
• Call of Duty 3 for Xbox 360
• Monty Python desk calendar
• Battle for Middle-Earth II Rise of the Witch-King expansion pack
• NRS kayak paddle leash
• NRS Farmer John wetsuit

I was really gunning for that last one. It’s the thing that will make cold weather kayaking feasible. Yep, I tried it on. If you can imagine a black Michelin Man, then you’re pretty close to knowing what it looked like.

It’s bonus time! After a 5% salary bonus and a buy-back of six of my personal days, I’ll have a nice little chunk of change. Months ago, I thought I might use it for a new PC, but here it is December and I have no desire for a new machine.

There are some things that must be done, but the list is short:

• Pay off the bookshelves that we bought a few weeks ago
• Pay for the extras for Gareth’s bike (custom color, fenders, front kickstand)
• Pay for the Draftmaster tandem bike rack

After that, however, it’s fun stuff. I’m thinking that I’d like to get a roof rack for my car so that I won’t be leaving Brandy without the van for an entire day at a time. After that, I have to choose…

Do I want to purchase a new kayak or do I want to purchase a recumbent trike? I’m pretty equally torn on them. I already have one kayak, so maybe I don’t need a new one, but I also feel like I’m ready to step up to a more technically capable boat (especially one that weighs only 35 pounds). And on the other front, we’re about to introduce biking in the form of the Pino, so do I really need to go crazy and purchase a second cycle this year?

This is not to say that purchasing both is impossible. If I go for a heavier kayak (57 pounds as opposed to 35) and manage to sell my current boat for $500, I’d have enough to get both kayak and trike. Originally, I wanted to keep my old kayak for stream/creek runs where a 12′ boat might handle narrows better than a 14′ boat (and also so I could have it to offer to anyone willing to go paddling with me). If I change both items (heavier kayak, less sexy trike), I can get both without selling my old kayak.

Right about this point in the post, I’m sure Brandy is thinking along the lines of “Hey, how about using that cash for home improvement? A brick patio? New shed? A fence? Repainting the upstairs? Save it towards a down payment on a new house? Use it for a family vacation?” Those are all very good suggestions. But, of those, only the last one is any fun.

Watch your heads
Originally uploaded by ratsinis.

Ha, that was awesome. Had a great time teaching the kids about kayaking, and they had an equally great time playing in the boat. I should do this kind of thing more often.

Our meeting with the Make-A-Wish folks happens this Sunday. They asked if Gareth was leaning towards anything in particular, so I told them about the bike. That seemed to go over well, but, of course, they don’t yet know how much it costs.

I’m taking a half day off tomorrow to go teach 3-5 year olds about kayaking. Should be fun. I’ve borrowed some kid size PFDs from a local outfitter, printed up coloring pages of kayak imagery, and have my gear packed and ready to go. Thank goodness my boat is beat up - I’m going to have 20 kids crawling all over it tomorrow.

Kettle Creek Lower Campground
Originally uploaded by ratsinis.

We took one last weekend to get out before the weather becomes unbearably cold, staying at the camp in Hammersley Fork.

While we were in the area, we stopped by for the Renovo Flaming Foliage Festival, which proved to be interesting. Renovo is a nearly dead town in the middle of nowhere that draws a majority of its economy from Lock Haven, State College, and welfare. Every year, they host the Flaming Foliage Festival to celebrate the changing colors of the leaves. Certainly, there is some beautiful scenery around there, but the town itself is a bit of a throwback. What really struck us were the 12 year olds walking around smoking cigarettes and the eight year olds shooting each other with Airsoft knockoffs. But we’re privileged yuppie flatlanders, we’re supposed to be shocked by such things (even though I lived in and frequented Renovo in my youth).

The Festival parade itself similarly harkened back to much, much simpler times. Looks like everybody was having fun, though. I enjoyed almost all of my carnie food except for the semi-raw hot sausage sandwich. Pro tip… if you are ever tempted to eat at Rita’s sausage stand, don’t. Go elsewhere.

We also managed to stop in and visit my grandmother, who I hadn’t seen since 1998. This was her first time meeting Gareth, which made the trip all the more interesting. Even after spending two hours with him, my grandmother still didn’t seem convinced that he was a sentient, aware being. Most people think we’re delusional when we say he is as smart and aware as any other kid - they can’t get beyond his lack of muscle control - but 80 year old women are especially tough nuts to crack.

Lessee… what else… Oh yeah, I did a dawn kayak paddle, hitting the water about 45 minutes before the sun came up. Sure was cold, though. There was frost on my kayak when I unloaded it and frost on it when I put it back on the rack over two hours later. It was a very peaceful paddle. Nobody else was on the water, and the folks in the nearby campsites were all asleep. They didn’t start stirring until about 8AM.

After packing up camp for the weekend, we took a drive around Kettle Creek to take in some fall color. That’s what the pic is from.