Did you take advantage of summer end clearance?

Dunhams and many other sporting goods stores were having their end of summer clearance sales on all boating supplies, camping supplies, kayaks, and canoes. I hope you all had a chance to cash in on this and get supplies for next years Epic Canoe Trip. I picked a few things to be ready. Some of it will also work for the Epic Hiking Trip that I hope will happen next year as well.

A "slightly less than epic" canoe trip

On August 17 Paula and I finally got a little time on the water. It wasn't epic by any means, but it was very enjoyable. We floated down the river from Oil City to Franklin. Ryan dropped us off in Oil City and left a vehicle for us at the Franklin end so when we got out we could just drive home.

The day was beautiful and we had a great time. A few hours on the water can be very healing. I'm thankful we live in an area that has so many great places to canoe, kayak, and boat.

Tieing Knots

Some of you maybe like me and can't remember you Boy Scout days from 16 years ago. You get to the island and go to setup you hammock or tent and realize you can't remember a square knot from a windsor knot.

Well I found a site to help with this.

Animated Knots by Grog™

TIE KNOTS THE FUN AND EASY WAY

This site shows you how to tie any kind of knot and what that knot is best suited for. I have added it to the side bar links for easy access.

Don't forget to tell your friends about EpicCanoeTrip.com!

Thought I would share on waterproof matches

Since we had an Epic time starting a fire with wet matches, I decided to look up on how to water proof them. I know a lot of folks just carry a lighter (I did and it failed), but there is a lot to be said for good old fashioned strike anywhere matches.

This was taken from http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Waterproof-Matches
and you can purchase storm proof matches here http://www.emergencyresources.com/er_p11.html

If anyone know where you can still buy strike anywhere matches, please share. I haven't found them localy.

Make Waterproof Matches

Waterproof matches are generally expensive to buy. But you can make your own for only a fraction of the price. Listed below are a number of effective & proven ways to make waterproof matches that you can use when camping, backpacking, or in an emergency.

From Safest to least Safest Methods

All the below methods involve some risk. If you are a minor, do not carry out any of these activities, without the permission of a competent adult supervisor. The list is ranked from safest to least safest. .

Method 1: Use Turpentine

The BEST & SAFEST Method is to use Turpentine. (Turpentine has a higher "flash point" relative to Acetone, which commonly used in Nail Polish. Nor does it involve the use of flame as is needed in the Wax or Paraffin methods.)

1. Pour 2 to 3 large tablespoons of Turpentine into a small (Tumbler sized) glass.
2. Place the matches, (Head down) into the Turpentine and allow the matches to soak for 5 minutes. During that time the turpentine will soak into the head as well as the stem. All the water will be driven off by the turpentine.
3. Remove the matches and spread them out to dry out on a sheet of newspaper. Generally, 20 minutes for excess turpentine to be evaporated is recommended. Matches treated in this way remain waterproof for several months or longer.

Method 2: Use Nail Polish

1. Dip the head end of the match into clear nail polish far enough to cover at least an eighth of an inch (3 millimeters) of the stick below the head.
2. Hold the match for a few seconds to allow the polish to dry and then place the match on a table or counter so that the head is suspended off the edge of the surface.
3. Place a sheet of newsprint below to catch anything that may drip off.

Method 3: Use a Candle

1. Light a candle and let it burn down until you have a good amount of liquid wax (about a half of an inch or 1 centimeter).
2. Extinguish the candle.
3. Dip the head end of the match into the wax far enough to cover at least an eighth of an inch (3 millimeters) of the stick below the head.
4. Hold the match for a few seconds to allow the wax to harden slightly and then place the match on a table or counter so that the head is suspended off the edge of the surface.
5. When the wax has cooled, but not completely hardened, pinch the end of the wax coating (towards the stick), forming a tight seal.

Method 4: Using Paraffin Wax

1. Melt enough paraffin wax in a double boiler to be able to coat with wax about a half of an inch (1 centimeter) deep.
2. Wrap some twine or jute string around several matches from the bottom, to just below the heads of the matches.
3. Coat the bottom of the torch thickly in wax and the heads lightly. Make sure that there is a complete seal.
4. Put in water to cool the wax quickly. This makes a torch that can burn for 10 or more minutes.

Tips

• Turpentine has a relatively high "flash point" in comparison to Nail polish, therefore it is the safest to use. Mineral Turpentine, Pine, or Citrus turpentine all have the same waterproofing capacity.
• Turpentine effectively displaces all hygroscopically absorbed moisture content. So any wood stemmed matches (regardless of age can be used).
• Do not use a plastic cup to sit turpentine in, as it may be melted by the chemical itself.
• Decant the remainder of the unused Turpentine back into the original container.
• Do not drink from the glass that you used to soak the matches.
• If you don't use strike-anywhere matches, be sure to store a striking surface with your matches.
• This should be done soon after buying the matches so that the matches don't pick up too much moisture from the air.
• Even though the matches will be waterproof, it is a good idea to store your finished matches & stiriker patch in a waterproof container, such as a small 35 mm ffilm container, or any other sealable & waterproof canister.
• The Nail Polish method is more volatile than Turpentine, but is better than wax that can more easily break or be scratched.
• The candle method works best with wood stemmed matches. Do NOT USE with Plasticed or Waxed stems.
• When using either of the wax methods, work as quickly as you can while still being safe so the wax doesn't harden.
• If you do not have a double boiler, you can melt the paraffin wax using a metal bowl over a pot of boiling water. You can also melt the wax in a pan on low heat, but this increases the chance of causing a fire.
• The matches may also be completely covered with the wax to make sure water can't migrate up the matchstick.

Warnings

• Turpentine is poisonous if swallowed. or inhaled intensely over a period of time.
• Always use caution when working with fire.
• Wax in its liquid state is very hot and may cause severe burns. It may also catch fire.
• Nail polish (and wax) can stain fabric and surfaces, so it is a good idea to cover your work surface in newspaper. Nail Polish is also highly flamable. Nail Polish is also a known carcenogenic substance.
• Paraffin wax is incredibly hard to remove from a pan. Use an old pan/double boiler or purchase one second-hand for this purpose. Alternately, use an old coffee can or #10 tin can set in a pot of water. Paraffin Wax is also highly reactive in the presence of introduced water droplets.

Things You'll Need

• Sturdy wooden matches (preferably the strike-anywhere sort)
• Candles, Paraffin Wax, Nail Polish or Turpentine.
• A saucepan or double boiler
• Tongs or fork to dip matches into wax
• Newspaper or other table covering
• Small glass tumbler.
• Fire extinguisher or fire rug.
• Life insurance.

Because someone asked about them....

I found weight bearing carbiners. They sell them at Dunhams in the boat section. They are weight tested to 300#'s and cost like $3. If you wanted some that could hold more weight then that, you will probably have to check into climbing gear.

Also Dunhams has some kayaks on sale right for $249 for a decent one man job. Get ready for 2010 the Solo year!!

Epic Canoe Trip 2009

Well Epic Canoe Trip 2009 was pretty great. Chad and I were the only ones launching at Buckaloons. I had a broken hand so Chad paddled me down the river the first day. The water was moving fast and we saw some cool sights, but by the time I would get to the camera we had already zoomed by them. Time for a waterproof camera. We did manage to chase a herring for a bit, and then see a bank cover with like 15 turtles. Most of them got in water before I got the camera out.


The water was moving so fast that we reached the island in 4 hours without hardly even paddling.


JR and Shawn met us near the island in a motor boat and floated to the first island with us. They hung out for a bit while we setup camp and started cooking. They had things to do in the morning so the took off before dinner.

Chad taught me how to play Cribbage and we had good time catching up on what felt like years worth of stuff since we had last talked.

I had the Life Saver Bottle this year, which meant no hauling water and weighing down the canoe. Chad figured out how to make it run so he could chug 750ml at a time. :) In the morning Chad made an awesome breakfast and then we packed up and headed to the Tidiute boat launch to swap Chad for Joe and Matt. We showed up at the launch right as about 30 boats with lots of beer launched into the river.

We had this drunk floatilla in orbit around for a couple of hours. You could smell the alcohol with 100ft of them. It was bad. They were loud and rowdy and here they are already stopping to pee after being on the water only 30 minutes or so. These guys were already buzzing cause they turned right towards us a let rip.It started raining after a while and so we pulled up under a bridge to wait it out. Joe says you can sit in the eddy of the pillar if you get in there. I was impressed for a bit until I realized he was holding a stick under water to hold us there. He ended holding it with his foot so he could "talk" (he claims he can't tell a story without his hands). After checking out big nasty spiders under the bridge we headed on down to Tionesta. We shot the rapids and did some freestyle canoeing, slaloming downed trees and rocks and things like that. We got to Tionesta and bought some food and it was still on 3pm. Since there was only 3 of us we decided to keep going rather then stay at Millipede island. We looked at the GPS and saw some other islands about 2 hrs down river that looked good and off we went. We stopped at a couple islands along the way before finding one that had nice tree clusters for hammocks and some decent firewood. By this point it was raining pretty steady and starting to get dark. We started gathing sticks and cleaning up a camp spot and we hung a tarp to get out of the rain. This is when we realized that my light was rusted up and out of fluid and the Matts matches were soaked.

Joe found a big solid piece of rotten tree, and Matt found some burlap mixed in vasoline for flint that was in his pack. Joe put the burlap mixture on the piece of log and we got a bunch of wet, but very small sticks broke up for him. After trying a few of the wet matches, Joe finally got one to light. So with one match, we lit this nice fire. It was sketchy for a bit as we waited for the sticks to dry then burn. A little bug spray helped it along. :) Finally we had a good fire burning and drying clothes. EPIC!!

Sunday morning brought high humidity as the sun tried to bake of the rain from the night before. The extra paddling on Saturday paid off and we were to Oleopolus by 10:30-11am before it had a chance to get really hot and muggy.

All in all the small group was fun. It gave old friends a chance to catch up. We still had some epic times, and managed to make it fast, but relaxing run down the river.

We are thinking for 2010, everyone should solo (2010, SOLO see it just has to be). So if you have been waiting for an excuse to buy a kayake, this is it!

Thanks guys for carrying me down the river!! I had a good time! 12 years of Epic!

The Pedal Powered Canoe

So after some more mods on the pedal canoe, I went to the lake to test it out again. It worked good until the crank came unscrewed and the whole thing fell apart and dumped me out! HAHA! I am going to make it a solid axle and get away from the crank piece. I also need to brace up the part the holds the pedals, the weld broke on that when it fell apart. All in all it was good. I will get it to work.

North trip Coordinates

Starting at Buckaloons. (from google)

Latitude:	41°50'21"N
Longitude:	79°15'21.9"W

Camping at first Island (from my GPS)
41 40.789n, 079 23.667w

Camping at second island (from my GPS)
41 28.681n, 079 27.986w

tires

dude you should set that up with tires on the rims and a small tire on the rudder which would make it land worthy. at least you could power down the boat launches. ha ha

Launch on friday.

We will launching Friday morning from Buckaloons at 10am.

Allegheny River, Buckaloons Boat Launch

http://seagrant.psu.edu/

Survey Date:	5/16/2007
Latitude:	41°50'21"N
Longitude:	79°15'21.9"W
County:	Warren
State:	PA
Road Cross:	Intersection of Routes 62 and 6. ANF property.

Description of Location:
Boat Launch - submerged rocks, vegetation, and cement

Working on the pedal power

I have some pix posted of my pedal power canoe. I am working on it.

Epic Canoe Trip 2010

Wow sounds like a title for a cheesy scifi movie. Anyhow, Setting the dates now so everyone has advanced time to get them free. The will be August 6th thru the 8th. We will determine later which way the trip the will go.

Water Update

Joe was driving by the river and said that the water looked sort of nasty in Tidiute, but Tionesta looked nice and clear. So he thinks the river looks good for the trip.

old pics

canoeing by moonlight















big sycamore !