Ice is out, so is SPED

I finally feel like a kayaker again. After the longest dry spell in my kayaking "career", I got back on the water Sunday when Paul, Danny, Martin, Jim and I went up and got a cold lap on the Grasse. I got the pleasure of helping set safety for Danny and Paul to fire up Large Marge, which was interesting to say the least. It was surprising how nervous I was getting back into the boat. I didn't feel good on any rapid all day until the last one, which I have informally named Tricky Boof. I finally crushed a line and felt good about the way I ran it, just in time to get back in the car and drive the 4+ hours home. I hate being a kayaker in Rochester, and I have only been on 1 trip to the dacks. I told the boys we have to befriend someone who boats alot and lives up there so we only have to take one car (like these D-Bags did to me when I lived in P-dam). Then I can drink and sleep in the van the whole trip!

Anyways hopefully Danny will get a video together so I can throw a copy up here.

LaFlair

The BIG 4 0 (thank God not mine!)

Well if kayakers had jerseys, it would be time to retire Uncle Jim's. Matt and I vowed not to paddle with Jim once he turned 40, so as of yesterday his status is back to "Driver". I can't wait to give him his gift tomorrow at the party. Hopefully the old fart can still get out and paddle with us in a few weeks, which brings me to my next point: It's getting freakin close!!! It was about 40 degrees today and a full sky of sunshine. One of those days that gives you the crack itch for some boating. Hopefully Sally-pants upstairs will get off his lazy ass tomorrow and we will hit something up. I need to get out there!

I got the tent, bill's bag, and knife for the trip today yesterday. Paul just walked in and he is saying we are going. I need to round up my shit.

LaFlair

Life

It's been a crazy month for me, as you can tell by the time between posts. We ended a 7 year relationship, hit some crazy concerts, did some riding (snowboarding & snowmobiling) and much more.

Atreyu and Flogging Molly were on the concert list. Atreyu was great, venue was small and beer was cheap. Went by myself, which was an experience. Then Sunday Jim, Matt, a lady friend of mine and I went to see Flogging Molly at the Main Street Armory. It was one of the best shows I have seen, those guys and gal know how to get it done. Drank Guiness the entire time too which was pleasant.

I went riding snowmobiles for the first time in about 3 years with Matt and Q a few weeks back. We rode from my folks house to a place called DWI (ironic right?) which is over near Mexico. It was great to get back on a sled. Q & Matt figured out pretty quickly that I hadn't lost the edge either.

Went snowboarding for the first time to Bristol. I had to say that I was pleasantly surprised at the mountain. Not huge, but had some good trails. Conditions were perfect so that always helps. Jim, Paul and I rode for 4 hours on Valentines Day (what a date).

The best news is that I committed to heading to Utah in May. We leave April 30th for 6 days on the Green River. We will be paddling the Deso/Grey canyon sections of the river. There isn't much beta out there on this river, but it looks like bigger water, but mostly great scenery. The trip will be raft supported, which will be pretty sick. The good news is that the bonus I got this year should cover everything. Screw paying down loans, we gotta go boatin!

Peace.

LaFlair