March 4, 2009
A great weekend at Moore River with the whole family.
Daytime from the deck
Christine doing a dive
Downhill kayaking
November 14, 2008
The Top Ten Ways The Sport Would Be Different If Microsoft Built Kayaks:
10. A particular model year of kayak wouldn’t be available until AFTER that year, instead of before.
9. Every time you wanted to try a new paddle, you would have to buy a new kayak.
8. Occasionally your kayak would stop dead in the water for no apparent cause. No amount of paddling
would budge it. You would have to tow it back to the launch site and restart your kayak. For some
strange reason, you would simply just accept this.
7. Two people could not both paddle your kayak unless you paid extra for a ’95 kayak or NT kayak in
which case you would also have to buy an extra seat and expensive new charts.
6. A sophisticated marketing blitz would make you feel like a second-rate tasteless slacker for failing to
upgrade your kayak. OOPS — wait a minute — that’s ALREADY happening.
5. Sun Microsystem would make a kayak with 70% less hull drag, half the weight, watertight in all
conditions and twice as stable. Unfortunately, it could be used on only 5% of the existing rivers.
4. Your Microsoft kayak’s compass, weather radio, and sump pump would be replaced with a single
“General Kayak Fault” warning light.
3. The enthusiast press would get people excited about the “new” features of Microsoft kayaks, forgetting
completely that they had been available in other brands for years.
2. Microsoft’s inconsiderable owners manual would spawn a whole cottage industry of outsiders who
would write hundreds of books explaining how to paddle your Microsoft kayak. Amazingly, we would
buy all they printed.
1. If you wanted to go kayaking in a group with your club members or friends (known as Network
Kayaking). EVERYONE in the group will have BUY special group kayaking accessories however, only one
member of the group (known as the kaysysop) would have the foggiest notion of exactly what they did
and no one else would be permitted operate them.
Unknown Author
September 8, 2008
Last week I had the opportunity to exchange my usual 3 days Youth Vision coaching Youth Pastors for 3 days in actual youth ministry. I occasionally take off with Scripture Union (Warriuka Adventure Camping) to lift some of my credibility whilst working with youth pastors. Nothing worse than having no idea what they are talking about when I am coaching!
So off I went with 12 kids from Rosmoyne SHS, 2 staff Paul and Joel (an old Youth Vision Youth Pastor) and Mikey, the other SU worker. We built rafts and paddled for 3 days down the Murray from Pinjarrah. I was in a kayak (still popping anti-inflammatory for my shoulder)! It was idyllic, the kids were on the whole pretty good kids. The weather was incredible, the campsites chosen were straight out of some camping magazine – picture perfect.
On the last night we ran into a couple of guys around a fire on the side of the river, conversations followed, we got on to the subject of marrage and home ownership/joint ownership etc. These guys suggested that I was mad not having finances in my own name and a house of my own. They suggested that this is what Donnald Trump suggests after having 5 fail marriages or the like. Now I don’t know about you, but taking advice from Donald Trump on marriage…hmmm The comment was made by one of the guys, “You just have to put yourself first, you think about number one and then worry about marriage, Donnald Trump says it’s business first then relationship”. Hmmm – I was a bit stunned and reflected back to them that I had been with my girl for 20 years and we were extreemly happy, even more so now than ever, we have joint ownership of everything and I don’t intend to change it, and we are trying something a littole crazy and that is that we put one another’s needs before our own and that we actually deny ourself in many ways so as to serve the other and I that this has worked most of the time and seems to build up a strong marriage…I added that it can actually work outside of marriage in other relationships too.
There was a stunned silence, the 2 Christian guys knew where I was coming from and sat waiting to hear the response…nothing for a long few seconds, then…
“naaaa, too risky, that wouldn’t work, you have just got lucky”
So – maybe I have, Christine is amazing, but still…imagine if everyone actually lived like I have suggested I try to (but fail so often) – putting one another’s needs before our own and actually denying our self in many ways so as to serve the other.
These guys were great fellas and they got in there boat and went off collecting firewood for us (looking for nothing in return – how unselfish of them!)
It was a great few days.
July 5, 2008
Been Slack on the Old Blog stuff, here is a quick update;
Going Where?
I have spent the last 2 weeks with Scripture Union. Camp one was with Mirrabooka High Yr 8 boys doing a selective boys to men type camp. 17 kids, lots of attitude and not all good. The last night we had to sleep out by ourselves in the bush under our own hoothchies, I was wet, very wet! The talks I did on Men as Lover, King, Monk and Warrior went well (Thanks to Mike’s suggestions on this site!)
Last week’s camp was a bit less intense, Winthrop Baptist yr 11′s Kayaking on the Murray.
Reading What?
Reading a few books;
Mark Sayers, “The Trouble With Paris“
Rob Hopkins, “The Transition Handbook“
Henry DeWitt, “Fathering Daughters – Reflections By Men“
Watching What?
Last night watched Kung Fu Panda – Great Laugh, even some Python style humour!
Watched a 1999 flick called Pitch Black which was the first in the Chronicles of Riddick series, Vin Diesel – Good watch!
Playing With What?
My bio diesel processor…we made a batch of 50L, then 80L went great, then a batch of 150L, not so great but managed a rescue and it looks great now. Then a couple of weeks ago did a 100L batch and managed soap. Yes soap is an unfortunate bi-product of stuffing up with this process. Glycerol is one of the waste products, it is also the base product for soap manufacturing, stuff up some small element in the bio process and wham – you have litres of liquid sticky glue which is actually heavy grade soap. My mate Lance has done most of the rescuing as I have been away. It looks like we may have saved a good deal of the oil!
Enjoying What?
Loved a walk to the library and then take-a-way and movies with my family yesterday arvo.
I am also enjoying the thought of 2 weeks leave over the July school hols. 3 days at Contos camp group near Prevally/Yallingup. 2 days up at the farm, lots of days just pottering at home.
Working For Whom?
I am still full time with Churches of Christ (3 days Youth Vision Ministry Coach and 2 Days OnEARTH/GMP). The SU (Scripture Union) stuff is really to keep a hand in with youth ministry experience as well as looking at options for next year.
I will be working for SU 2 days a week next year in their Neighbourhood Outreach/Forge area as well as doing a camp a term for them in Warriuka. Hopefully I can continue doing the OnEARTH stuff as it is hotting up a little.
Looking Forward to What?
Well 2 weeks leave, then 3 days in Sydney with Youth Vision, then starting up a 14 week study (OnEARTH/Ignition) which includes 2 weeks in Halls Creek with a crew from our Church as well as some others, I am also running a weekend leaders retreat in August which looks like fun.
Finishing off our new raised garden beds out the back, fixing my dead roller door, tidying up my yard a bit and generally slowing down and reading some more.
So that is it. Been way too busy, but feel ok. Not pumped. Always dreaming too much of a quiet life in the country, working less not more. But I need to learn to be in the moment more, “be where you are”.
February 6, 2008
There is no question, this was indeed the trip of a lifetime, more stories to follow!
January 24, 2008
I have this … like, amazing carbon fibre kayak paddle, it’s worth about $4-$500 and I found it! Yep I found it on the bulk rubbish, you know bulk rubbish where people leave all their unwanted stuff in their carport and out on the back patio!
Seriously, I found it on the side of the road.
Anyway I am taking with me tomorrow to Tasmania, I have an issue with the small plane we are flying on from Melbourne to Devonport, they wont let me take more than 1 bit of luggage.
They quoted me $490 to fly it over there ONE WAY, we are talking 2, 1kg paddles folks, now come on!
So I am just going to turn up at the check in desk and see what they do!!
I could be using my hands to get up the Gordon River.
2 more sleeps until
January 12, 2008
Jeff, Me, Matt, Stu, Clint, Casey, and Craig left Leighton beach at 6.45am then paddled to McDonalds on Freo Harbour (masive chop across the heads!) then up the big creek (Swan River) to the Raffles Hotel. About 5 hours all up. Not as far as I thought we might have paddled today but a good wander up the river at a nice slow pace, it was a good relaxing way to spend the morning, bit sore in the shoulders! Click on snaps to see full pic.
January 9, 2008
This is from the other morning early (before work, just in case you were wondering!) we went off Burns Beach and paddled out to the small island of rocks
just half a mile off the coast. We had Stuart, Casey, Matt and myself…oh and Sammy the seal!
January 7, 2008
Well the countdown is on to Paddle Tas 08!
I have been out every other day training for just over 3 weeks now. The gear pile is mounting up next to my bed.
I have more dry bags than I can poke a stick at. And obviously I used a wet bag last week with my phone in it – woops 
The warm clothing to sleep in and the warmer clothing to paddle in is being collected.
I have 2 sets of long thermals plus some other mid-range thermal gear.
I have been checking out some good food/menu sites for tips on good food to eat while we are away for 8 days.
If you are interested they are here and here.
Todays paddle saw us out at the rocks off Burns Beach with a great seal who was very inquisitive. He came right up to our boats and sniffed us! Stu took some snaps so I will post them when I can.
Matty B purchased his Finn Multi sport (Same as Casey’s) and christened it this morning. It was a tough day to bless a new boat, big swell and Matty struggled a bit but did well considering. You gotta work hard with cross waves.
January 4, 2008
I went for a paddle late this arvo…after the strong South Easterly was well and truly humming and the swell was thumping!
3 of us left the safety of the Hillarys marina walls and launched ourselves into massive breaking swell! We pushed and pushed for about and hour until we turned back to the harbour. Not far off the entrance I capsized and in trying to rescue me, Andrew went in too, Casey tried but with not effect and he said, “I think I will try to save myself, I have the youngest child” or something to that effect 
After trying to self rescue we humbled ourselves and asked a guy on a boat for help. (He had been sitting there waiting for me to swallow my pride!
Once safe back in the boat harbour I thought I would ring Chris to tell her of our adventure…anly to find my waterproof packet for the phone…was not! So I now have no phone, crap that was a good one!
But what a ride!
Saturday morning is the next trip, rotto in a couple of weeks!
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