Tag Archives: Kayaking

Wind

By Vladimir Brezina

Why did so many other kayaks overtake us in the 2014 Everglades Challenge? Wind power!

Wind 1Wind 2

Next time, we’ll have sails on our kayaks too!

A contribution to Ailsa’s travel-themed photo challenge, Wind.

Cardboard Kayak Race 2015: The Thrill of Victory… And the Delight of Defeat

By Johna Till Johnson
Photos by Vladimir Brezina

Cardboard Kayak Race 50

“We’re going to the cardboard kayak races this weekend, right?” Vlad said, looking at me expectantly. I glanced back dubiously.

We’d missed the 2013 race, the first year that the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance had organized the race as part of its City of Water Day, but we’d thoroughly enjoyed the video. Last year, I’d provided kayak safety support for the race, while Vlad took photos. And we wrote it up on Wind Against Current.

As much fun as the race had been, did we really need to experience it again?

Yes, we did! So last Saturday we headed out to Governors Island, on a sultry summer day that started out reasonably comfortable, but promised heat and stickiness by the afternoon.

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Broken

By Vladimir Brezina

BrokenPart of the Graveyard of Ships in the Arthur Kill, New York Harbor. More recent photos of the Graveyard are here.

A contribution to this week’s Photo Challenge, Broken.

Hats

By Vladimir Brezina

Johna’s favorite hat for long-distance travel by kayak—

Hats 1(more photos here)

It’s stylish with a veil—

Hats 2(more photos here)

… and practical at night with a headlamp—

Hats 3(more photos here)

Whereas I wear a traditional sou’wester, because a rainy day will always come—

Hats 4(more photos here)

A contribution to Ailsa’s travel-themed photo challenge, Hats.

Forces of Nature, Take Two

By Vladimir Brezina

We are about to be hit by one of the Forces of Nature…

Forces of Nature 2(In the Florida Everglades—story and more photos are here.)

A second contribution to this week’s Photo Challenge, Forces of Nature. The first contribution was here.

Reward

By Vladimir Brezina

As a reward for setting out in our kayaks on a cold, snowy Manhattan circumnavigation, we raft up in the shelter of our favorite barge…

Reward 1
Reward 2

… and get out the cheese, apples, and hot tea!

Reward 3

A contribution to this week’s Photo Challenge, Reward.

Industry

By Vladimir Brezina

Seen on our travels through New York Harbor—

New York Harbor 1
New York Harbor 2
New York Harbor 3
New York Harbor 4
New York Harbor 5
New York Harbor 6

Spot Johna in the last photo!

A contribution to Ailsa’s travel-themed photo challenge, Industry.

Ice in the Morris Canal

By Johna Till Johnson

Ice in the Morris Canal

For my first paddle in a long while, the weather was cooperating beautifully. The day before had been cold and blustery, and the day after was predicted to be dark and rainy. But Saturday dawned sunny, clear, and calm.

There was just one catch: The temperature had been below freezing for a couple of days, and wasn’t predicted to rise above it today. Would the embayment at Pier 40, where we launch from, be iced in?

I worried anxiously in the cab on the way down.

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Serenity

By Vladimir Brezina

Serenity 1
Serenity 2
Serenity 3
Serenity 4

Nothing more to be said.

A contribution to this week’s Photo Challenge, Serenity.

Our 2015 Calendar

By Vladimir Brezina and Johna Till Johnson

Picking Vlad’s photos for our calendar is an annual ritual for us.  It’s harder than it sounds, because you’re looking both backwards and forwards at the same time: remembering the past while wondering about the future. And, like most artistic endeavors, you’re never sure how it will turn out.

This year the task was particularly challenging, for various reasons. So we were both pleased and surprised at the result. Our theme, as you can see, was “water”. But the selection of photos carried a greater-than-usual sense of whimsy. It also included some of our favorite photos (you’ll probably recognize at least one).

See what you think:

Cover

Cover(Story and more photos are here)

If I were called in
To construct a religion
I should make use of water.

Philip Larkin, Water

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