Monday, January 3, 2011

My Yak

Last March Derek called and told me Gander Mountain had a kayak on sale that I'd drooled over the summer before. We went to look at it and I saw the price was about $300 cheaper than it had been. I went home to think about it and see if I could somehow scrape up the $600 I'd need after a long winter of not working. We went back the next day to pick it up, only to find when we got to the register it was marked down to a dirt-cheap $450!



It's an Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler edition. They call it an "Angler" because they added the two pole holders behind the seat on each side. Whoo hoo. If you're familiar with the Prowlers, it obviously doesn't have all the bells and whistles like the newer ones. However, it's light years beyond the little 9 footer I've been using. It's great for lakes and it's a little slow turning in creeks and rivers which can be a pain in the ass... but there's so much storage space and even plenty of room for Trout. It takes on a little water through the scupper holes so I plugged them to keep my feet from standing in water and to keep my butt from getting wet. The seat is thin so I need to buy a pad to make longer trips more comfortable, and I plan to add extra pole holders in front of the cockpit as well as a few other accessories. I bought a cooler from Coleman called "The Stacker" that fits perfectly in the back and holds a case of refreshing beverages (beer) as well as perishable food items.

We've had it out as many times as we could this last year and it's been a pleasure to paddle. It'll float in 4 or 5 inches of water fully loaded which makes it ideal for shallow rivers like the Arkansas. BTW, Have I told you about our recent yak trip down the Ark? I need to post about that sooner than later!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Darters!

A few pictures of Etheostoma spectabile... or more commonly known to the rest of us average dorks out here in Stickland, The vonderous Orangethroat Darter.








Most people aren't aware these beautiful creatures even exist, though in the creeks and rivers of the flint hills they are incredibly common. They will "dart" under rocks when disturbed and then will cautiously come out to survey the situation. It's hard to believe these comical little characters are in the same family as Walleye and Perch, they're so tiny. The male in the pictures may be the largest I've ever seen, very close to 3 inches long. I'd liked to have gotten a few pictures of Slenderheads or a Freckled Madtom but we didn't see any. Maybe next time!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Kanopolis State Park

This is one of my favorite parks in the state for camping and hiking. I started coming to this park as a kid and still love it! It really hasn't changed much, would someday like to ride horses out there...










Some of the sights visitors can expect to see while hiking the trails at
Kanopolis State Park.


Mushroom Rock State Park


At only 5 acres, Mushroom Rock is the smallest State Park in Kansas

This is a great picnicking spot if you're around Lindsborg


A field of sumac just off the trail


Kansas' own Old Faithful


Thursday, October 14, 2010

Big Basin Prairie Preserve & St. Jacob's Well

Our last stop on this trip was Big Basin Prairie Preserve and Saint Jacob's Well... This is a really wonderful and worthwhile trip in itself, but adding Clark and going through the hills is an excellent addition. If you go in spring or early summer you can catch miles of green prairie along with colorful wildflowers. It's a beautiful wildlife area! We didn't spot any bison roaming around out here this time, so I was happy we got to see some earlier in the trip. I actually had to drive past a young bull on the road the day before, which was a bit nerve racking for about a minute!

I'd like to bring my telescope out here on a clear night


Looking out on the Big Basin

Small flora growing on the rocky bluffs



St. Jacob's Well lies nestled in the Little Basin

Grasses, shrubs and flowers warm the path to the well


Barbed post rock fencing keep the bison out of the water

A partial view from the Living Water Monument


(left) Still missing the plaque! (right) Windmills water the bison herd


For more information on Big Basin and St. Jacob's Well Visit:
Natural Kansas
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
Kansas Photo Tour