Tenkara Lines

Castle Rock Tenkara

tenkara

RIP Ralph Frese

The world lost another great man today.  Ralph Frese of the Chicagoland Canoe Base pasted away early today.  Ralph designed and built my Old Town Canadienne Canoe.  He also build some of the biggest canoes I have ever seen, some as large as to hold over a dozen people paddling.

Tenkara

Latest obsession and perfect addition to Silent Sports Chicago is Tenkara.   A Japanese style of fly-fishing, Tenkara has totally changed my view on fishing.  With only a rod, line, leader and fly, things could not be more simple.  Simple meaning way more fun and way more fish then any other form of fishing especially Western style fly fishing.  Plus, when you hook up with a fish, no matter what size you get to say TENKARA
More to come....Tenkara

Vaya turned 1000

I started this computer when I purchased the Vaya.
One thousand miles and not a single issue...(knocking on wood)

Fully Loaded Salsa Vaya Touring Set-Up

Here is my new rig for the Vaya.  This picture is from Day 5 so I worked the kinks out during the first few days of the tour.
The idea was to be totally rackless and decrease the overall weight I have been touring with for the past few years.  (ignore the saddle, that's another blog post itself)
The rear seat bag is a Revelate Designs Viscacha.  It holds my sleeping set-up. Tent is a Big Agnes SL Seedhouse 1, hygiene kit, Big Agnes Insulated Aircore mattress pad, and second spare tube.
The Seedhouse 1 SL is the perfect single person tent for me.  This tent rules.  Big enough that you aren't in a bivy, has 100% mesh top, I can sit in it, quick pitch with ground sheet and rainfly, triangle harness for gear, and packs in a 6L compression dry bag!
Mattress pad is heavy and bulky but is super comfortable, warm and works with my sleeping bag, the Yampa also from BA. The Vischasa is a great bag that extends out and has multiple anchor points.  Never once was I worried about this bag or it moving around swaying from side to side.  On top of that bag I had a bungee net that held my Keens, wrapped in a cheap poncho.  Its camo so thats why you can't see it on there.  Great system, everything you need for camp is in there, the tent is wrapped in its rainfly for a little water proofness.  And there is even a compression system in the middle of the bag.  Note: thinking about dumping the second tube.
Frame bag is custom from Porcelain Rocket and it is amazing.  Great work my Scott on the design.   The left side is a top zipper that is a thin full size pocket.  I kept my iPhone, wallet (also called currency colostomy bag), maps (UNUSED),  Ti wood burning stove, blister kit and a few other flat items.
The other side is divided into top and bottom.  Top is a long approx 5" tall section that has built in dividing system and I kept my tent poles, stakes, glasses case wind jacket, and Topeak pump in.  The bottom holds my tool bag, spare tube, bandanna, sun sleeves, camp bag with fuel tables, coffee kit and Snow Peak Miner headlamp and misc items.  The bag itself is great and you never even feel like its there, never moves and holds just a ton.
Gas tank - large from Relevate Designs.  Held my 3-4-5-6mm kit, sun block, snacks, energy blocks and camera.
Mountain Feed Bags from Relevate Designs - LOVE these.  Holds my water bottles, gels, blocks and any thing else that you need to jam in the side mesh pockets.  Empty block and gel wrappers were one side, so I could easy dump them at a garbage can.  These bags make reaching down for water bottle obsolete.

The Salsa Anything cages held bags also designed by Scott from Porcelain Rocket.  Also never moved, great design but I do wish they had something on the bottom to sure them there as well.  The left bag held my rain gear and the right was my cook kit of Snow Peak Ti 700 pot with H450 double walled Ti mug, wrist supports and what ever else I need to jam in there at the end of packing.

Front Harness system is from Relevate  Designs and it held a 14L compression eVent dry sack filled with my clothes and Big Agnes Yampa 40F sleeping bag.  The front pocket was for extras, like bulky snacks (sandwiches or crispy treats), head cover, but every thing in there needs to be water proof.  Found out with some napkins and maps.

Salsa Vaya at the WWII Memorial in D.C.

salsa vaya

salsa vaya, a photo by cklineUHC on Flickr.

new custom frame bag from Porcelain Rocket

photo, a photo by cklineUHC on Flickr.