OK guys!

I got up today and it was too late to go hunting thwarts, I will have to wait for Thursday after infusion to do that while I am in town. I think the most excellent Hamilton Marine may be able to help me out with what I need.

So today I tore open my closet and went through all my gear! I have it stuffed in an old duffle bag, and figured the best thing to do was go through each piece one by one and do a survey. I had put it all away three years ago, and haven't had anything out since.

The drysuit: I have a Kokatat dry suit, front entry. It has a waterproof zipper that goes diagonally across the chest. You step in and zip from left waist to right shoulder to close it...

Anyone know how to lose 30 lbs in three days? I looked like a big blue sausage . I stuffed the chest in far enough to close the zipper, but I think one is still supposed to be able to breathe when it's zipped! I tore the neck seal and I guess I forgot about that too, so before this woman can wear THAT drysuit, it's gotta be fixed and I gotta be fixed! I have an extra seal, just need to put in a few hours of time and work on it, but my end will take more than a few days...

Fortunately, the standby wetsuit still fits, but it's NOT pretty...

Found Gore Tex paddling pants that WILL work (thank you LL Bean!) so with some polarfleece (and if it's nice out) I will wear these instead of the wetsuit. I am not planning to be IN the water, rather just ON the water.

Lifejacket is in excellent shape, no nicks, rips or tears. All necessary equipment is still attached. Knife, whistle and 'biners are all there!

Throw line is in good shape, no breakdown on the rope! Always a good thing!

Found the polarfleece socks and the wetsuit booties. Still fit, don't smell. Bonus! Found polypro union suit, decided that old polypro IS supposed to die at some point. For those of you who know about old polypropylene, it used to pick up body odors after the first wearing, and keep it forever.

It's true It's nasty. I threw them away.

The only thing I haven't found yet is my airbag for my canoe. It's a giant airbag that fills the middle section of the canoe to displace water if said boat gets filled with water. I have to go deeper into the closet for that, I think, and if it's not there, maybe the other closet or the garage...eek.


I am praying for good weather. We are having some snow tonight. The weather this a.m. also said something about snow/rain Saturday. This first of the races has been cancelled because of weather many times. No runoff, no race. WE need some actual above freezing weather for a few days to get the water running! I drove by the race start line over the weekend and it was slow, with ice on the banks and edges of the river.

We shall see! BTW, the drybag always ALWAYS has a roll of duct tape in it DM! (that and a ziplock with first aid supplies and a dry lighter and my cigarettes!)