End of the Summer Paddle

Well, it was back to the Pere Marquette river for our end of the summer paddle! We had a small group but a great trip. The weather was into the 70's and barely a cloud in the sky. It actually felt more like July! Our head cook Rose made sure we stayed full...for lunch, it was cheese fondue with veggies for an appetizer and then her famous dill pickle wraps for the main course. After stuffing ourselves, and even though an afternoon nap sounded good, the group pushed on. Lots of fisherman on the river, mostly trying their hands for the Trout and Steelhead that the PM is known for. Although the river got tight in a few spots, it was good to see the mutual respect of both kayakers and fisherman using the PM. Stay tuned for our next overnight trip that is taking place on the Muskegon River at the end of October. You can sign up HERE for that trip or other upcoming trips at http://www.powersadventures.com/.

Paddle On,

P.O.A.

TRIP THIS WEEKEND!

September 27, 2008:End of Summer Paddle
PereMarquette River, Baldwin, MI
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As summer draws to an end, we head north to the scenic Pere Marquette River located in Baldwin, Michigan. Paddlers will enjoy a beautiful, picturesque day trip that will last around 5 hours. The trip includes a light continental breakfast, lunch on the river, transportation to/from river and a P.O.A. T-shirt.

DETAILS: If you are departing from the Rockford Powers Outdoors, we will be leaving at 8:00 am on Saturday, September 27th (Please arrive at 7:45 am to load up your gear.) We will then stop and pick up the 2nd group at the Newaygo Powers Outdoors around 8:45 am, and departing by 9:15am. (Please arrive at 8:30am in back parking lot to load up your gear). Once we are loaded up in Newaygo, coffee and a light continental breakfast will be served before we head north for the PM River. We should be on the river by around 11:15 am. We will have lunch around 1:30 pm and pull off the river around 4:00 pm. Back in Newaygo by around 5:30 pm, and Rockford by 6:30pm. For the trip, we will be putting in at Rainbow Rapids and paddling down to the Lower Branch landing. Boat rental is available for an additional fee. Please note on your sign up sheet if you have your own boat or if you need to rent.

COST: $75.00 if you have all of your own gear. Kayak/Canoe rental is available for an additional $25.00 (which includes a paddle and pfd).

CLICK TO SIGN UP!

HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE RIVER THIS WEEKEND!

Paddle On,
P.O.A.

Reflection

REFLECTION: pronounced (ri-flek-shun); Noun.
1. The act of reflecting or the state of being reflected.
2. Something, such as light, radiant heat, sound, or an image, that is reflected.
a. Mental concentration; careful consideration.
b. A thought or an opinion resulting from such consideration.

...Well, here is POA's thought for the day, and you can thank Mr. Ferris Bueller for this one: "Life moves pretty fast...you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." How true. So take a moment to reflect on the picture above. This was taken at Pancake Bay, located in Ontario, Canada. The POA PaddleCru had just finished the Agawa River, and set up camp on the pristine white sand beaches of Lake Superior. Reflection. Makes you stop and think. Now, stop thinking and get out there and paddle!

Paddle On,
Gabriel Ca$h
P.O.A.

P.O.A. Winter Flashback!

So, I figured it was time to reflect on why we love the Mid-West so much...Seasons! Since summer is coming to an end, and knowing autumn will shortly be upon us, that means winter shall be soon to follow. Just remember, that doesn't mean you can't get out there and paddle. Here is a P.O.A. group just before we launch on the Pere Marquette River at Rainbow Rapids back in December. We believe in 12 months of paddling at P.O.A., so we look forward to seeing you on our Fall Color Tour Paddle in October and our upcoming Winter Paddle in December. Don't forget to check out http://www.PowersAdventures.com/ for details on upcoming trips.

Paddle On,

Gabriel Ca$h
P.O.A.

Have A Safe Labor Day Weekend!

P.O.A. wants to remind you that it will be busy on the water this weekend. With that in mind, here are a few tips and etiquette to remember when you are heading out in your kayak or canoe to do a little holiday paddling. We call them the "3 Be's":

1) Be Visible. Wear bright colored clothing and/or a bright hat. If you have the option, go with your yellow or orange paddle blades. If you only have black or wood blades, hey...its the end of the season and there are a ton of sales on paddles. Now you have a good excuse (for safety's sake of course) to pick up that bright colored paddle! And if paddling at dusk, make sure you have the proper lighting so that other boats can easily spot you. Remember, assume that bigger boats don't always see you, so be sure to do all you can to maximize your visibility.

2) Be Alert. If you are lucky, you will find some nice calm water to navigate without anyone to disturb your relaxing paddle. But, chances are you will run into gobs and gobs (yes, that means a lot) of weekend warriors cruising in speedboats and racing around on jet skis. So, you need to make sure that you are well aware of your surroundings at all times. Plan ahead so that oncoming vessels can easily steer clear of you. Try to avoid heavily congested areas and be sure to give other boaters plenty of distance. Scan for any hazards and be able to react if you spot any.

3) Be Ready. Make sure that if you head out into the waters this weekend, you do so with a full understanding of your limitations. Don't try to paddle an area above your experience level. Conditions can change at any time and you should be sure that you are capable of handling them. Weather is always a factor, so make sure to check it before you head out. Wind can change the water you are paddling through in the blink of an eye. If you have the proper equipment (PFD, pump, paddle float) and are fully prepared, you can assure yourself a great time and a safe return.

So, now that you've given it some thought, get out there! Grab some friends, your better half or your pet and get that paddle in the water. Enjoy the long weekend and we hope to see you on the water soon.

Paddle On,

Gabriel Cash

P.O.A.

Outdoor Retail Convention Highlights

Fellow Outdoor Enthusiast, we have seen the future...and it is good! Powers Outdoors and Powers Outdoors Adventures just returned from our bi-annual trip to Salt Lake City, UT to see the latest and greatest outdoor clothing, footwear and gear. New on the kayak front, Old Town is launching a line called Vapor. But the big hit this year at the "Open Air Demo Days" was the paddle board. These are long boards like surfboards from back in the 50's and 60's only instead of surfing them...you paddle them! It is great exercise and way more fun than you may think. Stay tuned for more information about new gear for 2009!

Whitewater - Here We Come!

So, as July winds to an end we find ourselves in desperate need of WHITEWATER! The best way to get your fix in the Midwest is to head over to the East Race Waterway in South Bend, IN. This will be POA's second trip here this summer and the weather is looking fantastic. Hope to see you there!

Details: POA provides transportation, kayak rental, lunch and a POA T-shirt to everyone signed up fo the trip. We have two seperate starting destinations, Chicago, IL and Rockford, MI. The two groups converge in South Bend for a day of paddling, food and friends. You can check out some more great pix of our last trip on our FLICKR PAGE.

If you missed out this time, unfortunately that is it for 2008. The Waterway's last day for the public is August 10th. So, be sure to put it on your calendar for next summer!

Paddle On,
P.O.A.