: I have had the worst summer imaginable. No kayaking!! No hiking!! I worked
: 355 hours last month. The engine in my car blew up. No holidays with my
: kids. NOTHING!!

Holy Cow.... almost sorry I asked. Hope things pick up from there. My work time is close, and the kids have better things to do than visit dear ole dad, as well as the Gkids, but I HAVE squeezed in a little time for the little ones. It's a MUST!! I know their parents!!

: I had to cancel my week long trip around the northern tip of Vancouver Island
: (shakedown run for my month long trip next year) and now school is back in
: and it is back to the routine of life.

Bet that was a Bummer! Hard to believe you haven't gettin the boat wet in a while. Yeh, school will make it a little tougher I'm sure. Been there!!

: I did however reconfigure my electric pump so that now it is all in one
: compact unit and tucks behind the seat of my kayak. I changed it to a 750
: gph model but I think I will go back to the 500 gph because the boat
: doesn't seem to empty any quicker. I put the battery and switch inside a
: pelican box and just had one hole for the pump wires that needed sealing.
: Then I glued the pump base to the box. Tie downs were easy, just a couple
: of d-rings on the floor and bulkhead.

Well, the summer doesn't sound like a TOTAL loss, as you've made some new improvements. Guess it's not the same as getting the boat wet though. All's well other than that I presume??

: How has your summer been?
: Ian

Got the chance to go to R2K1 and went for it. The drive was a bit long, but was well worth it. Met a bunch of really great folks and got to see most of the boats I've only seen pics of. Some really great work out there.

Getting the finishing touches on the Wally and getting the plywood cut out for the Rob-Roy canoe for the G-kids as we type. O.K., before and after we type. Then, I'll be doing a hybrid Merganzer, and of course will have to try a stripper this winter. Trying to keep up with this place and work on boats as well gets a little hectic, and up till now, the boat has been in the lead. Now, it's time for the house to get some needed attention, along with the boat work.

Other than that.... alls well here! Good hearing from you again and that you haven't been totally idle. Hope you get a little time in the water, and that you get that month long trip in next year. BFN

Rehd