Projects Abroad asked:
Assistant Country Manager, Jessica Bailey tells us about a recent volunteer weekend spent rafting the rivers of Southern Sri Lanka.
‘For me, it still felt as though my legs were recovering from our mission to climb Adam’s Peak, when it was that time again to plan another Projects Abroad weekend trip! I decided that something not as ‘hard-core’ as Adam would be a good idea, but a trip without any action would seem like an anti-climax after that. Therefore, white water rafting was the weekend of choice! Worryingly, the closest I have ever got to rafting is a banana boat which last time ended up in whiplash and tears, but hey… I’ll try anything once!
After thirteen volunteers descended on the Projects Abroad office, off we went in the van to Kithulgala. Quite a few ‘are we nearly there yet’ pleas later and several stops for the driver to ask where we were and we found ourselves at Sisira’s River Lounge. Everyone seemed surprised at how nice the place was and commented on how different it was to what they were expecting – as if I’d take us anywhere less good guys, come on now, have faith. Our arrival was met by a splendid BBQ, with the potato salad being a big hit (I’d heard reports about this before I booked the weekend and it had definitely swayed me to Sisira’s – thanks Jo!) After a busy week of work and knowing that we had to breakfast at 7am, everyone was pretty chilled out and in their pyjamas by 11pm. Not quite the ‘party’ that we’re used to but of course it wasn’t without having had a few glasses of arrack first!
We were all woken by Sisira ringing an alarm for us to get to breakfast… somewhat reminiscent of a boot camp in my opinion! Then we were rushed off to get to the boats before the water level got too low (I wasn’t even allowed to finish my tea… again boot camp springs to mind!) Everyone donned the ife-jackets and helmets and was then almost reduced to tears when the guy in charge pretended that we had to use a rope to get down to the river (a big drop I can assure you!). Tori embraced the challenge though and even got harnessed up, but luckily for the rest of us, it was at this point that the guy told us that he was only joking and that we could use the steps. Phew!
Two boats were used and the first group seemed to have no problem is paddling off. However, my group were a little less speedy and after a few lame attempts at paddling (resulting in going round and round in circles) were forced to get out of the boat for a second ‘lesson’ (probably not the best time for my uncontrollable giggles – our man looked less than impressed.) Unfortunately a lack of rain meant that the water level was a bit too low, but with us all capsizing a few times and people getting stuck on rocks, perhaps this was for the best after all! There was a bit of competition between the two boats, involving paddles, drenching people and Joe being stolen from our boat! Good fun was had by everyone though, and the low water level meant that we could all mess around in the water without being dragged down the river!
Our adventure over and everyone exhausted and hungry, we rowed back to Sisira’s for our big buffet lunch – potato salad made an appearance again I can happily say. After lunch, some of us spotted the zip wire and had a long, but worth-it wait for our turn. In my opinion it was worth the wait just to laugh at the harnesses on everyone (I’ll save their embarrassment by not showing the pictures!).
A much needed cuppa later and we all got back into the van and made our way back to Colombo. I think I can safely say that I will definitely be arranging another visit to Sisira’s soon – great host, yummy food, gorgeous setting and fun times… next weekend anyone?!’
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www.projects-abroad.co.uk
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Muna wa Wanjiru asked:
If you want to build your own kayak, then you may need some materials. Kayak kits help you in building your kayak. There are number of new designs in building your kayak kit. The three main models in building kayak kits are empire model, infusion model and element model. The empire model kayak kits are suitable for weekend trips. They will offer great speed and it provides maximum stability on running water. The infusion model has short beam and so they provide good speed and easy turning. The element model kayak kits are the fastest kayaks and are suitable for two paddlers.
Kayak kits can be designed according to your preference. The kayak design preference will be Expedition, week end travel, Day paddles, Open water, quiet water and sports.
Expedition kayak kits are designed to explore open or sheltered water for number of days. The kayak will be designed as extended hull length so that you can go straight. You can carry high cargo in these kayaks and this is a very useful feature for paddling for multiple days. This kayak is suitable for any water conditions.
These kayaks are suitable for sea water and s o you can plan your week end with this kayak to enjoy any sort of adventure. They are able to cut through water quickly. They can be turned easily.
The day paddles model kayak boats are suitable for ay exploration. They can be turned quickly. They are light weight kayaks and thus you can carry them anywhere easily.
These kayaks are built for paddling in any water conditions. These boats reduce weather cocking and this will help you to go I right direction.
These kayaks are designed for paddling in calm seas and lakes which have more stability. These boats are ideal for fishing, bird watching etc.
These kayaks are deigned for playing on water. They are the fastest responsive boats and you can use them to explore hidden bays and beaches.
Apart from these preferences you can build your kayak in any of the three models. They are Strip built boat kits, Stitch and glue kits and Hybrid kayak kits.
If you want to make your boat absolutely light weight then strip built kayak kit is the excellent way. Many of the kayakers never want to compromise the length of the kayak for light weight. Then thick hard board strips can be used for the prototype. The strip built kits also allow lot freedom in designing the form of boat.
Here pre cut ply woods are stitched together along with the joints and then they are glued.
The shape of the panel decides the shape of the boat. The 2 dimensional panels are bent and the curved edges are stitched. The stitch and glue model will provide extreme strength to the boat since it uses small number of wood pieces. They are the most suitable design for kits.
The hybrid kits mean that of any design boat that combines both stitch and glue and Strip built methods. Normally the hull is designed in Stitch and glue method and the deck is designed with strip built method.
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aurembs asked:
What is life without a spirit of adventure? Everyone has their own idea and sense of adventure. What is yours? Have you ever thought of kayaking? Well if water thrills you, then this adventure sports is definitely for you. To begin with the basics, kayaking is riding a kayak across the water surface and a kayak is, no doubt, a boat. It has certain typical characteristics that make it stand out. A kayak is a human-powered boat, which is propelled with the help of a double-bladed paddle. So mind you, along with loads of fun, kayaking will help you burn a few calories to keep you fit and healthy.
If you like to go for kayaking in your vacation, then your first and foremost requirement is to buy a kayak. TheChallenger K1 Kayak Kit is a good one to recommend, which you can easily purchase at Tupelo Super Store. These kayaks, manufactured by Intex, are made of super-tough vinyl and are strong enough to withstand rugged use.
You can also opt for the Intex Challenger K1 Kayak that comes with 84-inch long aluminum oars and a high-output hand pump. The streamlined design will make your paddling task easier. It is also provided with hard plastic skegs on the underside, just like your surfboard, so that you can easily control the direction of the kayak. The best part is that you can deflate the Intex Challenger K1 Kayak and carry it anywhere you go.
The Challenger K1 Kayak Kit is designed to make your expedition a very comfortable experience. The cockpit has ample space for you, while the seat has a backrest that is adjustable to suit your posture. The sporty graphics makes it more attractive. For extra safety, it comes with grab lines on both ends.
The Intex Challenger K1 Kayak is meant for a single person, but if you want to double your fun, then go for the Intex Challenger K2 Kayak, which will accommodate your friend or spouse as well. It has all the features as that of the Challenger K1 Kayak Kit and is sure to make your kayaking a most memorable experience.
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Pamla asked:
I am going to Northern Lake Powell in Utah and plan to camp in the canyons and such. Kayaking in so need light weight/compact foods.
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jceviche asked:
Yes estimated 240lbs Thresher SHARKS NOT 1 but 3 SHARKS caught within 2 hours. This is the 3rd Thresher Shark for the day caught at 7:13AM. This one is mouth hook and made it easier to handle for the release.
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fishyaker asked:
John “Toast” Oast of Fishyaker.com demonstrates how easy and cheap it is to make your own rod leash for kayak fishing or any other time you may be concerned about losing a pole. All you need is an old cell phone cord, a couple clips and a few zip ties.
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