Coldspring Paddling Instruction

I think paddling season is officially here so it seems like a great time to announce the launch of my new kayak paddling instruction company, Coldspring Paddling Instruction. Check out the new website, created with help from paddler and kayaking instructor David Johnston of Swim River Design.

Kayaking Connections

I just searched for "Doug Taylor kayak" and turned up this blog: http://vancouverislandcircumnavigation.blogspot.com/. Doug Taylor was one of the co-instructors on my Level 2 kayak course from last week. Doug circumnavigated Vancouver Island in '08, which is the subject of that blog that I linked to. Doug paddled around the Island with Jonathan Reggler who is, coincidentally, my grandma's doctor in Courtenay. Go figure, it's a small world. Especially if you paddle.

Sheepdogs & the Rolling Stone

Only 1 more day to vote for your favourite band to put them on the cover of The Rolling Stone.

Go Sheepdogs Go!

Topographic Maps in Google Earth

Here's a pretty neat tool I recently came across. You can now view the Canadian topographic maps via Google Earth. This tool allows you to view the maps as a "layer", overlayed on the satellite photos. That means you can switch back and forth between the maps and the regular satellite view, or set the map layer to be semi-transparent so that you can view the satellite image through the topographic map. It will make measuring distances on topographic maps a snap.

Start playing with it for yourself by downloading it here: http://www.gelib.com/natural-resources-canada-toporama.htm

Thanks to Martin for letting us know about it!