Update About My Blog...

Lack of New Posts

Yes, there has been a lack of new posts here on my blog.

I realize that. It needs to be changed.

I spent A LOT of TIME and EFFORT on two specific posts. You can read them here and here.

I also wrote a couple of lengthy posts about my new Sea Sucker Talon bike rack that I bought from REI. You can read those posts here and here.

Yes, there are a couple of recent posts that are INCOMPLETE. I need to circle-back and finish those posts.

For example, I started a post about my recent experience with a pig butchering scam. I am anticipating that the post will be quite lengthy.

I also got distracted with trying to create more elaborate tables on my blog here at Blogger. That opened a whole new can of worms as I tried new techniques for creating tables.

Going through my Bullet Journal, I have all kinds of ideas for future posts here on my blog.

I also need to complete my series about recently completed hikes here in Maricopa County.

As a result, I started creating new albums in my account over on Google Photos.

Unfortunately, there are only so many hours in a day.

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Setting Up the Sea Sucker Bike Rack...

Setting Up the Sea Sucker Bike Rack

In a previous post, I wrote about all of the problems that I have encountered with my Trek Hybrid 7.2 FX bike after my bike sat in the garage of my mom's house for a couple of years. I also wrote about taking my bike over to Southwest Bicycles in Peoria, AZ for maintenance. Furthermore, I also wrote about buying the Sea Sucker Talon rooftop bike rack from REI. 

This past Saturday, I F-I-N-A-L-L-Y got around to setting up the Sea Sucker Talon bike rack on my car.

After watering the plants in the backyard, sweeping off the patio, and cleaning out the garage at my mom's house, I went ahead and took the opportunity to set up the Sea Sucker Talon bike rack on the roof of my car. Since it was a H-O-T afternoon (115 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Sun City, AZ area, I was already sweating like crazy. Since I had nothing else planned for the afternoon, it was the perfect opportunity to set up the bike rack.

I had already completed most of the preparation work before mounting the bike rack to the roof of my car.

• I had already watched a couple of videos on Sea Sucker's own website on how to set up the Talon bike rack.
• I also sat down and actually read through the instructions.
• Lastly, I had already tried mounting the front of my Trek Hybrid 7.2 FX bike on the Talon bike rack on the floor of my mom's garage.

With all of that work completed, it was now time to actually set up the Sea Sucker Talon bike rack on the roof of my car. I was motivated to set up the bike rack for two reasons. First, I am starting to get incredibly bored with using the elliptical trainer at the gym. Spending longer than 20 minutes on the elliptical trainer no longer appeals to me. I start to get incredibly BORED. Second, since my failed attempt at mounting my brand new rear tire to the bike frame ended in disaster back in May, my Trek Hybrid bike has been collecting dust in my mom's garage.

Thus, it was a now or never type of moment.

As the videos from Sea Sucker made clear, setting up the Talon bike was actually fairly easy to do.

Here are the steps that I followed to set up the Talon 1-Bike Rack:

1. I securely mounted the the HUSKE QR Fork Mount onto the front rack body.
2. I then wiped clean the area on the roof of my car where I was going to place the front rack body.
3. I then removed the protective covers for the suction cups on the front rack body.
4. While holding down the front rack body, I then pressed the pump for each suction cup repeatedly until the orange indicator band was no longer visible.
5. I then inserted the skewer into the opening of the HUSKE QR Fork Mount with the QR Washer next to the Cam Lever.
6. I then attached the Adjustment Nut to the skewer.
7. I then removed the front tire from my bike.
8. I then lifted my bike onto the roof of my car.
9. I then mounted the front tire dropouts of my bike onto the skewer.
10. I then tightened the Adjustment Nut on the skewer as tight as possible against the bike fork.
11. I then loosened the Adjustment Nut until I was able to close the Cam Lever.
12. After removing the the protective cover for the suction cup, I then placed the rear rack body under the rear tire of my bike.
13. Again, I then pressed the pump for the suction cup until the orange indicator band was no longer visibile.
14. I then wrapped the velcro strap to secure the tire to the rear rack body.
15. To prevent the pedals from moving around during travel, I then used the orange velcro strap to secure the pedal to the bike frame.

Before I knew it, I had mounted my bike to the Sea Sucker Talon bike rack on the roof of my car. It was pretty easy.

The most difficult part of setting up the Talon bike rack was mounting the bike to the forward base.

My bike successfully mounted to the Sea Sucker bike rack. 

Close up of the suction cups used in the Sea Sucker bike rack.

The Sea Sucker Talon bike rack on the roof of my car. 

Rear view of the Sea Sucker Talon bike rack. 

I then started my car and cautiously left the parking lot at my mom's house. I then drove around the neighborhood for a little bit. My bike appeared to be securely mounted to the Sea Sucker bike rack. Additionally, the Sea Sucker bike rack appeared to be securely mounted to the roof of my car. I then decided to drive over to Southwest Bicycles in nearby Peoria, AZ. Despite all of the potholes and bumps in the road, I managed to drive my car to the parking lot for Southwest Bicycles without incident. It was an easy task to remove my bike from the Talon bike rack, so I could remount the front tire. Removing the front and rear racks was easy. I just pressed the rubber tab for each suction cup. I then removed both racks and placed them into my trunk for storage. An important point to remember is that the Sea Sucker bike rack is not secure. There is no way to lock the Sea Sucker Talon bike rack to prevent someone from stealing it. 

Arriving at the parking lot for Southwest Bicycles in Peoria, AZ.

In Conclusion

Thus far, I have been impressed with the Talon bike rack from Sea Sucker. This particular bike rack saved me from having to spend several hundreds of dollars on a roof rack for my car. Eventually, I would like to use the Talon bike rack to take my bike down to, say, downtown Phoenix for a bike ride. We'll see if it passes that test. 

New Sea Sucker Bike Rack...

A Bike in Need of Repair

Back in May of this year, at the start of a 20 mile bike ride on a late Saturday morning, the inflatable tube in the rear tire of my Trek Bikes Hybrid FX 2.0 bike exploded. Not only did the inflatable tube explode, there was a long gash in the rear tire. As a result, I had to walk back to my mother's house while pushing the bike. I was disappointed, but I wasn't exactly angry. I knew that my bike was a ticking time bomb. It was just a matter of time before I needed to make a major repair of some kind.

Some Background

The Bike Lane of Reston, VA

I originally bought the hybrid bike from a bike shop known as The Bike Lane that used to be located at the Reston Town Center in Reston, VA, during the summer of 2014. The Bike Lane used to be a short walk down the street from the infamous Jackson's Mighty Fine Food and Lucky Lounge. The Bike Lane is now located at 11150 Sunset Hills Drive near Wiehle Metro station. The Bike Lane was a pretty good store to just walk and look around. I knew nothing about Trek Bikes, but I liked what I saw. One Sunday afternoon in July 2014, I was walking around Reston Town Center and noticed that The Bike Lane was having a sale. Moreover, there were people inside and outside the store, which was unusual. Curious, I walked into the store for the first time. I discovered that The Bike Lane had reduced their prices on all of the Trek Bikes they had in stock. For some time, I was thinking about buying a hybrid bike, so I could ride the bike trails in Reston and Herndon since I developed osteoarthritis in both knees and could no longer go jogging. I gave my driver's license to the store manager and took the bike for a test ride around Reston Town Center. I had a fun time riding the bike. The regular price for the Hybrid FX 2.0 bike was $650. However, with the promotion, the bike was on sale for $500. Plus, the store manager reduced the price of the bike by $50 since the bike already had some scratches on the frame. I ended up buying both the bike and a bike helmet. I then rode the bike along the Washington and Old Dominion Trail through Reston to Herndon, VA and on to Ashburn, VA. Due to a fortunate series of events, most of the parts on my hybrid bike never needed maintenance of any kind. When I rode my bike on the bike trails around the Reston-Herndon-Ashburn, VA area, I never had any problems. Not even a flat tire. When I moved Columbia, MD, in 2016, I still didn't have any problems with my bike. However, when the lease on my apartment next to Columbia Mall expired in June 2017, I had the moving company ship my bike to my mother's house in Sun City, AZ. For several years, my Trek Hybrid FX 2.0 bike collected dust in the garage, while getting baked by the Arizona heat.

Presta Valve versus Schrader Valve

Southwest Bicycles of Peoria, AZ

When I moved back to Arizona from living in the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore, MD area for 13 years this past November, one of my goals was to get my bike back up and running. One of the first things I did was go over to the nearest bike shop, Southwest Bicycles in nearby Peoria, AZ, and buy two new inflatable bike tubes for the tires. When I went to buy the new inflatable bike tubes, I had a decision to make. Was I going to buy inflatable bike tubes with a Presta valve or inflatable tubes with a Schrader valve? Not really understanding the difference between the two different valves, I went with the Presta valves. After all, inflatable bike tubes are inflatable bike tubes, right? Big mistake. There are big differences between the two bike tube types. My Trek Hybrid bike originally came with inflatable tubes that had Schrader valves. I should have bought two inflatable bike tubes with Schrader valves. That's probably a good rule of thumb to remember when buying replacement parts for your bike. When you buy replacement parts for your bike, try to stay with what your bike originally came with.

Bike Tube with Presta Valve

After buying two inflatable bike tubes with Presta valves, a brand new Trek hand pump, and some other miscellaneous items for my bike, I took everything back to my mother's house to get to work. After some difficulty, I managed to replace the old inflatable bike tubes with Schrader valves with the new inflatable bike tubes with the Presta valves. I then inflated both tubes with my brand new Trek hand pump. Something didn't seem quite right. There was an issue with the inflatable bike tubes. Knowing that my hybrid bike had never received any kind of maintenance, I went ahead and made an appointment with Southwest Bicycles to perform a tune-up on my bike.

Bike Tube with Schrader Valve

On the day I picked up my bike from South West Bikes, I took my bike for a ride on the New River Trail that is literaly right next to Southwest Bicycles. After riding as far north as Happy Valley Road in northern Peoria (or is it Glendale?), I heard a loud PSSSSHHHHH!!!!!! sound come from my bike as I was heading south near Beardsley Road on the New River Trail. The front tire was completely flat. I tried using a CO2 cartridge to inflate the front tube. No luck. After taking a short break, I walked my bike all the way back to Southwest Bicycles. After explaining what happened, Southwest Bicycles explained to me that several customers had similar experiences to mine. The apparent cause was the Presta valve in the inflatable tube of the front tire. One of the repair technicians replaced the inflatable tube with the Presta valve with an inflatable tube with a Schrader valve. The repair technician even inserted a thorn guard between the inflatable tube and the tire. The repair technician also inflated the tires to the appropriate level. Belive it or not, Southwest Bicycles performed this repair for FREE. I was surprised. I was prepared to pay for the replacement inflatable bike tube, but they turned me down. For the next couple of months, I didn't have any problems with my Trek Hybrid FX 2.0 bike, riding on the New River Trail and on roads in Sun City. Then, the inflatable tube in the rear tire exploded on a Saturday in May 2024. The reason? You guessed it, the inflatable tube had a Presta valve.

Another Problem

I removed the rear tire from the bike and took it back to Southwest Bicycles. Since it was already after 4:00 PM on a Saturday afternoon, I was told that the repair technicians would not be able to take a look at my bike's tire until Monday at the earliest. Not a problem, I said. Then, on Sunday afternoon, I received a phone call from a repair technician at Southwest Bicycles. He said that the issue was with the Presta valve. He said that when the bike tube exploded, it created a long gash in the tire. He said that he installed a new inflatable tube with a Schrader valve. Additionally, he replaced the original tire with a new one. When I brought back the new rear tire to my mother's house from South West Bikes, things got rather interesting.

Since it had been so long since I had to replace a rear tire, I had to watch a couple of videos on how to do the task. Since I don't have a bicycle repair stand, I had to remove my cell phone holder, my headlamp, my saddlebags, and the rack. With some difficulty, I managed to mount the rear tire. I had enonormous difficulty with the bike chain. I also had problems with disconnecting the brake pads from the brake cable. Still, I managed to get the rear tire mounted to the bike frame. Yet, there was another problem. The new problem was that the brakes no longer worked properly. The brake pads clamped shut on the tire. Additionally, the brake handle no longer worked. I disconnected the brake pads a second time. I then removed the rear tire from the bike frame. Then, somehow, the bike chain inexplicably twisted upon itself. I went to YouTube and watched a couple of videos on how to untwist a bike chain. None of the techniques worked on my bike chain. With no way to transport my bike to Southwest Bicycles, my bike sat in my mom's garage.

My Trek Hybrid Bike with Twisted Bike Chain

SeaSucker Bike Rack

My car, a Nissan Maxima 2010 SV, has a rear spoiler above the trunk. Finding a bike rack for my car has been very difficult. Because of the rear spoiler, I cannot use a bike rack that attaches to the trunk. Sorry, Thule, Yakima, and Saris. In order to use a hitch bike rack on my car, I would need to have a hitch attachment installed underneath my car. Then, I am not too interested in spending several hundreds of dollars on a roof bike rack. While looking through the REI webpage one day, I came across the Talon MAX 1-Bike Rack by SeaSucker. I was disappointed to discover that the Talon MAX 1 bike rack is an online-only item. As a result, you can go to your local REI store and take a look at it. Curious, I went ahead and ordered one from the REI webpage. The Talon MAX 1 bike rack is a roof bike rack that utilizes suction cups to stick to the roof of your car. The Talon MAX 1 comes in two pieces. One piece has three suction cups. This piece is where you attach the front tire. The second piece consists of one suction cup. This is where you attach the rear tire. Unlike bike racks from Thule and Yakima, the Talon MAX 1 bike rack has a simple set up and doesn't require buying any extra equipment. I am really interested in trying it out.

SeaSucker Talon MAX 1 (Front)

SeaSucker Talon MAX 1 (Back)

SeaSucker Talon MAX 1 (Inside Box)

SeaSucker Talon MAX 1 (Instructions)

Here is a video from SeaSucker on how to set up the Talon MAX 1. 

Stay tuned for updates.

Hiking at Thunderbird Conservation Park, Part 1...

First Hike in Maricopa County

This post will be another entry in my continuing series about hiking at various locations throughout Maricopa County. If you like this post, you can view the previous entries in this series here, here, here, here, here, and here.

This post will contain maps, charts, and photographs taken by me.

The first place I hiked in Maricopa County after moving back to Arizona from Maryland was Thunderbird Conservation Park.

Thunderbird Conservation Park Overview Map

It was a rainy Saturday morning on November 18, 2023. Nothing too serious. Not a heavy rain that you would get on a Saturday morning in Maryland. It was a light rain. The kind of rain you would get in the Phoenix area in November. Someone suggested that I go hiking for something to do. Curiously, in my previous visits to the Phoenix area to visit my sister and my mom, I had never been hiking. After an exchange of text messages, my sister recommended that I visit the Thunderbird Conservation Park in nearby Glendale, AZ. The borders of Glendale, AZ are unusual. I always thought that Glendale was primarily centered around the State Farm Stadium and Luke Air Force Base to the northwest of downtown Phoenix. For the most part, that is a true statement. However, Glendale also stretches north between Phoenix to the east and Peoria to the west. The Thunderbird Conservation Park more or less demarcates Glendale's northernmost extent.

The Parking Lot at Thunderbird Conservation Park

After gathering all of my hiking things together, I got in my car and then entered Thunderbird Conservation Park into Google Maps. I then drove north on 99th Street and then east along West Deer Valley Road before making a left turn on N. 59th Ave. After a short distance, I made a left turn onto N. 61st Dr and looked for a parking spot. It was immediately clear that I wasn't the only person who wanted to go hiking that morning. I was fortunate to locate a parking spot for my car. Later on, I would learn that there was an additional parking lot at Thunderbird Conservation Park.

Looking for a Map

After putting on my sun hat, my scarf, my Salomon hiking boots that I once bought from the REI in Fairfax, VA, and my CamelBak as well as filling up my cargo pockets with Clif Bars, a spare USB cable, and a charging bank for my phone, I went looking for an overview map of Thunderbird Conservation Park. 

Getting ready to go hiking at Thunderbird Conservation Park.

By that time, the morning rain had largely dissipated, yet there were large patches of mud everywhere I walked. After a short walk, I found a park map. I quickly realized that the Thunderbird Conservation Park consisted of three separate sections.

• The Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail
• The Cholla Loop Trail
• The Arrowhead Peak Trail

Overview Map of Thunderbird Conservation Park

After studying the map for a couple of minutes, I made a decision to hike the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail on my first visit to Thunderbird Conservation Park.

The Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail

Since I had parked my car at a parking lot that was closest to the Coachwhip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail, it just seemed logical that I should hike on that trail. Given the fact that this was my first hike in several months, I thought that I would do an easy first hike. Something of a getting to know you type of hike. Nothing too strenuous. Nothing too difficult. That was my I idea. Based on the Trails Rating Guide, I'm sure that the Coachwhip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail would probably be classified as a trail with Easy-to-Moderate difficulty. 

Trails Rating Guide

Using Google Maps, But Not AllTrails

According to the AllTrails website, the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail rates as a trail with moderate difficulty and a 2.2 mile length. The trail maps that I found near the parking lot did not specifically indicate the trail difficulty. However, the map I consulted (see graphic above) did a pretty good job at indicating the types of terrain that would be encountered along my hike.

At various points along my hike, I would also consult Google Maps on my phone for up-to-date location information. In a later hike that I am planning to write about on my blog, I would encounter the fallacy about depending upon Google Maps for hiking trail information.

Just a quick note about AllTrails. I used AllTrails a couple of times for hiking in the Baltimore area when I lived there. I even installed the app on my phone. I am not too sure why I didn't use AllTrails on this hike. My thinking was that the hike would be a relatively simple one.

Hitting the (Wrong) Trail

Once I decided that I was going to hike the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail section of Thunderbird Conservation Park, I hit the trail. Almost immediately, I went down the wrong trail. Somehow, I ended up on a trail that led out of the Thunderbird Conservation Park in a southeast direction to N. 59th Ave (see map below).

On the Wrong Trail 

Once I made got my bearings, I was on the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail. The landmark of interest that I came across was a large outdoor amphitheater.

Outdoor Ampitheater at Thunderbird Conservation Park - 1

Outdoor Ampitheater at Thunderbird Conservation Park - 2

Outdoor Ampitheater at Thunderbird Conservation Park - 3

After taking some photos of the amphitheater with my cell phone's camera, I began my ascent up the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail.

Looking Towards the Cholla Loop and Arrowhead Peak Trails

The Cholla Loop Trail Section at Thunderbird Conservation Park

The Arrowhead Peak Trail Section at Thunderbird Conservation Park

The next landmark that I came across was a structure known at Thunderbird Reservoir. It looks like construction crews cut out a large chunk of the park to create the reservoir. In fact, it appeared as though the reservoir was still under construction due to the presence of construction equipment.

Thunderbird Reservoir - 1

Thunderbird Reservoir - 2

After taking some photos of the Thunderbird Reservoir, I continued my ascent on the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail. The views of the Glendale, AZ area continued to get more and more impressive. At the peak, I could see north to Lake Pleasant, southwest to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, and south all the way to downtown Phoenix. Plus, you could see all of the private lakes and golf courses near Thunderbird Conservation Park.

Additional Trails Hiked at Thunderbird Conservation Park

After enjoying the views, eating a Clif Bar, and drinking some water, I made my way down the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail. Since the trail was only 2.2 miles in length, I went ahead and started to hike other trails in the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail section of Thunderbird Conservation Park. The temperature had to be in the upper 80s. There was a slight breeze in the air. The rainy weather from earlier in the morning had become a distant memory. Moreover, I felt pretty good. My upper body was covered in sweat. As a result, I hiked all the way to the northwest corner of Thunderbird Conservation Park near 67th Avenue. I also hiked the trails along the western, southern, and northern boundaries of the Thunderbird Conservation Park. In all, I think I hiked close to six miles that afternoon. The trail was challenging, yet overly taxing or exhausting. 

At some point during the hike, I stopped taking photos with my cell phone camera. I'm not too sure why I stopped taking photos, but that's what happened. However, the photos I took did turn out to be surprisingly decent.

Ascending the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail

Halfway up the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail

On the way to the top

Saguaro Cactus - 1

Saguaro Cactus - 2

Heading down the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail

Panorama of northern Glendale, AZ

Trail marker at the intersection of the Coach Whip and Ridgeline Trails

Welcome to Thunderbird Conservation Park

Me after hiking six miles

Final Verdict

I enjoyed hiking the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail in Glendale, AZ. It was a challenging yet not overly difficult trail to hike, deserving of its moderate rating on the Trails Rating Guide. If the main trail is too short, then you can easily add additional trails in that section of Thunderbird Conservation Park. If the Coach Whip-Ridgeline-Sunrise Loop Trail is too short or not challenging enough or not scenic enough, have I mentioned yet that the Thunderbird Conservation Park consists of two more additional sections? The following week, I did hike the Cholla Loop and Arrowhead Peak Trails at Thunderbird Conservation Park. That will be the subject of a future post on my blog.

New Classes at REI...

A few days ago, I signed up for two classes over at REI's Paradise Valley store in Phoenix, AZ.

The two classes I signed up for were:

• Camping Basics Presentation
• Backpacking Basics Presentation

This is how REI describes the Camping Basics Presentation:

Learn the basics of camping! Whether you're planning to go solo or with friends and family, we'll cover everything you need to know and bring to ensure your next camping trip is a successful one. We'll talk trip planning, how to be comfortable sleeping outside, camping kitchen considerations, and more. Camping is a fun and affordable way to take a vacation - let REI help you get outdoors!

The Camping Basics Presentation is scheduled for this Thursday, June 20, 2024.

This is how REI describes the Backpacking Basics Presentation presentation:

Learn the basics of backpacking and head into the backcountry to discover new places. Whether you are a seasoned hiker who wants to extend your hikes across multiple days, or if you are new to the outdoors, this presentation will give you the essential information you need to put together a great plan. From trip planning to essential backpacking gear, we will provide tips and answer questions to help inspire your next trip.

Going out backpacking and/or camping by myself is definitely something worth further investigating. However, let's face it, you can spend A LOT of money on gear. On the other hand, REI does give its members an end-of-year dividend based on the amount of money you spend at REI each year.

Perhaps I can meet other people who are interested in doing the same activities.

Chances of that occurring are slim, but you never know.

Going Kayaking with REI (UPDATED)...

Learning to Kayak Class

On Saturday, May 18th, instead of going hiking, I attended the "Learning to Kayak" class given by REI at Lake Pleasant, AZ.

REI Learn to Kayak Class (Source: REI)

This was my third attempt at attending this class. Back in December 2024, I had to cancel my reservation due to an operation at the VA Hospital in downtown Phoenix. I then registered to take the class this past April. A week before the class, I received an email from REI informing me that the class had been cancelled due to low enrollment.

The goal of the class is to teach participants the fundamentals on how to use a kayak. According to REI's website, here are the goals of the class.

• Learn how to launch and stay comfortable in a kayak
• Practice the forward, reverse, and sweep paddle strokes
• Get exposure to the fundamentals of on the water safety

Here is the Gear List for the class.

• Required items to bring:
• Sun Protection - Lip balm, sunscreen, wide-brim hats, etc.
• Water Shoes/Sandals - Foot attire that will protect your feet and is okay to get wet. (e.g. Teva, Chaco, Keen (not flip-flops)
• Synthetic Quick Dry Clothing
• Water Bottle
• Personal Prescription Medications - Including, but not limited to, epinephrine auto-injectors for anaphylactic allergies.
• Optional items to bring:
• Lip Balm/Protection
• Sunglasses
• Wide Brim Hat w/ Retainer - Sun protective and safe in case of wind
• Paddling Gloves
• Waterproof Camera
• Towel - Quick Drying and Lightweight
• Swimwear
• Tip for guides - 10-20% of program price is recommended.
• Items provided by REI:
• Dry Bag
• Group First Aid Kit - Our guides carry a comprehensive first aid kit, but you are welcome to bring any personal first aid-items that you prefer.
• Paddle
• Lifejacket
• Kayak

Getting to Lake Pleasant

The "Learning to Kayak" class was being given at Fireman's Cove at Lake Pleasant.

Fireman's Cove at Lake Pleasant, AZ (Google Earth)

On Google Maps, getting to Fireman's Cove appears to be relatively easy to do. You drive north on Lake Pleasant Parkway, making a left at State Road 74 (Morristown New River Highway). After several miles, you then make a right at N Castle Hot Springs Road and head north. After five or six miles, you then make a right at Castle Creek Drive. You then follow Castle Creek Drive to Fireman's Cove. REI did place signs along the side of the road at N Castle Hot Springs Road and again at Castle Creek Drive. I don't remember seeing a sign for Fireman's Cove, but I did see a large number of people and parked cars near the beach along Castle Creek Drive. I drove into the parking lot and then noticed the white Ford pick-up truck with the REI logo on the side.

I found the right place.

The most difficult part of the drive to Fireman's Cove was the gridlocked traffic that I encountered on the Lake Pleasant Parkway between Highway 303 and State Road 74. At Highway 303, the Lake Pleasant Parkway truncates into one lane going north and one lane going south. Moreover, the Arizona Department of Transportation was also doing roadwork nearby, causing traffic to tangle up. It was literally bumper-to-bumper traffic all the way to State Road 74. Crazy stuff.

Learning to Kayak

The main guide from REI was named Dave. He said that he lived in Mesa, AZ and came from the REI located in Chandler, AZ. He also said that he was originally from Roanoak, VA and had lived in Washington, D.C. and Seattle, WA. He said that he had been a professional guide for several years. The assistant guide from REI was from Tucson, AZ. His name was Simrin. He said that he had been working as a professional guide since January of this year.

The guides brought hard-shell kayaks with them. The kayaks they brought came in two lengths, 12.5 feet and 14 feet. In contrast, when I attended the sunset kayaking class back in April, also at Lake Pleasant, the REI guides brought inflatable kayaks to use. What are the differences? Well, the inflatable kayaks are difficult to control, yet they rarely tip over. For hard-shell kayaks, the longer and narrower the kayak, the faster it will go. I ended up with a 12.5 foot long kayak to use. The 12.5 foot kayak was a little wider than the 14 foot kayak.

The initial topics covered in the class were the different parts of the kayak, how to hold the paddle, and how to get into the kayak. Dave also covered the basic paddle strokes.

After that, we got into the water. The water felt refreshingly cool. It was a sunny, hot day at Lake Pleasant. At 12:00 PM, when the class started, the temperature had to be close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. I had trouble signing the release as the table was sizzling hot. Once we got out on the water, you quickly forgot about the heat.

Once we got away from the crowded beach, Dave reviewed the three or four paddle strokes that he had demonstrated on the beach. The entire group spent the next half hour or so practicing the various basic paddle strokes, such as going forward, going backward, and how to turn the kayak to change the direction of travel. As people got more comfortable, the group went past the No Wake buoys and approached the main part of Lake Pleasant. However, we stayed within sight of Fireman's Cove. We encountered waves caused by speed boats passing by. We also experienced having to deal with both the water current and the wind constantly changing direction. It was a challenge.

At around 2:30 PM, Dave asked the group if people wanted to continue kayaking for the next half hour or return to the beach. I wanted to stay out on the water. I guess I was in the minority as the group headed back to the beach. However, there was a twist. We were supposed to try kayaking backwards as far as we could. The wind and current kept taking me off course, so I turned around my kayak and began to paddle forward.

Camera Problems

During the kayaking class, I had ALL KINDS of problems with the camera app on my cell phone. The user interface on my cell phone would freeze. When I tried to open the camera app, I would get a black screen. I also had problems zooming in and out. Then, I would have problems with the waterproof case I kept my cell phone in as I kayaked. As a result, I didn't take many photos during the class. I know, it's time to seriously consider getting a new cell phone. While I am thinking about it, it's probably time to see if I can find a new waterproof case for my cell phone.

Anyway, here are the photographs that I took as disappointing as they are.

REI Trailer Truck

REI guide Simrin loading kayaks from the morning class.

Desert Breeze Kayaking Tours

View of Fireman's Cove 1

View of Fireman's Cove 2

View of Fireman's Cove 3

View of Fireman's Cove 4

In Conclusion

Was the "Learning to Kayak" class worth the $119 (for REI members) that I paid? Yes, it was. The two guides, Dave and Simrin, were great. They were friendly, approachable, and good at explaining the subtle techniques of learning to kayak. Dave was especially fun as he had lived in the Washington, D.C. area for several years and had been to Baltimore several times. He even agreed with me that the Phoenix metropolitan area DESPERATELY needs a subway. Anyway, given my previous kayaking trips along the Potomac and Monocacy Rivers, the "Learning to Kayak" class was a really good refresher on the basics. If you haven't been kayaking before, then I would highly recommend taking the class. As it just so happened, there is a kayak rental place at Fireman's Cove called Desert Breeze Kayaking Tours. Definitely a place worth checking out.