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Reynolds
Reynolds Road Trip
Were going to leave to Ketchikan
Were using "Find Me Spot", a GPS tracking device that sends our location via satellite in real time. To find where we are now click below:
Click here to find out where Blane and Len are now?
Hello All,
Len Chaston and I are taking our 15' zodiac from Vancouver to Ketchikan Alaska. The original idea was Ray's and at one point was debating whether to join the trip, but Kingcome Inlet was too busy. The boat is an Ex-Greenpeace ribbed hull inflatable with a 50hp Johnson. We've been working the last week on building the boat to West Coast standards. Efferen a local inflatable specialist has gone over the boat and repaired all the small leaks, Bob Pearson from Pearson Marine and Industrial has given us a wealth of information on motors, controls and a 101 on fiberglassing along with tips for the coast. We've fiberglassed and reinforced alot of the transom.
The boat will have a self righting bag on the radar arch, this video shows how it works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgLM0z1cjwo
The big challenge has been fuel, we've now purchased two aluminum tanks holding about 160 litres, and it still may not be enough through some sections. Weight has now become an issue.
The SPOT tracker will be activated in about 3 days when I pick it up from the Island, so it won't work until then. This will allow anyone to see where we are in real time.
We'll keep you updated and thanks for the comments.
-Blane
Travel Blog Posts
February 20th 2010
Welcome to Langkawi! This is a fabulous island in nothern Malaysia. The people are a local Malay, Chinese, Indian and Middle Eastern. Heavy Muslim presence. It's the Canada of Southeast asia. Needless to say the food is incredible, and eat seafood daily. We even bought a Wok so we can cook our own fresh seafood on the beach. This combined with the Satay chicken, fresh pineapple and cheap prices makes eating an event every day. The nicest part about this country other then the beachfront villa for 40 cdn dollars a day is the people. They don't hound you when you walk down the street as in many tourist based countries. Bali was nice, but constantly being baraged by locals wears thin. Langkawi is much different. You seek things rather then be seeked. Drove (not rode ... read more
January 27th 2010
Hello All, Just at the airport ready to fly out after Spending the last couple of days in Dubai, I've been through here lots and know my way around no problem. First mission was to get a clean t-shirt so I didn't feel like a hobo with all these clean Arabs in there swanky white outfits. The Burj Khalifa is now complete and you can ride up to the top for about 30 dirhams or about 10 usd. Still lots of buildings under construction here and doesn't look like the masterplan is complete yet. Still pushing sand out into the ocean and making more real estate. On RNR now and have a motorbike ready to rent in Malaysia where I'll meet up with a friend. Feels weird being in civies and always feel like I'm forgetting ... read more
November 20th 2009
Good Day All, Thought I'd drop a hello. I'm in a smaller FOB or Patrol Base for a couple of weeks. The weather has been near freezing at night and almost 30 during the day. We live in a school that's quite comfortable. The surrounding village is a maze of pot fields, grape huts and mud homes. There is no electricity in the area so it's lights out for us and them around 6 pm. Stars are the brightest I think I've ever seen. We have white light in rooms at night but practice light discipline (red lights only) outside. The food is good, and there is a great group of ANA and Canadian troops here. Only here for a couple of days and then move out. Hope everyone one is well. Blane Reynolds.... read more
Day 2 Blind Channel to Port Hardy
Published: July 30th 2009North America » Canada » British Columbia » Vancouver Island » Port Hardy
July 17th 2009
We hit great weather all the way to Port Hardy. Stopped at a pub in Alert bay, met some of the local carvers and watched the locals prepare for a big salmon bbq. We were given some salmon in the picture and were on our way, after doing a close lap around "The World". The plug was a real issue, as it's about 2" diameter to drain the inside of the boat. The seal wasn't "sealing" and was letting alot of water in the boat so we improvised a neoprene gasket that we made out of a reel cover. You couldn't slow down the boat to do the work or you'd have that 2" hole letting in water! So Len took out the plug on the fly and I cut up the reel cover for the ... read more
Day 1 Vancouver to Blind Channel
Published: July 30th 2009North America » Canada » British Columbia » Vancouver
July 16th 2009
Started out Thursday at 13:00hrs from the Coast Gaurd station at the Burrard Launch. It was about 400 meters from shore we realized the Novurania was weighted stern heavy. To get it on a plane took full power and us getting forward. When we throttled back the wave from behind would splash over the transom. Having never actually taken the boat out since it was built, Powell River, not Alaska seemed about right. We hadn't tested the boat, but after 5 hours we felt the boat could do anything. We swapped running the boat and started to work on how the GPS worked. It turned out that the GPS was one of best tools we had on the trip; how far to next fuel station, distances to points, tides and of course navigation through some tiny ... read more
Were ready to set off to Alaska
Published: July 16th 2009North America » Canada » British Columbia » VancouverJuly 16th 2009
Hello All, There is one video attached to this entry. After spending alot of time, effort and money building the boat were ready to go tomorrow. Were packing up tonight and look to be on the water at the Coast Gaurd Station near Burrard tomorrow am. The build I think will be the hardest part of the trip, for me anyways. Building it in downtown Vancouver has been interesting to say the least. Have to get back to loading the boat, so I thought I'd show a video of what the boat looks like. The spot is activated and you can follow the link "Where are Len and Blane now" on the main page. Comments are good and Hello to everyone and thanks to all the good info, work and "patience" from the marine world ... read more
June 18th 2009
Hello from Kingston, Were on an exercise here working with the JDF (Jamaican Defence Force) and building facilities for their military. Canadian Forces have been working with the JDF for decades, mainly training pilots and exchanges to Canada. I was here once before and nothing much has changed. There military spends alot of time doing civilian duties that police can't manage in Kingston. They roll through the streets in armoured vehicles doing patrols. We are confined to a fenced area close to the beach and part of the airport grounds. We had one day off in almost a month. We were supposed to get two but there was an "incident" Needles to say no one is excited to be here. Otherwise things are good and flew out here on a chartered 737, with 50 people on ... read more
April 16th 2009
It's Brad here. After a long and overworked Winter in Northern Alberta I decided to catch a flight to Hungary. I stayed in the beautiful city of Budapest which is rich in culture , history and architecture. I rented a "flat" there as they call them right down town in the tourist sector.....district 5. My goal was to relax and recharge and meet a long time friend Olivia. The weather was perfect almost everyday at about 25 Celsius. I stayed in country for 40 days. I saw many sights and sounds including many , many live concerts , museums , outdoor fairs and also thanks to Olivia got to snoop around in the daily lives of Hungarians. Ken Deakins whipped into the city for a week to visit before heading to England. Talk about jet set! ... read more
February 26th 2009
Good Day Folks, Have spent the last 6 weeks on course on the East Coast with lots of snow and bitter cold. This was a first time in a long time spending any amount of time in a real winter, and I give the New Brunswickers credit for toughing it out there. Flying out soon back to the West Coast where the toque, parkas and gloves will go back in the rubbermaid container. Hope all is well with everyone, and will be on the move again in the next month. Blane... read more
November 29th 2008
Hello All, We kind of left this site hanging once we hit further south. Then one day lead to the next, and here I am in Kandahar again. My Dad and brother are all back home safe and sound. A quick summary from the last blog. We all made it to Panama, and actually took a couple of days off. We met some great people down there who helped us around the city and then left North. We were determined to take a different route home, and that we did. Some of the roads were truly in the remote sections of Honduras and Nicaragua. We hired a boat to take us up a river, and found ourselves in tiny jungle villages, on trail/dirt roads, 12000 ft mountains, backroads, and in towns and places I can't even ... read more
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