The Kindness of Strangers

I am a regular reader of the blog GB Regulators and as I have written about in the past I had recently lost a friendly bet with one of the “Regulators” Joshua. A fun competition to see who could learn to roll first using only a Norsaq. Well Joshua won and I paid up. I sent him a package with some local Northwest items. A shirt and a beer from Boundary Bay Brewery, which is here in Bellingham, and a small package of smoked salmon. Well being the good sport that Joshua is he returned the favor and sent a package my way as well. Since he is from Green Bay Wisconsin he sent some cheese and sausage. As wonderful as that was he went a step further and sent me a Norsaq that he made himself. I am truly impressed. I have read enough of his adventures that I don’t feel like he is a total stranger, yet I have never had the pleasure of actually meeting him. Yet he took the time to make something by hand. Totally cool! This will go perfect with the Greenland Kayak I will be building in September with Cape Falcon. I want to rush out and try my gift. However I have decided to wait. I am going to wait till I finish my Greenland kayak. Till then I will keep using my modified rolling stick. I think it will be so much more appropriate on a Greenland skin on frame Qajaq.

My rolling stick on top compared the Joshua’s Norsaq below. My rolling stick is from Cunningham’s book, Building the Greenland Kayak. It is clearly not a traditional design. I carved it down from a piece of scrap wood left over from a paddle I started that I have yet to finish. Joshua’s Norsaq is much more traditional and much better looking! If this is what I get as a consolation prize to a lost bet imagine what the winner would get.

Thanks Joshua!