Folding Kayaks Forum

The paddles and sail will take the Long Haul Mark II Commando on the Black Sea and the Danube Delta...

We'll test the boat on narrow channels and the open sea.

New video and images to follow soon.

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Seasick & Grumpy enjoying a Long Haul Mark II Commando with BSD 36' HP Sport sail

http://vimeo.com/channels/travelotherapy

Have a great trip. Your video of your trip through the Everglades is great. Looking forward to the next.
Andy

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Klepper AEII Expedition
Seavivor Greenland Solo
Kruger Sea Wind
Valley Argonaut
Current Designs Gulfstream

Thank you. I'll try my best.

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Seasick & Grumpy enjoying a Long Haul Mark II Commando with BSD 36' HP Sport sail

http://vimeo.com/channels/travelotherapy

The Long Haul Mark II Commando returned to US from the Black Sea after a long and exciting journey. The full video diary will follow soon. A few random shots from the upcoming video.

http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6Q9nD ... eorghe.jpg

http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zt2yr ... orghe2.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-s ... 8474_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-a ... 2967_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-a ... 8531_n.jpg

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Seasick & Grumpy enjoying a Long Haul Mark II Commando with BSD 36' HP Sport sail

http://vimeo.com/channels/travelotherapy

Wow! An impressive set-up and amount of gear.

If I may so say, you guys look very, er, "military". Did you encounter any hassles from officials or people generally in that regard?

I ask because down here at the tip of Africa, I wouldn't go paddling anywhere in a black bad-ass boat, wearing what could be misconstrued as special forces uniform - that would lead to trouble in this part of the world. Then again, paranoia is our unofficial currency ...

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Feathercraft Airline Java
Nortik Trekraft, awaiting the river's embrace
1960s Klepper Aerius II, now gone be the star in a Special Forces movie
Folbot Greenland II, now at a new home on the Southern Cape coast

It may look "military", but, in fact, the equipment is just reliable and the colors help us melt in nature without spooking the wild life. Officials and people alike are a bit intrigued initially but most of the time they only take pictures as if we were an exotic animal on their safari... That's when they see us. Sometimes they don't even notice us.

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Seasick & Grumpy enjoying a Long Haul Mark II Commando with BSD 36' HP Sport sail

http://vimeo.com/channels/travelotherapy

Wow, did you have any issues with getting visas for Russia?? I may try and get to Lake Baikal in spring. Excess baggage charges?? I can get away with a Feathercraft w paddles only. I know those old fatigues are comfy, but I do not want to look like I am in the military when I travel outside of the USA. I figure the stamps in my passport from using AMC would raise suspicion enough

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Feathercraft Kahuna ( Angela )
Mariner Express ( Miruku Maru ) ( In Storage)
Innova Helios 380
Northwest Sportee (SuperBoat)
Innova Safari
Mariner I
Feathercraft Java
Nautiraid 14
Innova Sunny
Feathercraft K-Light

This time I went to Romania. No visa needed. When I went to Irkutsk and Lake Baikal I obtained the visa from the Russian consulate in NY. No problem, except you need someone, can be a travel agency, to invite you.

This time we had 400 lbs of gear and we had to ship the heavier/bulkier stuff via cargo shipping. The Long Haul Mark II Commando is the only boat of this class that I trust to carry a lot of gear in rough open sea and surf conditions.

Those "old fatigues" are the latest generation silver (Ag 47) thread poly fabrics...

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Seasick & Grumpy enjoying a Long Haul Mark II Commando with BSD 36' HP Sport sail

http://vimeo.com/channels/travelotherapy

Ja, awesome boat - the ultimate kayak! Long may Long Haul prosper.

And it sounds like a great trip. The Danube Delta is high on my want list. Having just re-read Van Till's classic memoir of paddling the Danube in 1938, with the war looming in the background, I'm all enthused again.

I interviewed his widow a few years ago. She was 97 and one of the first questions she asked me was where she could get a new skin for their old Klepper (Long Island Duck number 4)!

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Feathercraft Airline Java
Nortik Trekraft, awaiting the river's embrace
1960s Klepper Aerius II, now gone be the star in a Special Forces movie
Folbot Greenland II, now at a new home on the Southern Cape coast

http://vimeo.com/50826642

This is the story of the first Long Haul Mark II Commando folding kayak that went to Europe for a 12 day journey in the Danube Delta and on the Black Sea. The 149 nautical miles adventure takes the Two Nomads from Murighiol in the Danube Delta to the ancient port of Tomis on the Black Sea. Echoing thoughts of the Roman poet Ovid, who was exiled to the ancient port of Tomis, this 76 minute video diary takes you on a ride aboard their kayak... Enjoy!

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Seasick & Grumpy enjoying a Long Haul Mark II Commando with BSD 36' HP Sport sail

http://vimeo.com/channels/travelotherapy

Once again, it was excellent!

Enjoyed every minute. Entertaining and informative.

I listened attentively to you and your wife as each of you supplied comments; I watched the Mark II Commando carefully for you while you two were scanning the horizon ; and was amazed (once again) at how well you prepared, packed and stowed your gear!

After this adventure, I followed the two of you as you rafted the Zambezi. I had a great time and didn't get a drop of water on me !!

I look forward to the next one ...

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Kenton

Thank you for the kind words! We'll try to take the kayak for another paddling/sailing adventure in the Everglades in December.

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Seasick & Grumpy enjoying a Long Haul Mark II Commando with BSD 36' HP Sport sail

http://vimeo.com/channels/travelotherapy

Still considering a roundtrip from KW to DT if we can find one more crew/boat willing to try. Seventy miles of open water...

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Seasick & Grumpy enjoying a Long Haul Mark II Commando with BSD 36' HP Sport sail

http://vimeo.com/channels/travelotherapy

Doi, that is a really well done film. Great adventure, great document. Music was great as well. I'm very impressed. You've really got me thinking about picking up a GoPro camera.

What's KW and DT?

Thanks again.

Dennis

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Klepper Aerius II
Klepper T9
Long Haul MK1 Expedition 'light'
Klepper S4 sail rig
Kayaksailor 1.6 +genoa
BSD 36HP

Thank you, Dennis.

Key West to Dry Tortugas and back... hopefully!..

GoPro Hero3 Black Edition seems to be a decent camera for this type of activities.

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Seasick & Grumpy enjoying a Long Haul Mark II Commando with BSD 36' HP Sport sail

http://vimeo.com/channels/travelotherapy