Wishing everyone, a beautiful, safe, healthy and happy Christmas. Merry Christmas to all!
Author: John
Originally born in North York, Ontario. I now live in Virginia. I post stories mostly about canoeing, expeditions, camping and life in the RVA.
Building a Wooden Key Rack
Tis the season to get organized. After countless searches around the house for our keys, ID badges and wallets, it was time to put an end to the madness. We needed a key rack.
I did a quick search online for ones to purchase and I was just never thrilled about the look of any of them. A while ago, I purchased a board of english brown oak that I was originally going to use for some shelves but ultimately felt that it didn’t quite fit the dimensions of what I wanted for the job……. it would make a perfect key rack though.
Originally I was planning on buying some brass hooks to insert into the wooden key rack, but ended up findings this gold plated one on amazon and felt like it would go well with a wooden base.
English Brown Oak is interesting. It’s actually not a different species of oak at all. It is a species of white oak, that succumbed to a certain type of mushroom species. While dying, the mushroom produces an acid, which turns the wood into a milk chocolate to dark brown color.
After giving the board a quick run through the planer, I cut the pieces down to size. I knew that I would want a small compartment on this board to keep mail and knick knacks. I was fortunate enough to purchase this old school Delta planer for only $300 on Facebook marketplace. It is built like a tank, and weighs a ton, but has been reliable so far. This little beast is 1hp and as a result requires a 220V outlet. After carefully researching online, I found the appropriate extension cords to run it from the garage to the driveway so all of the shavings could be brushed into the forest.
Using a router, created a slot for the mail compartment. I also used the router and chisel to create the insert for my metal hardware.
I also used the router to chamfer the edges. This was absolute necessary to prevent the wood from chipping and cracking in the future. This wood was already quite dry and brittle, so chamfering would prevent it from splitting or cracking if it gets dinged on the edge.
On the back of the key rack, I decided to use key hole shelf brackets. These would be more than sufficient to support the weight of the rack and everything it would hold. I used a portable drill press and a Forstner bit to drill out the holes for the keyhole inserts. They slotted nicely. I predrilled the holes to make sure the wood would not split.
The Milescraft drill mate is an incredibly useful little tool. I haven’t been able to justify the space for a drill press in my workshop, and the miles craft drill mate makes me glad that I never got one. It is portable, easy to use and allows me to drill perpendicular anywhere. Definitely check it out if you’re considering purchasing a drill press.
After gluing everything up, I gave the key rack a nice coat of danish oil and bees wax. Oak is quite porous so this drastically changed the color of the whole project to a nice deep rich chocolate color.
Overall, I was really happy with how the project ended up. No more searching for keys and wallets!
Happy Winter Solstice and Happy Holidays everyone! Stay safe, Be Healthy, and enjoy your time.
Paddle for the North – (Documentary)
I hope everyone is having a safe and happy holiday season. Things can be especially busy and hectic this time of year so don’t forget to take some chill time, relax, go outside, or watch a canoe documentary. I found this one recently online and it’s pretty awesome. This one features 6 friends who spend 2 months in the Yukon and Peel watershed. Happy Holidays everyone.
“This documentary is a captivating documentary chronicling the 1,500-kilometer, two-month canoeing expedition of six adventurers through the pristine wilderness of Canada’s Yukon and Peel Watershed. This thrilling journey traverses six rivers in three canoes, capturing not only breathtaking landscapes but also the profound cultural and ecological significance of the area. A chance encounter with a First Nations family transforms their adventure into a mission to spotlight the urgent need to protect this fragile and unique ecosystem from industrial development. The film blends the grit of exploration with a heartfelt environmental message, showcasing the resilience of nature and the enduring traditions of those who call the North home.”
Fall time 2024 – Robious Landing and Joseph Bryan Park
The temperatures are finally starting to get cooler. We took the opportunity to get out and check out the local scenery at Joseph Bryan Park and Robious Landing.
Wishing you all, a safe, healthy and peaceful fall time.
Canoeing in the Virginia highlands – Video
Earth Day 2024, we took our parents on a canoe trip to the Allegheny Highlands of Virginia at Lake Moomaw. My mom had just recovered from an acute cardiac condition known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy. 2 months later she was out paddling with us…we are more than grateful for this time together. I hope you guys enjoy it.
Beach Safety & Trip Planning
When school lets out, summer has officially begun! For many families, this means more trips to the beach! The ocean is a magical and fun place for all ages and attracts thousands of visitors each year. After countless trips to the beaches of the east coast, I’ve become more attuned to the safety precautions that everyone should be aware of prior to going to the beach, especially with their children. It is estimated that over 4000 people drown each year in the United States. It is estimated that 100 people drown each year due to rip currents along the beaches of the United States. Here are some of the things I’ve learned over the years and I hope they are helpful to anyone beach tripping on the east coast.
CONDITIONS AND TIME OF YEAR
Simply being aware of the time of year and the weather conditions can greatly improve safety. Hurricane season on the east coast runs from June 1 – November 30. During this time, it is important to pay attention to weather updates, as systems and storms can bring significant swells to your beach. if you are considering a water outing and wish to avoid waves altogether, you could always find beaches or water ways that do not face the ocean. (Ex. bays, rivers). In these areas, you could have almost wave-less conditions. Perfect for children to play and explore.
BEACH FLAGS
**If you venture to the beach, you should KNOW the beach flags and what they mean.**
RIP CURRENTS
“Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water that are prevalent along the East, Gulf, and West coasts of the U.S., as well as along the shores of the Great Lakes.” – National Ocean Service
Unless you know what you are looking for, rip currents are almost invisible.
It is estimated that approximately 100 people are killed each year in the United States by rip currents. So if you’re heading to the beach, just take the next few minutes to learn about them, to protect yourself and your family. The video below provides a great summary of rip currents are.
BEACH SAFETY TIPS
1. Communication and Supervision: For little toddlers and kids that have not yet learn to swim, it is critical that they are supervised closely by an adult. When multiple adults are present, it is easy to assume that the kids are being watched by someone. Practice closed loop communication and assign an adult to a child. You can switch on and off as needed.
2. Life Jackets/Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs): We don’t go near the water without them. Make sure that the life jacket is the appropriate size for the child. Also, you should also see if the life jacket works properly. Ideally, the jacket should keep the child afloat with their face upward, out of the water. Some jackets, are not balanced well, and could dangerously leave the child facing downward. Test it out prior to use.
3. Bring the water to them:
For my toddlers that are not yet ocean worthy, I’ll bring the water to them. Using a simple tarp, you can dig a shallow pool in the sand and fill it with ocean water.
4. Staying comfortable and hydrated
When the body is comfortable, hydrated and fed, the brain is perfused, and this allows you to think clearly and stay alert. Hydration is important, especially when you are active, sweating and losing a lot of water from the heat. It can be particularly difficult to keep kids hydrated, especially when they are having so much fun. I find that low sugar, flavored drinks can keep them drinking without the need for encouragement. Popsicles are also a good way to keep them hydrated.
A shady base camp on a hot summer day is invaluable. Not only will it keep occupants cooled, but it will also provide shade for your food, drinks and equipment. Over the years we’ve tried all different forms of shelters. From beach umbrellas to cabanas, but so far my favorite has to be the Neso tents for shade. They provide an ample area and are pretty sturdy. Another popular brand is the Shibumi beach shades which have taken all beaches by storm. The Neso can run around $150 and the Shibumis are around $250. Totally worth it, if you’re a frequent beach goer.
SUMMARY
The beach is one of my favorite places in the world. It is a great way to connect with nature, unwind and engage in countless, fun activities. I hope this helps you to plan your next beach trip, so it can be a safe and enjoyable time for everyone.
Last day of Summer
I hope everyone had an amazing summer. We closed the season off with a paddle around Swift Creek Lake in Pocahontas State Park. This particular location is one of our favorite spots to paddle with the kids. The water is shallow, there is plenty of wildlife and it is very quiet and peaceful. This is where they learned how to paddle and this is where my son used his homemade canoe paddle for the first time. Thanks for everything summer 2024 you’ve been a great one. Wishing everyone a safe, healthy and happy fall. Load up on your vitamin D before winter!
North End Virginia Beach
As summer comes to a close, we head out to the North End of Virginia Beach to spend an easy weekend. This is my preferred beach spot away from the busier boardwalk section of Virginia Beach. There’s not much else up north, other than residential housing and then First Landing State Park at the very northern tip. The weather was very pleasant and we made a lot of good memories. It’s been a hot summer but a grand one nonetheless. I hope everyone is soaking up the vitamin D for as long as we can. It also sounds like the rates of covid are also back up, so stay healthy, be safe and have fun.
Nagshead, the Outer Banks, North Carolina
On the last week of Spring we head to our annual refuge on the barrier islands of North Carolina known as the Outerbanks. This time, we stayed in the town of Nagshead, and got to enjoy a week of perfect weather, upper 70s F with sunshine. I always wondered what was so particularly rejuvenating about going to the beach and the ocean. Is it the sight of water? Is it the cadence of the waves crashing? The tactile and sensory stimulation from walking on the sand and into the cold water? It turns out it could be all of those things. A friend of mine recently recommended a book called “Blue Mind” written by marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols. In this book he explores “… the Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do”. It’s a pretty interesting read. I hope everyone stays cool out there, stay hydrated, get your rest and have fun.
WAY NORTH 