3 comments about Paddling Pennsylvania: Kayaking and Canoeing the Keystone State's Rivers and Lakes.

1. Jeff Mitchell has done it again! He has written a concise, detailed and most importantly an ACCURATE guide to wilds of the Keystone State. Wonderful !



2. Books were in excellent condition, shipping was very fast. Very interesting and informative book for quiet water paddlers.



3. I now understand why it has taken so long for a book on this subject to be published; it is simply a monumental undertaking, and Mr. Mitchell is to be congratulated for his effort. As he mentions in his introduction, PA has 'more waterway miles than any state except Alaska'. The real challenge in writing this book was deciding where to draw the line in the scope of what it would cover, and do it in such a way that the information would stay useful for a reasonable period of time.
   
   "The Guide focuses primarily on sizeable flatwater rivers and streams...'this is not a guide to whitewater rivers and creeks'. Industrialized rivers, or those open to heavy commercial traffic are not included.
   
   "There are 211 separate excursions described in the book, organized by watersheds. At the beginning of each section there is a watershed map showing all the trips described. Each individual trip includes a 'thumbnail' map showing access points. A data table for each trip shows pertinent USGS gages with suggested minimum levels, and a maximum recommended level where it applies; difficulty rating; hazards; scenery rating; notes on fishing and camping, with a narrative.
   
   "Each description is designed to give the reader an overview, and a fair sense of what may be expected from the experience. It lacks exhaustive detail, but it is certainly more than adequate and will whet your appetite for exploring beyond your [geographical] comfort zone. This, coupled with a PA Gazetteer and maybe a AAA TourBook will put you well on your way to enjoying many new adventures on our state's waters."

5 comments about Paddler's Guide to Everglades National Park.

1. I found this book extremely helpful; even having paddled the 'Glades twice already. This book will allow me to take "The road less travelled," on this, my third trip thru the 'Glades. I would highly recommend this to anyone planning to paddle the Wilderness Waterway, or parts thereof.



2. We used this book to plan a trip to the glades. The info inside and maps helped a lot. WE still needed a good chart but the maps made it easier to nav. The info on camp sites and routes were pretty accurate.



3. This book was extremely helpful to plan a trip in the everglades and then was also helpful when changes were necessary last minute due to weather. It is an invaluable tool for anyone interested. It's informative, well written and yet "small and light" enough to take when space and weight are factors. Highly recommended to all.



4. My boyfriend and I went and paddled the Wilderness Waterway through the Everglades National Park in February 2008 using this guidebook, a compass and the appropriate nautical charts. We had never been to Florida before, nor had we ever undertaken such a long canoe trip. The experience was exhilarating. Route finding through the mangrove forest was very challenging, but by stopping, rereading Johnny Malloy's route descriptions as we progressed, and trusting the compass, we never did make a wrong turn. Without this guide, I'm not sure that would have been true.
   
   I was disappointed to be advised by people we met along the paddle that the "Nightmare Route" would not be passable after the most recent hurricanes of 2005 because of fallen trees and the fact that the ranger service does not maintain the route. After reading this guide, which was published in 2000, I had been totally sold on the idea of paddling the "Quintessential Everglades Route." I don't know if it is actually not passable, but we decided not to take the chance. Anyone interested should pursue more updated information. The North Harney River Route, however, was passable and satisfied some of that desire to paddle the route less taken.
   
   If you don't know what no-see-ums are, investigate protecting yourself from them before you go. Yikes!



5. I purchased two copies of this book several years ago when planning our first kayaking and camping trip into the Everglades National Park. My father and I have now made this trek an annual tradition. We relied on the details, suggestions and maps to plan the trips we've made over the past three years.
   
   We've managed to follow some of the trails and other we've probably criss-crossed while making our own. While we still have some work to do on our navigation skills, we have never had a bad trip. We have been thankful for this guide which not only helped prepare us for the trip, but also served as encouragement for us to get out there and explore.

5 comments about Canoe Paddles: A Complete Guide to Making Your Own.

1. This is a very well written book and I made my canoe paddels based on the books instructions and designs. My only "complaint" is the photo's are black and white, and a bit, hazey looking, and can be a bit hard to see fine details. But overall, it is a great book. I still give it 5 stars.



2. Have now received book "Canoe paddles"Everything seems to be fibre glass or plastic down here, it is a "Breath of fresh air" to see so many paddles in their original form, WOOD.Cannot wait to get started.



3. This is an excellent, detailed book on making canoe paddles. There is a lot of layout and carving information that a first time paddle maker would not have thought of.
   It would be helpful if the chapters were numbered to match the table of contents, but that's a minor quibble. If you want to begin making a paddle of your own, buy this book.



4. Great Book on Paddles, gives history of paddles and how to design and build personalized paddles or use the designs in the book.



5. This book has a great way of sharing both wood working skills along with a history of paddles. If you want to build your own then this book goes a long way to helping you understand the timbers required and the methods used both historically and current. I recommend it.

5 comments about Kayak Fishing: The Complete Guide.

1. When I first received this book I thought it didn't contain much useful content because the book had a lot of pictures. However, after reading through the book a couple of times I can agree with the other reviewers that this book contains a lot of very useful information for someone looking to get into kayak fishing. One caveat though is that the author has affiliations with some of the product vendors that are given prominence in the book. Not a bad thing but something to be aware of if you are looking to purchase products based off of information in this book. If you are looking to buy a kayak the one consistent piece of advice I keep seeing is that you absolutely must test drive the kayak (ideally many kayaks) before you buy it. What might be the best kayak for one person could be the worst for someone else.



2. If you have spent more than 15 minutes on-line researching kayak fishing, then you probably already know just about everything covered in this book. I purchased it based on the other reviews and, now that I have it, I have to wonder if they are reviewing the same book. Or, perhaps, they are friends of the author.
   
   In any case, this is a BASIC overview of kayak fishing and contains nothing you wouldn't already know if you have been in the sport for a month.



3. This book is very comprehensive and fun and easy to read. Well organized so it's easy to find and skip to any particular subject. I've never tried kayak fishing, but wanted to find out more before I made any purchases. I feel like I'm ready to go for it now.



4. I bought this for my husband & he loves it. He loves rigging his kayak for fishing & got a lot of great ideas from this book!



5. This book has lots of good information for the beginning kayak angler. And I believe more experienced kayak anglers can probably learn some things also.

5 comments about The Complete Sea Kayaker's Handbook.

1. The Handbook is well written, complete and a joy to read. It handles many subjects such as hull design, tides and waves in a very comprehensive and understandable manner. A real value at the Amazon price.



2. I read three intro to sea kayaking books. Returned one, thought the other one was okay, and read this one twice cover to cover. (I wish I had picked this one up first.) It's comprehensive. Impartial, with dissenting views on some debatable points. It is also easy to read and not overly technical for a book with a huge amount of technical information.
   There are some notes on the history of kayaking, which provide a deeper appreciation for the activity. I think this book wets the appetite for whatever subject someone might find most interesting in there paddling (i.e. navigation, history, outfitting, surfing, etc.) All of the topics can be covered better by supplemental reading, and the bibliography is indeed a good resource.
   The two knot sections (boating & camping) in this book are exceedingly sparse, even for an introduction. Indeed the author herself says at the onset: "I urge you to learn more than just these few."
   Thanks Shelley, great book.



3. The information contained in this relatively small (307 pages) sea kayaking manual will amaze you. Suprisingly, although every conceivable sea kayaking topic is covered, there is substantial detail on each subject. Enough not only to wet your appetite on the topic but you'll want to come back to it to get a better appreciation of the detail and depth presented after you have had a chance to try it out on the water (or sitting in your boat in the living room as I have been know to do). A common cliche is "this is the only book you'll need on the subject" or "If you can only read one this is the one to read" but in this case it's true. Shelley's book is so full of factual information, which looks to be updated on a regular basis, you won't need a second source. I have at least seven other books to base my findings on. This one is the best!



4. This is a great book for the beginning kayaker. I have canoed and sailed for close to 40 years and just recently took up kayaking. After several lessons and going out on my own a few times I bought this book. It filled in a lot of the blanks and is a very balanced presentation of the subject matter.
   
   The kayaking instructor that I went to is definitely a knowledgeable individual but he is, as I have found many in the sport to be, very opinionated. Had I not read The Complete Sea Kayaker's Handbook I think my knowledge of the sport would have been limited to what I learned by trial and error on my own and the limited presentation I got from the instructor. The book is pretty neutral on subjects that are more personal preference like boat selection, skegs vs. rudders vs. neither, paddle selection, etc. There is good coverage of the safety aspects and equipment, beyond what was in the lessons I took.
   
   Overall the book is a really good supplement to lessons and paddling experience. I find myself going back and rereading sections of it after each time I go out paddling. I am sure that will change with experience but it is a great reference.



5. Exactly what I wanted as a new kayak owner. Comprehensive, readable, and full of useful info.

5 comments about The Strange Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst.

1. This is a fascinating true story. Stories about a lone man fighting against the odds...man against man, man against nature...or, in this case, against his own failures, can make one think about one's own weak grasp on reality. This story ranks right up there with "The Old Man and the Sea." I seriously think the story of Donald Crowhurst should be made into a movie.



2. This is a classic study of a psychologically broken man drawn into fraud by his emotional needs. It's also a sea story and a detective story in one. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates yachting, human weakness, and mysterious happenings.



3. A superb read! I couldn't put it down. A tragic and fascinating examination of Donald Crowhurst's downward spiral into madness. It may be helpful to read A Voyage for Madmen first as it documents the complete race and details the other sailors competing as well. This has become one of my favorite books.



4. what a story, this is. I became aware of the story after watching the DVD
   documentary. The funny thing is how all those psychologist rush and categorize Crowhurst as insane,
   ha, what a laugh as if they understood what they were talking about, i found that amusing.
   such close minded little worms, trying to understand the Mind Of God.
   They would put god in a bottle and label it if they could. Such short sight the
   so called men of science of this world have. Oh well what can they do.
   Jesus was a genius, he chose the right time to come to Earth, had he come
   a this time, he would have been categorized by these great men of science
   as they think of themselves as a nut case.
   
   I still think Donald could have found forgiveness in the eyes of the public
   and in the eyes of his sponsor Mr Best. On the other hand I think during his last days and hours
   he did connect to life beyond the flesh, like many others, in his own hoaxy way
   he became immortal. But I think he could have enjoyed his family still.
   
   I give lots of credit to Knox Johnston, what a quality of a man he is
   after winning, he gave the 5000 pounds to Donald's family.
   
   The golden globe was really an excuse for Donald to find who he was in
   relation to everyting else, he was not a nut case. He had always played games
   he just played a game bigger than he could chew so, he thought there is no way
   out for me. He knew very well what he was doing, it was not the decision of
   an insane mind at all. The only insane are those so called scientists, who spent
   most of their lives hiding from themselves behind big Names and Titles,
   only to find their naked selves at the end of their lives crying like
   little puppies. In this I give credit to Einstein, he was a true scientist.
   
   Hope you found what you wanted Donald.



5. I made it half way through this book, hoping it was an exciting or at least intriguing mystery. Unfortunately, the first half of the book was mostly about the building of the boat. Although for sailors this may be interesting and definitely needed to be told as it led up to events, I would have preferred to jump right into the mystery/disappearance and then worked back though events that led to the ending.
   
   It did not keep my interest enough to finish the book, so I gave the copy to my brother who IS a sailor.

5 comments about The Happy Isles of Oceania: Paddling the Pacific.

1. A terrific read, Theroux has the courage to be politically incorrect in an age where Americans fear speaking the truth of their own experience.
   As a travel writer myself, I am always astonished when someone is angered because my travel experience does not mirror his own, as is the case with other reviewers here.



2. I can understand how this book would offend some people from Oceania, as there are lots of unflattering descriptions of people Mr. Theroux encountered on his journey. There are, however, lots of lovely and interesting people and places described. In any event, I had the opportunity to take a trip to Tonga and I heard some negative things about it from several people. One man told me that his brother had been and didn't feel safe and thought it would be really unsafe for women. I was surprised, but went back to reading my Lonely Planet guide with a more critical eye. I found the statement, "While the threat of rape does exist"... taking precautions like not walking around alone on empty beaches, etc, should keep women safe. That it even needed to be mentioned seemed telling to me. So I bought this travel book to get a more thorough description from someone opinionated and a little cranky, like me (I read Dark Star Safari and respect his opinion) and I found it really enlightening. Yes, it's slanted, but it's slanted from the point of view of an American who isn't used to the more unfortunate and seemingly common aspects of some Pacific Islands' cultures, with their stealing, with their often nasty treatment of outsiders (jeering and insults), and with the threat of violence. Of course, in the wrong neighborhood almost anywhere in America, these things occur, but that's not the point here. These kinds of things are really useful for an outsider (especially a female) to know going in and I really appreciated being able to read this book and radically readjust my naive idea of the Happy Isles as looking and feeling like a Gauguin painting. I recommend this book.



3. Again, Paul Theroux has done a magnificent job of combining his travel experiences with a truthful look at the verious islands' population characteristics and the social, political, financial, and governmental issues of each area he visits. This book has provided me with a much deeper look into areas I formerly saw only as romantic getaways of beautiful beaches, lush mountains and valleys, and a low-key and stressless lifestyle. Mr. Theroux's writing is engaging, honest, and educational -- and I'm enjoying every page! Again, I'm not fond of some of the language used, but all in all, it's a great book. I heartily recommend it.



4. This book is certainly interesting. While the author does his fair share of whining, as previous reviewers have mentioned, I think it is important to remember how he traveled. He chose to see the islands of the Pacific by kayak - certainly not an easy task, and probably a task which colored some of his views. Having said that, his descriptions of the islands I've been to were right on. I can't speak for all of them, of course, but I can say I did enjoy the book. I especially liked his account of his time in Tonga.



5. I just finished this book and I loved every chapter!
   I read Darkstar Safari over the summer and loved it too.
   I plan on reading another Paul Theroux book next. I just love the
   way this man writes! He is able to shed light on an experience
   I would never be brave enough to venture on but I don't mind
   reading about his travels (I don't think I could kayak all alone
   in the ocean!). I have been living on an island for
   three years now and its time to go. P.T. has been right on the money in his descriptions of Oahu. I love this place and it will be forever in my heart.
   I think this has been the
   perfect book to read as my island living experience comes to an end.

2 comments about Kayak Bass Fishing: Largemouth, Smallmouth, Stripers.

1. It is winter, and I just bought this book, so I havent had a chance to try the information in it. But after reading this book, I believe it can help any kayak angler do better.



2. I really like this book, I bought it about a month ago and it's really helping me through this crazy, snowy weather that we're having.

5 comments about The Strip-Built Sea Kayak: Three Rugged, Beautiful Boats You Can Build.

1. this is a great book with 3 kayaks tou can build your self. i am building my fourth s&g kayak and dreaming of a strip kayak very soon i will take that leap. with Nick's book i feel in good hands



2. The author truly covers everything you will need to know to build your first kayak. I will reccomend that if you have no previous knowledge of tablesaws or wood working that you should practce cutting with some cheaper wood before you go straight for the cedar- have fun!



3. Well structured and written with lots of information to give you the kick start needed to begin making my strip built kayak.



4. I do wood working as a hobby and I always challenge myself. I decided to build a boat of some kind and bought this book. It goes more in depth than I thought it would have and there are also references in the back which I have contacted and they are all very helpful. I highly recommend this book if you want to build a canoe or kayak.



5. Again before I began I had to convert all the measurements of one the three kayaks, to millimetres and made the forms ready to put on the strong back. I found the terminology in the book a bit difficult to follow at first, given that I'm not yet into the boat building scene, but having read through the book a couple of times I think I'll be able to use it as a good reference as I build my first kayak.

5 comments about Outdoor Navigation With GPS: Hiking, Geocaching, Canoeing, Kayaking, Fishing, Outdoor Photography, Backpacking, Mountain Biking.

1. WRITTEN IN EASY TERMS AND TO THE POINT. COVERS EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE BASICS OF GPS, THE MOST RECENT TYPES AND BRANDS OF EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE, AND FIELD USAGE.



2. I received this book in quick fashion. It was just as described on the website! I would order from them again.



3. I bought a Garmin eTrex but the instructions it came with were very vague. I checked out two books from the local library on outdoor navigation with a GPS. Although both books gave me an idea on how to use the GPS, they were also VERY confusing...and also somewhat vague. I went to Amazon and saw "Outdoor Navigation with GPS," and saw it had some pretty good reviews. The book was written in such a way to make a complex subject, outdoor navigation, much easier. It also helped me understand the functions on my GPS and how to use them in a real world situation. If an outdoor GPS confuses you like mine did, then this is DEFINITELY the book to get that will guide you on how it functions.



4. Being new to GPS, I considered myself a 'dummy' on the subject, so I purchased 'GPS for Dummies' and was disappointed. After researching more books on the subject, I chose this book, and realized I should have purchased it initially. This is the second edition, published in 2007, and is the most up to date book I have found. It not only covers using a GPS receiver (GPSr), but many other facets of wilderness navigation as well. There is a chapter titled 'Highway Navigation with GPS', but this book is geared toward using a handheld receiver in the wild. In-depth explanations with photos and drawings help to get the points across. In addition to the (excellent) GPS and map and compass navigation instruction I was looking for, there are sections on 'Recovering from Disaster' (lost in the wild with a dead GPS), 'Primitive Navigation Techniques' (no map, no compass, no GPS), 'More Fun and Games' (including GPS golf, orienteering, etc.) and MUCH MORE! Geocaching has its own chapter. Dead Reckoning and Altimeter Navigation are even addressed. In the few somewhat technical areas (plotting latitude and longitude on a map, for example), the author thoroughly explains the 'why and how', then takes the reader through a step-by-step example, as if he was actually doing the procedure; very effective instruction, and it makes for an interesting read. You can view several pages on Amazon, but Google Books shows more, so check it out before you buy. This is the best all-around instructional book on the subject that I have found and I highly recommend it. It would make a perfect gift for the budding adventurer (alongside his or her first hand held GPS unit), or just good reading material for someone interested in the subject.



5. This guide is well organized and simple to follow. If you are not already familiar with using a mapping GPS receiver, then this guide is essential. It clearly states what the receiver is doing and why it is doing it to identify where you are. Using a mapping GPS off-road in the deep woods is far different from using a GPS to follow well mapped roads to a destination. This book gives straightforward guidance on essentially every feature of a modern, comprehensive GPS receiver.