2008 Rewind - Abking's Video Diary

Well, 2008 was another fun year on the water, and meeting and fishing with The Leepin's and Adam the FisHunter was a big highlight.  I loved Adam's recap post, and this year I'll be trying to keep GPS mileage when I can.  This post will lack the marathon story-teller vibe that Adam pulled off (nice one, mADmAnM   ), but, I must point out, I have been posting a recap with catch and release totals, number of trips and solo missions...etc. for a few years.  I figured this year would be best represented with a video and a couple of good tunes.   



Tally of a few key stats:

- 84 fishing trips - includes quickee's along the banks of rivers and rocks of the shoreline.
- 56 yak-days - doesn't include family fun on the river and at Tahoe.
- 31 solo yak trips - help me lower this #!   
- 11 NCKA hookups - several other hookups with "regular" friends.   
- Kept 3 lingcod out of a couple dozen caught.
- Kept 10 abalone including a 10.5" and 10.75".
- Kept 27 rockfish and 1 cab in 17 rockfishing trips.
- Fished with the top 4 in AOTY pretty late in the game.

Thanks for another great year, NCKA.  I look forward to meeting more of the brethren in '09 and documenting more of the madness - maybe I'll even make it out of Humboldt County a few times!   

Great recap Abking I really enjoyed it thanks, looking foreward to A great 09, Hope to get up in your neck of the woods....Andy

And people ask why we do this......AWESOME!

  Fantastic Abking!  You could start selling your videos.  The problem is after watching them; I wonder why I am still sitting on the couch and not fishing.  Hope to hook up with you this next year on one of my Eureka trips for some diving and fishing.  Matt

Thanks for the compliments, Guys.  I look forward to hooking up some time.

Anyone able to name all the NCKA faces in the video?...   

it was and will be an honor to be in your vids. bro! I want to make another run up there this RF season.....BearHarbor?
Thanks for the mention and thanks for the "Rewind"
Very Classy & Well Done!!

- maybe I'll even make it out of Humboldt County a few times!   

Elk would be an easy one for you DOOD!  I'll even caddy your yak up&down that hill, just to have you there!

- maybe I'll even make it out of Humboldt County a few times!   

Elk would be an easy one for you DOOD!  I'll even caddy your yak up&down that hill, just to have you there!

Heh, I wouldn't go THAT far, but an Abking appearance at Elk would create quite a stir.

Elk would be an easy one for you DOOD!  I'll even caddy your yak up&down that hill, just to have you there!

Thanks for the enticing offer, my Bro, but spending vacation time on a yak-tournee isn't easy, believe me!  Wifey tolerates my quickee trips around here - I'm just lucky to live so close to so much cool shit.

I do have a trip to Elk as a goal, but it'll probably take me a few years.   

an Abking appearance at Elk would create quite a stir.

Shaken, not stirred...     I don't know about me causing a stir (thx though  ), but my camera might!  I have a little fantasy about sneaking to Elk, hiding in the bushes, and getting all the NCKA'er's on secret video.  Yeah, I need to get a life, but I'm happy!   

Strong work, that's some living.

Which jetties are those; the one's in Eureka?

iElk would be an easy one for you DOOD!  I'll even caddy your yak up&down that hill, just to have you there!

I'm going to work on my Abking disguise.

I'm going to work on my Abking disguise.

No disguising it...  You'll recognize it when you see it.   

The South Jetty of Humboldt Bay, Phil.   

I actually took my GF to a show last nite,

we went into her den and I pulled up "2008 Rewind - Abking's Video Diary",

and we watched it together, she doesn't fish but she understands me, loves the outdoors and is very kid/family oriented, so needless to say she enjoyed the show, as did I,

Eric, thanks again, your vids capture the feeling of what it is,,,,,

Dale L
and
Janet

Eric, thanks again, your vids capture the feeling of what it is,,,,,

Thanks, Man.  I really appreciate what you've written, Dale - it's vibes like yours here that drive my madness.   

A really cool thing about "meeting" people on the internet is the opportunities that we take to show our feelings in ways that we may not do on a day to day basis with co-workers, friends or even our families.  I have come to cherish these opportunities, and everything I do on this board is part of a spiritual growth for me.  It's so cool that we have friends out there who've never met us in person, yet they have a pretty good idea of who we are and what makes us tick.  It makes the eventual in-person meeting seem like a reunion of old friends who've known nothing but Good Times together.  I'm writing this and feel like throwing in, "unless you're a lurker!", but the truth is so ironically different.  When I met Domenic (new member who lives near me) a couple months back I was down at the mouth of the Eel with the kids - just messing around at the beach with no yak on the truck or anything.  A Toyota 4x4 with an X-Factor pulls up to the parking lot from down the beach and I almost involuntarily start walking toward the guy as I wave like, "uh...  who ARE you?!"  Just then he rolls down his window and says, "you must be Eric."  ( !!!)  He introduces himself and divulges that he knows me from NCKA, but he's a lurker!  Just a bit put off at first, I quickly came to know that this man, this new friend of mine, was a high quality guy like so many I've met in this club.  Now I'm realizing that the way I live my life and express myself on this board is something way beyond what I ever thought it would be.  My life is richer and more full because of NCKA.  What a beautiful thing.   

couldnt agree with you more AbKing.  This piece really captures the mindset that I find unique to the kayak and the people who gravitate towards it.  Now to spread the same peace I find on the water into all aspects of my life...

or just spend all my time on the water

Thanks for this great recap Eric. Makes me really regret missing my annual trip to The Cove. I've made the pilgramage to that place each of the last 5 years...until 08. But I fully intend to make a couple trips in 09. Heck, my parents are up there right now!

Thanks for the enticing offer, my Bro, but spending vacation time on a yak-tournee isn't easy, believe me! 

Entice her with promises of sunny weather and camping w/other families & families!

Now to spread the same peace I find on the water into all aspects of my life...

or just spend all my time on the water

Exactly, Eug, exactly.   

PK - my wife doesn't read these posts (thank God!), so I'll go ahead and speak the sad but real truth - she's anti-social!  I know me and my kids would have a blast at Elk, BAM, and any other NCKA shindig.  My wife and I are at opposite ends of the touchy-feely, get-to-know-ya spectrum when it comes to new folks...  Oh well, I love her, and she's a great Mom (she's hot too!   ).  I'll keep working on her...