8 miles
Sarah and I busted our butts on Thursday to get enough done at the store so that we could take a pseudo 4-day weekend (what with Monday being labor day). It’s not really a full four days off for us, because i’m still doing a comic for Monday, but it freed some time for us to range and do some other stuff this weekend.
Yesterday we went on a slightly longer kayak trip down the Huron river, about 8 miles, and it was a lot of fun. It was nice not having to paddle upstream and back (the Livery drove us upstream and loaded us into the rental kayaks up there) I was rather surprised by how low the river is in most areas (i’d get stuck in areas and sarah would just float on by and wave at me), but it’s still a beautiful and pleasant run. It also gave me a solid sense of what 8 miles feels like in a kayak. 
The biggest problem with the trip is the fact that the rental kayaks are really not the greatest boats in the world (they were older Old Towne Loon 100s) and as a result my back is killing me today (mostly because there were no foot pegs to keep me sitting upright in the thing, and i could not really sit up straight). I’m sure a lot of that is also the fact that my back isn’t used to, like, physical activity, but i think the kayak can take some of the blame. 
It’s been an interesting summer for us. Being in better shape than we’ve been in ages has resulted in us playing around with two new outdoor hobbies (biking and kayaking). I’ve been doing a lot of reading and research into the proper way to do things (for instance, my complete and total lack of paddling technique is probably amusing to watch) but learning to do things more or less right is part of the fun.
September 2nd, 2006 at 11:09 am
Wow, sounds like a lot of fun!
You know what I just realize (even though I’ve visited your site for a while) you can comment. XP Another thing si that I saw your manga thing in the book store! I was reall surprised. I never knew you acturally did a book/comic! Yea, I’m kind of slow… >.>;
I’ve never Kayaked before. Sounds fun, even though I’m probably gonna feel the burn after I do it. Biking is fun though. I biking mostly, but not everyday, only when it’s nice and I’m not inside playing my Online game or drawing… XP Well, I better leave yea be. Seya!
September 3rd, 2006 at 1:54 am
It occurs to me I wanted to mention how good you guys looked at Otakon this year. Good to hear you’re getting out and doing stuff like that. I’m similarly out of shape, and I really ought to do something about that. Well, I am moving to L.A. come next Friday, so maybe this will be a good time to “start over” and develop some healthier life habits. Here’s hoping!
September 3rd, 2006 at 2:26 pm
I’m glad that you and Sarah are taking some time off for yourselves. I appreciate the work you put into Megatokyo, but you need to break every once in a while, right? ^__^
September 3rd, 2006 at 11:59 pm
Yeah, I recently borrowed a friend’s kyacks for a trip down my local Susquehanna River (Harrisburg, PA). Saw the “dark side” of some of the islands and randomly docked on 1 of them. I definitely want to buy my own pair now!
I always enjoy hearing about your real-life adventures, Fred. Glad to hear you’re having more of them now. ^_^
September 4th, 2006 at 12:04 pm
Per your MT rant:
People who tell you that being concerned about our environment is a political decision are either lying or covering for some very selfish motives. I’m generally conservative and have had pretty much had it with our less-well-behaved monkeys throwing poo in the stream and shrieking about me interfering with their “business model” while other businesses (and people) suffer from their failure to pick up after themselves.
There, that’s my rant.
September 4th, 2006 at 12:58 pm
Hi Fred. Love the comic. It’s great that your going to our continent (Europe) but the next time PLEASE tell us you’re going to earlier. Perhaps I can’t get tickets now.
Suzanne
September 4th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
I apologize for that - it honestly was a very last minute thing because i really did not think i had time to go (in fact, i was ready to cancel last month). By the time the actually announced me coming, the show was already sold out, so i’m pretty sure there is no real point in saying im going because people are either going or not.
It’s really not working out to be a good trip for me to be there for european fans. Hopefully sometime in the future i can arrange something better, perhaps not even connected with a convention. We’ll see. It kinda sucks because we’re basically flying in, going to the convention, then flying out. I dont even really consider it a trip to europe, its a trip to a convention
ah well. Maybe next time.
September 4th, 2006 at 2:20 pm
I like your comic, fred. Me and my friend are “sort of” using it as a reference for when we go to Tokyo to visit a friend there. sort of.
It’s a pity MegaTokyo isn’t translated into Japanese so we could show my friend there your comic. well, you can’t have everything in life.
Have fun cycling, it’s the best exercise sport.
September 4th, 2006 at 4:40 pm
I seen that picture of yours on your rant @ Megatokyo. And I really don’t think that you look old.Though it is amazing how much the world and technology has changed throughout the years.
Course I need to get outside once in awhile too, Only time I go is when I go to school or go somewhere like shopping, etc. Kind of out of shape, but I’ll get better.
Anyways, hope you enjoy another convention in Germany. You should come to Anime Reactor on Oct. 20-22 at Licolonwood, IL. There still looking for guest to sign up for the pannels and what not.
Sorry for the long reply.
September 4th, 2006 at 4:54 pm
wow i’ve never been kayaking before, it must be fun.
i just found out about ur site after i read mega tokyo 1 when u mention ur site. i think u do really good artwork!
September 4th, 2006 at 5:18 pm
Hey, man, the whole kayaking thing? Very cool. There’s nothing like coasting along the surface of the water…..unless you’re going along rapids, then you’re struggling to keep yourself afloat…..
Also, I’d like to point out that you are not that old in this day and age…..you have to be, say, 70 to consider yourself old, and that’s for the really pessimistic. DON’T LET ANYONE TELL YOU DIFFERENT! Besides, what’s phsical age if you feel infinitely younger on the inside?
September 4th, 2006 at 7:49 pm
Hey Fred. Haven’t heard from you in a while, but I imagine you’re pretty bogged down as is.
Kayaking… I think the closest thing I’ve ever done to it is going to one of those paddleboats that you do with your feet in the San Francisco Bay Area. Though I can’t imagine having to be upright for such a long time when you’ve been out of the practice for a bit.
Albatross18 just recieved a Pang Battle mode last update week; it’s much like skins really, with some pang on the line. Knowing that A18 doesn’t currently have a Mac version my mentioning of it is a bit extraneous.
Though, I don’t remember if you do, but if you have a working windows somewhere in your house the game runs fine on a 56k connection with some minimalistic graphics (256 MB, 64 MB VG) you should still be able to play decently. I see cortana on there from time to time, same with a few other forum-m folk.
And just now I’ve realized how much I really talk about pangya… should look to create a class for it.
Still visit #megatokyo? I haven’t been there for a while and look to make a stop.
~Chun
September 4th, 2006 at 7:54 pm
Glad to hear that you’re actually taking time off for once. I honestly don’t know how you can work so much! Just thought I’d give you kudos for being active, and to rant about how much I love Megatokyo. By the way, I would really love to learn Japanese, but I don’t know anyone who is fluent in it, and I can’t seem to find any classes in my area. Do you have any ideas? I would really appreciate it. But if you don’t feel like it, just ignore me
September 4th, 2006 at 10:07 pm
It’s always good to here someone getting reconnected with nature. I feel that more people should go hiking and biking because it makes you feel better. Anyway, have fun on your journey to an European convention.
September 5th, 2006 at 1:35 am
Wow, Kayaking. I’m so jealous. I’ve just been sitting around in my dorm room doing nothing over the past week or so. It sounds like you guys has a lot of fun. Keep it up! Maybe you’ll even be able to convince us all that you’re having so much fun and getting such good exercize and seeing so many cool things that we should all get out there and try it too
September 5th, 2006 at 7:48 pm
Hey Fred!
I’m (trying not to sound as stalkerish as possible) Daniel, and a long time reader and admirer of your work. In fact, hoping to start up a webcomic/manga of my own. So, in my endeavors, I come across a bit of a dillema: What kind of scanner do I need? Or more accurately, what kind of scanner do you have? What kind of scanner do you recommend? What should I look for? Will you bear my children?
…
Well, I hope you answer most of those questions. Some, however, are left best unanswered.
Thanks again for your sheer existence, and hopefully, your help with just a few of my problems.
Dan
September 6th, 2006 at 1:33 pm
Hi Fred,
Turned out I CAN get tickets over email because I’m foreign. Yay!
Too bad you’re not going to be able see much of Europe. Prague is great.
Suzanne
September 9th, 2006 at 11:37 pm
Been awhile fred! great to see your enjoying life with someone and having a blast! Oh about the Kayaking… avoid the Ocean till you have some experience under your paddle… had a few accidents out there myself.. lol! Enjoy the Coming Fall!
September 10th, 2006 at 6:36 pm
I have a suggestion. You should make a flash series of Megatokyo on newgrounds.com! that would be really cool!
September 12th, 2006 at 9:05 am
Hi, never posted here before, but been a fan of your work for a long time now (started reading since Largo and Piro went to Japan after E3), congratulations for the good job, man.
Your talk about environment and obsolescence stuff in MT made me remind of a quite interesting manga that I believe you