The Side Gig

Picked up a little sidegig today, nothing huge, a one day thing and done, but hey, a little cash-ola extra never hurt no-one,,,

And its on water, a lake I have never been on, (reservoir, no fast movers, Not my cup of tea, but IS perfect for the peep I am working with.)

No details other than that, only in meat space will I offer more,,,

But a gig is a gig is a gig,,, Take ’em when they come or you never expand your options. (And I have turned down more than a few the last years, but due to ‘CHEAP’ vibes I picked up from the peeps asking me to do things; Usually at my cost, not thinking that welding materials actually cost me something. And since a bottle of Argon is well over $100 these days, and an 11# spool of wire is running near $50 for the cheap HF stuff,,,, FREE ain’t happenin’!!!)(note, this is NOT a welding gig this weekend, but a kayak-y gig,,, maybe I can turn this around and make it pay,,, wouldn’t that be the coolest thing ever?!?!?! At least to me it would be.)

Looked on the website for the upcoming kayak race I am scheduled for,,, take a gander. B hasn’t registered yet so,,,, that “1” is ME,,,,,

From all I can tell, this is totally a “shoot self in foot, whine to the captain,,,” situation. They have done NO advertising outside of Fakebook, and there are several events going on that have a following on the same weekend,,,,

And In My Opinion, for the registration fee, they offer nothing in return. The first race I was ever in; they at least held a feed at the end of the race along with the awards,,, This group ain’t doin’ that. There is almost zero ‘group building’ going on and people don’t do these races strictly for the competition: they do it for the social side as well. (why else would you ‘Pay to play’ if there is no real chance of return on that fee? Hell, the last race I was in, (the Powell River Regatta) they at least had a cash prize for the top two racers in each class, other than Recreational. Nope, not this group: it seems to be all about the money, and not the fun, and I think people are picking up on that. (its also one of the highest fees I have seen in the local races, even if it is a part of the waterman series of races: The Everglades 300 is part of that series, and it has a dedicated following, and is one of my ‘bucket list’ races.)

Long story short: I won’t be on the list next year, even if they have another, which I am seriously doubting by the numbers I am seeing from this year.

Word from B and fam at the Pigeon: they are going to head up river in the AM and do the Upper Pigeon, which is, I believe, class3-4 stuff, and hoping to be able to do two runs on the lower in the afternoon. While I wouldn’t really have much interest in the upper, unless I could DEFINITELY take BJ on it, a double run of the lower would be fun. Get a chance to really scope out what sections are doing, then try to grab waves on the second turn: do some surfin’!!!!

But’z, I ain’t there, and though I wish I were, I am here and there is a chance that may grow into something ‘a bit more lucrative’ (but I ain’t counting on it, just wishin’,,,)

And a little sumpin different. I took Lizzy off marketplace this morning. I had a message from a potential buyer with an offer. I was offended enough to reply back “I’d rather take a sawzall to her and turn her into a canoe before I would let her go for that pittance!” Offer a flippin c-note for a composite kayak that, while aged, is in better shape than most? F! that!!!! The only repairs I have made to her were some minor spiderwebs in her gelcoat. And those are done properly and you have to look, REALLY look!, for the color difference to see them (new gel is virgin white, while the old stuff is a little yellowed in comparison.) Hell, there is more cash tied up in the cockpit cover and spray skirt than what was offered,,,,

I am going to hang on to her for a bit, and either take her to SC and try to sell there, OR, she is going to become my guinea pig for a wild idea I have. Another of those ” once you make the first cut, you’re commited” and if I do that, I probably need to be commited (into an asylum,,,, just sayin’). No, haven’t made that call yet, just eyeballing, using a dry erase marker to explore the idea, and calculating “is it worth it, are my skills equal to task,’ among other things. So, no, she is safe from the knife (sawzall) for the time being. BUT, if I can’t move her, she is the perfect ‘victim’ for my mad scientist side. It won’t be cheap financially, but will be cheaper than buying one of the “luxury boats” I dream about. Like those Grand Illusions (prior linkage) or the P&H Cetus: boats that start around 4grand and only go higher, and have a 4-6 month wait after you make your order,,, I may dream, but I know my financial position in the world,,,,, May change for the better, but I am not going to make an impulse buy like that in hopes of it changing…

anywhoos, I has a gig to do tomorrow while B and friends are getting wet and wild in the hills of Southeastern Tennessee/North Carolina. Eating ‘World Famous Chicken’ (and it is damned GOOD, especially after you have paddled wild water all day,,,,) So, A toast to them before they head out tomorrow, and I head off to do my thing. Y’all take care out there!!!

Talk atcha’y’all tomorrow, when I get it all wrapped up.