With some blades sticking out of the tire Mad Max could go kayaking with me.

This is a vehicle I purchased brand new in December of 2003 for around $24,000.  That makes 6.5 years that I’ve been driving this vehicle, and nearly 200,000 miles.  It has driven loops around my sales territory each year, from Maryland to Georgia, it has taken two trips to Eastern Canada, and just as many to Central Florida.  That being said, the truck rarely ever carries a load heavier than a rack full of kayaks, and most certainly has not carried anything heavier on a long distance drive.  My service bills on the truck total and exceed $15,000, and that doesn’t even include two sets of tires and brakes, and of course doesn’t include fuel expenses.  This being my first brand new vehicle, and knowing that I would put some serious miles on the thing, I made certain to follow Nissan’s recommended maintenance schedule.  Every oil change, every gasket, belt and fluid replacement, I did all of them, and kept good records of it too.  What’s more, I took the vehicle to the Anderson Nissan dealership in Asheville NC for all the scheduled maintenance.  I figure taking it to the same mechanic(s) would help ensure my safety and the vehicle’s longevity.  Doesn’t that seem reasonable?  Somehow tough, that didn’t persuade them to vouch for me in dealing with the Nissan headquarters when the rear end went out on me just after the warranty expired.  Even after their head mechanic told me time and time again that it was normal for there to be a loud popping noise coming from the rear end.  “Oh yeah, they all do that after they get 30 or 40,000 miles on them.  No big deal,” they told me.  And even after they found bits of shaven metal in my rear diff fluid, no help at all.  Well, the replacement and parts ran me about $2000.  That felt great.

This area right here got bored out pretty good.

Furthermore, all the money I spent with them on service and parts had no bearing on the fact that they treated me with utter disrespect when the catalytic converters went bad prior to warranty expiration.  (Let me make this perfectly clear: I do not expect them to give me anything.  I completely understand they are in business to make money, but they should not to cheat people out of it.)  After receiving some advice from a more qualified auto service center I returned to Anderson Nissan with a printed EPA law in hand stating that Nissan was required to replace my catalytic converter free of charge.    It was a verified warranty item and there was no arguing this.  They finally did replace it free of charge after I spent a considerable amount of time speaking with area and regional representatives from Nissan as well as Nissan Consumer Affairs.  Gigantic runaround just to make sure I didn’t have to pay $1800 to replace a catalytic converter.  Turns out the replacement parts only lasted another 80,000 miles before they went bad again.  This time I did have to pay the $1800.

Retractable tires? Nope.

So, now I’m on my second set of catalytic converters (the truck actually runs with two of them) and the new/used rear end that was allegedly supposed to be way better than the original, goes out on me.  Now when you look at the photos above and below, keep in mind that what you’re looking at occurred while I was driving 55 on I-40 in traffic on a curvy section of road.  Luckily it didn’t completely fly out of the car and cause an accident, and even more luckily I didn’t have my wife, our newborn, or our 3-year-old with me.  Apparently the wheel bearing went out all of a sudden and the axle released.  I was told that an ailing bearing will make some noise before it goes out, but I had no warning whatsoever.  Long story short, $2000 more and I am now running my third rear differential in this vehicle.

Axle bent

All this talk about rear ends, and things flying out of rear ends is making me miserable.    I guess at least I have my own truck that is paid off now, but I won’t be running out to the Nissan dealership the next time I need to go car shopping.  My car has absorbed more money than I care to think about.  Truth be known, I have enjoyed driving and using the vehicle outside of these misfortunes.  Other than these two, big, reoccurring problems, the vehicle has held up and performed just fine.  I’m disappointed that the Nissan dealership and the corporate folks had no interest in helping me.  They displayed to me the poorest customer service that I have ever witnessed, and that lost them my business.  Going back to the beginning, my comment about becoming a sales rep.  Well, if you are thinking about doing it, consider what kind of money you’ll be making and what type of vehicle you are driving.  For me, it’s almost more worth renting a car for my road trips in order to preserve the vehicle I own.  I certainly don’t get paid enough to just consider my car disposable.  Vehicles are noting but money pits, an expense of convenience, and a necessity of many sales jobs.  Too bad I guess.  If someone wants to buy my Frontier please let me know.  I have all the service records and it now has a rear diff with only 50,000 miles on it.  I can’t speak for what else may go wrong wit it though.  Personally, I’d rather just ride my skateboard.

Sincerely,
Spencer Cooke, Effort Inc

The Effort Inc Estate

But seriously, we have moved and can give you the new address if necessary.

Thank you,

Spencer Cooke, President
Effort, Inc

SURF KAYAKING in PORTUGAL
I competed on the US East Kayak Surf Team at the World Championships in 2009.  This video is just the tip of the iceberg in regards to the amount of footage I shot.  Hopefully it gives those of you who helped me get to Portugal an idea of what surf kayaking is, and what kind of incredible talent exists in the sport.  You might also see that some of the competitors do not take themselves too seriously.

Soundtrack provided by Richmond VA’s Cloak/Dagger
Preview the album at JadeTree.com
http://jadetree.com/releases/product/JT1128
or
Buy it on iTunes
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/cloak-dagger/id252141700

FISHING from KAYAKS and STANDUP PADDLEBOARDS
Hook, Line & Paddle is a paddling retail shop located in Wilmington NC, close to Wrightsville Beach. Every Sunday morning Chris and Ryan, shop owners, head out at dawn for a kayak and SUP (Standup Paddleboard) fishing trip. I was lucky enough to go with them one day last fall and it was an absolute blast. These guys have carved out a really cool niche for themselves. Maybe tons of people are fishing off of SUPs, but I haven’t seen it before.

Check these guys out at HookLineAndPaddle.com

Music in the video is by Chris Wollard and the Ship Thieves. This is one of my favorite albums over the past couple years. Find them out at the following links:
Southern Lovin’ PR
http://www.southernlovin.com/family/chris-wollard-the-ship-thieves
No Idea Records
http://www.noidearecords.com/bands/releases/chriswollard_shipthieves.php
iTunes
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/chris-wollard-and-the-ship-thieves/id292406243

Thanks,

Spencer Cooke
Effort Inc

Ball lover in Sugar Grove NC. My brother-in-law's dawgy, Bella, snaps a tennis ball like a hungry hippo.

I haven’t had much time for blogging this year so this one is gonna be long.  Honestly I still don’t have time to blog but there were a whole load of photos I’ve been wanting to put up here.  This post really doesn’t even cover all the things I want to journalize, but it makes a few notes about my travels and experiences through June-Sept.  Time does seem to fly.

June was the last time I spent any significant time paddling on rivers. This was me paddling a rapid on the Green River Narrows near Hendersonville NC. I paddled with my good friend Jason McClure who took this photo.

Water droplets freeze as Jason McClure waits for me below a rapid on the Green River Narrows near Hendersonville NC.

We saw Stephen Hughes, Nate Elliott and Chris Roberts doing some tree removal that very day.

Chris Roberts repacks his throw rope below a now, tree-free slot. Thanks to the safety-conscious efforts of these guys.

I have also spent a significant amount of time paddling with Anna Levesque of http://WaterGirlsAtPlay.com filming her new women's kayak instructional video. Here, she and Maria Noakes are pictured on the Green River Narrows near Hendersonville NC.

To raise money for our trip to compete in the World Surf Kayak Championships in Portugal, Joey Hall premiered his new Kayak, Surf, Travel Film, INTERFERENCE, at the Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. We had around 80 people turn out for the showing.

We arrived in Libson (Lisboa) Portugal in late July and drove to Santa Cruz where the Ocean Spirit Festival was being held.

Here is Joey looking totally thrilled after ten hours of air travel.

The macro scene in Portugal was really interesting and beautiful.

This young man named David Speller from Jersey and the Channel Islands won his fifth consecutive World Championship title.

It is always so nice to come home...

... where I am pleased to see they have canoeing and kayaking. Or at least they had it in the 80s when they took this photo. Wilson Creek perhaps?

Common sights and sounds seem so much more rich and vibrant when you've been gone for a while.

Summer's end is near when I start seeing these fellas.

My best buddy and I took some long walks on the beautiful blue ridges of North Carolina.

In late August hurricane Bill arrived so I had to make an emergency trip back to the NC coast. Joey and I had a few nice surfing sessions at Wrightsville Beach.

Crystal Pier at Wrightsville Beach NC: A board surfer turns and burns down a small but steep wave.

I am the flower whisperer. (Chris Gallaway thinks he's the flower whisperer but it's really me.)

While I arrived a day too late for the big swell from Hurricane Bill, we still had waist to chest high surf. Though in New Jersey my good friend Drew Hayes caught up with Bill for some beautiful, overhead, glassy conditions. That's not Drew on this wave. He took the photo.

Drew also became acquainted with Zorak. See Spaceghost Coast to Coast for reference.

Mark serves the best bagels in Wrightsville Beach. A morning surf session is never complete without a stop at Manhattan Bagel.

On my way out I stopped into the local kayak shop in Wilmington NC, called HOOK, LINE & PADDLE. Ryan is one of the owners and long-time skater. Here he is showing off his original Gator and Caballero boards, and he still skates them!

When I got back home I had a chance to compare my new surf kayak designs to the old one. My friend Ray Cotton and I designed and shaped the Spray (left) in 2002. Seven years and three prototypes later Drew Hayes, Ray and I designed and shaped two new boats based on the original design with the help of our friends at Riot. Ninja 6'8" (middle) and Ninja 7'6" (right). Both new boats, plus another called the Sword, are due out on the market soon...

Back at Wrightsville Beach NC we did our first family paddling/camping trip over at Masonboro Island.

A curious stranger visited us several times throughout the night.

Chris from Hook Line & Paddle looks for a good spot to drop a crab trap off of his Native Watercraft. He and Ryan took me out for my first stand up paddleboard fishing trip. Quite fun, and I'm totally sold on the SUP as a fishing craft.

My next stop included visits to Potomac Paddlesports and Valley Mill Kayak Shop in Washington DC followed by a quick run on Great Falls of the Potomac. Here is Jim Buley dropping into Horseshoe Rapid.

Colin Kemp peels of the flake at Horseshoe in his Jackson MonStar: Maryland side of Great Falls Potomac River.

Next I had the very special treat of spending a day at Sea Girt New Jersey with my good pal Drew Hayes. The surf was no less than superb and the fishermen were pulling the Bluefish out of the water that day.

Drew left, me right. Drew wrong, me right.

Drew got to taste the fruits of his labor. Endless hours of sanding on the Sword Surf Kayak plug almost two years ago and finally he got to try the boat in excellent conditions.

Surf Taco isn't far from the break at Sea Girt. Good taco make boy into manimal.

Next stop, Farmville Virginia, Appomattox River Company. Pictured is Tom Detrick who sells more boats than anyone I know. He works for Bob Taylor who has owned and operated ARC for over 30 years. There is a lot of history in this place.

I found this precious gem in the Appomattox River Co warehouse, right beside the archived 1989 Extrasport PFDs. Don't worry, they sell 2009 Astral PFDs too.

Back home for one day then back on the road. I feel like I have to take pictures of everything these days. The digital camera plagues me. Mushrooms, rocks, bugs, flowers, animals, food, people. I waste so much time trying to compose a good shot, even with my camera phone, with which I took several of these shots.

Further South, I visited a new IR dealer, Higher Ground in Beaufort SC. These guys are a full service, technical outdoor shop, and very pleasant to do business with. Shop owner Shelby Bishop stands with a rack of Astral PFDs out front of the shop.

From Beaufort I migrated back toward the North to Sea Kayak Carolina close to Folly Beach SC. Without question, these guys are one of the most full service, guru, absolutely core, sea kayak shops out there. Steve, William and Scott stand proudly in their boat room.

No Folly Beach visit is complete without visiting and surfing with the Folly Kayak Man himself, Russ Buskirk. Here sit Russ and Bert in their workshop. Russ is a multifaceted artist, currently specializing in antique furniture restoration and pastel paintings.

Russ also just recently placed 3rd in the World Surf Kayak Championships in Portugal in the Grand Master's Division. Pictured here, Russ makes the most of a 2 foot day at the Folly Beach Washout.

Golden Orb spiders are everywhere on the Carolina coast. Ths healthy female spun her web on Russ' front porch.

Last stop on the way home: River Runner Outdoor Center sits front and center on Gervais Street in Columbia SC. Jesse Koch (pronounced Cook) manages the shop and held the sidewalk down for me while I took this photo.

Just to test myself I tried to hold this facial expression for three straight hours in the car. What can I say, I'm in training to be a smartass, and I'm passing without any problem.

Home again for one day then I’ll be at NOC for their annual Guest Appreciate Festival this weekend.  This is the typical Fall schedule of a paddlesports sales rep, so get used to it and stop giving me so much grief.

Sincerely,
Spencer Cooke, Effort Inc