[Paddlewise] Solo paddling

It's refreshing to know that more people paddle alone.  I personally paddle
solo 95% of the time and really prefer it.  What I first enjoyed about
kayaking was the feeling of being so much closer and connected to the water
(coming from canoeing it seemed significant.)  I love building up to a steady
cadence & taking in the natural suroundings.  Paddling solo lets me drift off
unto this great state of relaxed concentration.  Groups are fine, but
seriously if you only paddle in groups how many times can you go out in a
year?  I paddle 5 or 6 days a week, starting as early in the year as possible
and until the loons and coots are the only guys in the water with me.  If I
had to wait to paddle in a group everytime I went out I don't honestly think
that I would be able to maintain & build on my skill level.  I feel "off" when
I don't paddle for 4 days.

A couple of weeks ago I went to the Inland Seas Symposium on Lake Superior in
the Apostle Islands.  As usual I did most of my paddling alone.  I attended
lots of in-classroom sessions but didn't join the paddle group tours.  I
couldn't believe how many people seemed surprised that I was out alone.  It
was really quite bizarre.  I guess what I found strange was that with 500
kayakers in town for the symposium I never saw anyone on the water outside of
a mile perimeter from the symposium beach.  Myself I was able to enjoy pure
solitude amongst sea caves, cliffs, strands of pine and cedar & the great cold
chop of Superior.  Made me think, "Does anyone actually sea kayak?"  ah - now
I'm rambling.  Enough for now.

Michael
Madison, WI
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