In a message dated 12/31/1998 2:18:28 PM EST, waddinj_at_recorder.ca writes: << I do have to admit though, that I am envious of you folks in the warmth, being able to paddle in T-shirts and shorts. We only have 5-6 months to wait and we'll be able to do that too. Happy New Year to all, especially Jackie for providing us with this great list. John >> Brrrrr! Just a note to inform you of the purpose of Internet accessible computers and television. In the South, we use them to find out how our poorer northern cousins deal with the psychological disorders brought on by too much time in the cabin. Your account of what one will go through to stave off this debilitating illness is quite entertaining. That is a lot of work just to get to open water up there isn't it? I'd suggest dynamiting the damned stuff. Works here to catch catfish, I bet it would make boat lanes through ice up there too! Hmmmmmm, let me share with you our family outing this morning, the last day of the year. We woke up intent on going up to our favorite creek to paddle the day away in a new to us Old Town Canadienne Kevlar Canoe I found used and in good condition since OT choose to stop Kevlar production a few years back. Santa brought my two daughters their first kayak, a Loon 138 by Old Towne also. An overnight thunderstorm dumped about 4-5 " of rain in a 138 sq mile watershed of our favorite paddling creek and the gauge rose from 6 to 18 feet overnight, quadrupling the CFS reading at the same time. This is still do- able, but not for kids in a new kayak, so we opted for a state park deep in the piney woods on a quiet reservoir. First the drive there. We detoured through a small country community to an old mom and pop store, cafe, gas station, etc to get an ice cream cone as it was getting a bit warm. After getting a big cool cone, we went to our creek launching spot to see what was going on. It was up! Wayyyyyyyy up! We made the right decision. Another thirty minutes and we made it to the lake. We had it all to ourselves because most of the good old southern state park tourists freak out when the mercury dips below 80 degrees. The air temp was a balmy 76 deg F. We launched both the canoe and kayak and took turns paddling to our hearts desire. After thoroughly aquatinting ourselves with the characteristics of the new boats, three of us loaded up in the Canadienne and our youngest daughter paddled the loon on a two hour trip into a cypress shrouded slough filled with wintering Mallards, Wooducks and many other water birds. Allison had more fun doing her own thing and going wherever she wanted to at the moment in the kayak. After working up a good sweat clad only in shorts, sandals and T-shirts and the obligatory Seda lightweight PFD, we returned to our campsite for a welcomed cold drink. Approaching the soft muddy landing, we gently parted water hyacinths lining the shore and stepped out into the cool dark, tannic acid, oak tree leaf stained, tea colored water of the deep south. Ahhhhhh that felt good on hot feet. No sparkly frost, no hoary frost, no ice, in fact it had been over two years since it got cold enough to even make ice I think! It is hard to remember things that happen so infrequently! Anyway, we had a great time. Paddling on the water is a good thing whether it is liquid or solid. We, as our northern cousins will take it any way we can get it. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us and I hope you take this as not bragging but good humor to be enjoyed by all. If you only half way enjoy a paddling outing as we do, you are blessed. Have a great 1999. It's the last of the nineteens for a while you know! Don't paddle your children, paddle with them! Sincerely, John LeBlanc *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Dec 31 1998 - 13:27:27 PST
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