Re: [Paddlewise] Who We Are

Hello List,

I very much am enjoying reading and learning about the others on this list.
 After someone posts for a while, I think it's natural to sort of get a
mental image of what they must be like.  With the "who we are" responses, I
find that there's a lot more interesting things to learn about our fellow
list members.  I find it fascinating to note all the similarities and
differences.  So....it's my turn:

My name is Bill Leonhardt, I'm 52 years young or old or whatever, and I
grew up in the middle of Queens, NY culturally, if not geographically, far
from boats.  I've lived several other places in the US but have been on
Long Island, NY for the last 22 years.  I live in East Patchogue, less than
1/4 mile from the Great South Bay which is a great place to paddle,
especially for beginners.  Long Island is about 125 miles long, 20 miles
wide at the widest part and is said to have about 1000 miles of coastline.
Lots of great paddling places to explore, all less than 1 to 1.5 hours away.

Apart from scout experiences and a Delaware River experience during
college, I started "adult" paddling around 1985.  I bought a Coleman Canoe
on sale at Caldor's and paddled a lot with my sons on local lakes.  The
boys grew and departed and the canoe now awaits grandchildren.  In 1988, my
SO gave me some kayak lessons as a present and, after my first experience
with a moonlight paddle on Moriches Bay, I was hooked.  (BTW, my SO, Pat,
became my wife about 1.5 years ago.

In 1990, Pat and I each bought plastic kayaks made by MI Designs of England
and really got serious about being on the water.  These first boats, while
truly for beginners, really got a lot of use and are now our "guest" boats.
 Currently, I paddle a Current Designs Solstice GT (fiberglass) and Pat
paddles a Wilderness Systems Sealoution II (polyethylene).  At present, I
paddle year round, however Pat limits herself to June through October locally.

In addition to paddling locally, I have had occasion both from work travel
and vacations to paddle in BC, CA, CT, FL, ME, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA and once
in England.  It really is great to hit a city, look up the local paddling
shop, talk with the folks for a while and then paddle a new place, oft
times with a different boat.  Sometimes I do travel to places where it's
not easy to find a paddle shop and/or rent a boat, therefore I'm saving my
money for a Feathercraft K-Lite.

I've mentioned the four kayaks and one canoe we already have and the folder
I hope to buy.  But it doesn't end there.  I would also like to build (in
the future some time from now) a "stitch-and-glue" tandem and a single,
skin covered baidarka.  Well...we all need goals and/or fantasies.

I have the equipment and have done a fair bit a backpacking but, while I
own a boat that can haul a good deal of stuff, I've not yet been able to
set aside the time for a multi day trip.  I have high hopes for 1999.

Like backpacking, I find that I enjoy paddling with others AND I enjoy
paddling alone.  I think the alone time is greater than 50% but who's
counting.  Safety issues set aside (and respected), there are times when
one (meaning me) needs to be alone on the water.

Ok Bill, let's wrap this up!  I work as a mechanical engineer building
"stuff" for particle accelerators, and I also enjoy philately, marquetry
and I participate in a few sports, BUT I'm really passionate about kayaking!

Glad to be associated with such a group as ours,

Bill

ps.  I rolled once and may do it again. 
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