[Paddlewise] Paddlewise: Who we are

I usually like to lurk but I guess I'll try a turn.  This has been such a great
thread, I can't resist.

I'm just getting started at 45.  I grew up in Alaska and Montana and have been
on my share of snow mobiles and dog sleds.  Before I had children, I did a lot
of cross country biking and quite a bit of back country hiking/backpacking.  In
winter I did a little bit of giant slalom and super g and was on the ski patrol
a couple of years.  Ever since I can remember, I've been into airplanes and
boats and have done some stupid things in both but am lucky enough to be able to
sit around the fire and tell you about it.  I have since settled down into more
conservative life-preserving practices.  Since I still work in aviation, I try
to take to the water or back country whenever I can.  When I can't get in the
water, I still like to ride my bike, hike, or just camp out and look at birds.

I'd been canoeing and rafting for years but didn't get into sea kayaking until I
moved to Oklahoma.  Yes, Oklahoma!!  I was tired of trying to fight the wind in
a canoe and decided to try a sea kayak.  The only problem was at the time there
were no sea kayaks in Oklahoma.  So I bought my first yak from NOC, a yellow Sea
Lion, the Ceylon.  The first time out, I knew it was right; it was like coming
home.  Know what I mean?  Well I've had the boat on Lake Powell (several times)
and on the Missouri (Gates of the Mountains in Montana) and on just about every
good size splash of water around here and even ventured on a couple of rivers
where sea yaks are *not* traditional.  Usually it's just me and my cocker
spaniel, Happy.  She rides on the rear deck where I have rigged a foam pad for
her.  I've had to lean the boat severely a couple of times to get through a
burble here or there and amazingly she'll stick with it.  Sometimes she'll take
a swim but usually she prefers to pose for the tourists.  My favorite thing is
to paddle and live out of the boat for a few days at a time.  I wish I could do
more of this.


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