Maybe I'm kidding myself, but at 48 I never really considered myself an old lady, never mind an old fart. I live in Edmonton, Canada and the ocean is 700 miles from here and after reading some of the bios, it's a shock to be reminded there are places on this planet that aren't frozen and people still kayak this time of year. My first sea kayaking experience was at a week long workshop about 13 years ago in the Broken Islands, off the coast of Vancouver Island. After that I was hooked. Since then I've paddled in the Gulf Islands, the Queen Charlottes and in Southeast Alaska twice. I thought the Charlottes were paradise until I went to SE Alaska. The first trip was 2 weeks camping, starting in the fishing town of Pelican and then we headed north across Cross Strait to Dundas Bay and then back to Pt Adolphus. The second trip was 3 weeks camping, again starting in Pelican but heading north of Dundas. That was incredible. We saw many golden grizzlies with dreadlocks, bald eagles, puffins, and were surrounded by killer and humpback whales. We were able to stop in a fishing village at the end of each week, shower, restock on beer and order greasy burgers and fries. I own a Necky Tesla glass boat and I 've never even tried rolling. When we were in Alaska the last time we got caught in some water the fishermen call the "washing machine' and I don't know if rolling would have helped. We just concentrated on paddling through it and staying upright. When I can't get to the ocean I paddle down the N. Saskatchew River, which flows through Edmonton, on the lakes close by, or on Maligne Lake in Jasper in the Rockies. My other interests are skiing (xc & telemarking), hiking, running, camping, anything outside, learning the violin (just started), and especially spending time with my love, Peter (just call me a mushy old lady). Happy paddling everyone, and thanks for all the enjoyable bios. Val Stewart from landlocked Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (right now LOTS of snow out there, but it's sunny and warm - only minus 10!) *************************************************************************** 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 Feb 11 1999 - 11:33:39 PST
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