Re: [Paddlewise] Who we are

My turn.

I fit into the pattern that seems to be developing here.  My background
and age (45) are typical of others.  I loved water sports as a kid.
I started canoeing and sailing in university.   Canoeing meant flatwater
tripping.  I learned to sail from a guy that had once been a naval
architect and racer.  Longest trip was from Norfolk VA to Montreal PQ
via the Hudson returning a boat that a friend wintered in the Bahamas.
 That's where I learned navigation... and how much work sailing is.
I switched to bike and cross-country ski racing and touring.
After my knees blew out, I didn't do anything for a few years.

Some recovery allowed me to get back to recreational skiing, but cycling
is nothing but a memory.  So I got back to canoeing and realized how
much I'd missed.  One day I wandered into the Mountain Equipment Coop
store and saw a beautiful, cedar-strip kayak amidst the canoes.  It was
love at first sight.  I found myself going back to the store just to look at
her.  The price tag make my knees weak however (unrelated to the old
injury).  My hint of Inuit ancestry (12 generations back) must have been
showing through.  I started talking to folks about kayaking, but didn't
take any action.  Then I went on a canoe trip with an odd number of
people on it.  Usually this means someone (usually me) paddles solo.
This time the organizer got a sea kayak (this trip had no portages).
I got in it the next day and disappeared down a river and into a little
lake.  No skirt, rudder for steering, fear of tipping over (initially) etc.
The next year, between the whitewater lessons and trips, I took a
sea kayaking course.  I rented several different sea kayaks on
weekends during the summer.  After coming back from canoeing and
hiking Nahanni National Park, I bought a Solstice GTH from an
outfitter at their year end sale.  I took it out the next day and paddled
the Toronto harbour and islands from my home in the Beaches (about
30 km total).  I went on the following canoe trips with my kayak,
portaging (grunt) as required.  I joined a sea kayak club and haven't
been in a canoe since.  More lessons and pool sessions have
given me a good combat roll and a reasonable offside roll (though
a recurring left shoulder injury make the offside iffy some days)
I did take kayak WW lessons last year and definitely benefited from it.
I paddle mostly in the Great Lakes (Ontario and Huron/Georgian Bay),
with trips to other lakes (Algonquin) and one to Nova Scotia last
summer.  I look forward to returning to Gwaii Hannas (Queen Charlotte
Islands BC) to kayak (last time was hiking).  Also the Minganie and
Saguenay,  Gros Morne, Lake Superior, Ellesmere, Greenland,
Scotland, ... you get the idea!!

This summer will be limited in trips, since Amie and I are buying a new
(expensive) house.  I hope to get to the Great Lakes Symposium in
Grand Marais by driving up and hold out hope of getting back to Nova
Scotia to take courses with Coastal Adventures in Sept.  Maybe I'll
run into some of you out there on the water.

Mike.


***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************