[Paddlewise] Who we are (Paying Client)

Another lurker coming out of the intertidal zone......

I'm another late forties guy. Since the 70', I have paddled my little 14'
cedar canvas canoe around the Vancouver, Victoria and Gulf Islands area,
but only on little day outings.  I always avoided windy, lumpy conditions,
especially once the kids started coming along.  About six years ago I
finally tried kayaking, and loved the relative ease and safety of it.
Since then I've been fortunate to go on a few trips to various glorious
(more or less) wilderness locales up and down the BC coast (Broken Group,
Clayquot, Haida Gwaii, Johnstone Strait, Nootka Sound).

I will now make the terrible public admission that I've always (except for
a couple Gulf Island overnights) gone as a "PAYING CLIENT"  with a guided
group.  Hey, it's not that bad.  The outfit that I've gone with provides
mainly single kayaks, communal kitchen equipment, guides, and not much
else.  In other words, they do not pamper the "guests" by cooking, doing
dishes, or otherwise catering excessively to them.  All food provisions are
communally provided and prepared.  I am slowly learning about tides,
navigation, weather, etc.  but I'm a long way from having the knowledge,
gear, and experience to safely venture out on my own, so this suits me
fine.  This spring I plan to attend a kayaking skills workshop at Thetis
Island - its about time!

When I go on these outings, I view it as a paddling/camping trip with 6 or
8 friends that I haven't met yet - for the most part, this has turned out
to be true.  I always bring my half size beach guitar (in its home made dry
bag - bungied onto the rear deck) and have now discovered that 9 lb test
monofilament makes a fine replacement for a busted E string, having been
stupid enough not to pack spares.

Of Groovers (part of another thread):  It used to be that we "went" in the
forest,  and for the past few years have been using the intertidal zone.
Is this not still environmentally correct?

"What I Have Most Appreciated From The List":  (a new thread?)
1. Interesting trip reports.
2. Gear talk (to a point) especially  Cameras, Sleeping Bags, Clothing, etc.
3. Recommended reading.   (More!)

Only Tip:  Take a cheap (ie. lightweight) large zippered duffle bag to
carry individual dry bags, tent bag, food,boots, etc. etc. up and down the
beach - this way you can pack all your gear from kayak to tentsite in one
trip (with one hand free to carry the guitar)  Do lots of  others do this?
I haven't met many.

Personal trivia:  Self employed Architect in Vancouver (not much work
around lately)

Cheers, all.  Thanks for listening.  The canoe's still hangin' in the carport.

Ian








______________________
Ian Cohen  /   Icon Architecture


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