Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak camping

I have yet to camp out of a kayak, but I am eager to.
Of course first I have to have a kayak to camp out of!
Although I have been kayaking since spring of 95 and have
taken several one or two day courses and done a total of about
fifteen-twenty day-trips (not counting kayaking on Hinckley Lake)
I have yet to have a real kayak of my own.  I've even been up
at the Great Lakes Sea Kayaking Symposium and loved it, but as
always did it by renting a boat.  (I don't count a milk-carton
Krazy Kraft race  Kayak as a real boat)

I've been slowly collecting gear such as sleeping bags, tents,
camp stove, water carrier, first aid kits, etc.  One way or another
I will eventually have a kayak of my own.  Worst case I will build
one myself.  I'll be 41 years old this April.  I've recently become
serious about my physical fitness and am taking various step aerobic
classes and did over 1000 miles bicycling last year.  Apart from the
joy of being able to go where you will in two dimensions on the
waters surface and the thrill of being so close to nature, my interest
in kayaking is in the aerobic upper body workout that it can provide.
Although I love sailing too, you are somewhat at the mercy of the
wind and there is not much physical fitness benefit from sailing
unless you happen to be sailing poorly!

On Friday March 19, World-Champion Paddler Verlen Kruger will be
speaking at the Happy Days Visitor Center of the Cuyahoga Valley
National Recreation Area.   
  http://www.nps.gov/cuva/lyc99.htm

I will do my best to be there.  If anyone has some questions they
would like to ask him, please let me know.  I will select 
some questions that I will ask when I get the chance.

I've read that Verlen Kruger lives in Lansing Michigan and that
he makes his own boats. 
  http://isd.ingham.k12.mi.us/~instech/explore.html

Apparently some of Verlen's adventures are chronicled in
"One Incredible Journey" by Clayton Klein, Verlen Kruger.
Wilderness Adventure Books; ISBN: 0961159650 and I believe
there was an article/interview about Verlen in last Februaries
Paddler Magazine.  I'd love to read that article.  I'll check
to see if my local library subscribes to Paddler magazine. 
I've already checked and there is no copy of "One Incredible Journey"
in the Cuyahoga County Public Library system.

Amazon has a listing for the book, but it seems it has to be 
special ordered and may be out of print.  I'll try to get a copy
but it is unclear if I could get it before the Lcyeum talk.

neal_at_bellhow.com
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