Since this thread doesn't seem to be dead yet, I'll jump in as well. I'm Erik Sprenne, 45 years young (never intend to be an old fart), living at the southern tip of Lake Michigan in Hoosierland. Earned my canoeing merit badge at a young and tender age, and since then have loved anything to do with boats and water. Fished and waterskiied from motorboats in 60s and 70s. Built my first boat in '76 – a (rigid) stick/cloth Folbot. The lure of rivers was great, and after paddling the Folbot for a number of years I decided my skills were above beginner level and signed up for an intermediate WW course at NOC in '84. I was quickly humbled, but did learn to roll that weekend. Earned my WW kayak instructor rating in 86, and WW kayak instructor trainer rating in '89. Learned to sail with the Chicago AYH Rhodes 19 fleet in the early 90's, and crewed on a Tartan 33R for the '96 MAC race. My sea kayaking introduction came when I saw a boat – a FG Cadence - advertised for sale in the local paper in the early 90's. So far it's seen use only in the Great Lakes, and still serves me well. I love paddling (and being on the water) with a passion. I paddle up to class V whitewater, prefer III-IV with lots of play spots, but also am happy on flatwater. Living in the Midwest presents certain whitewater challenges (although there IS whitewater to be had in the flatlands), but I've (happily) discovered that the most beautiful spots in the flatlands are all near water. One of my favorite activities is playing the surf at the southern end of Lake Michigan (which happens too infrequently, as prevailing winds are out of the west instead of the north), although I do this mostly with the WW boats. My motto in life is "put me on any kind of boat in any kind of water and I'm happy". I'm a recent subscriber to Paddlewise, and have learned much from the posts - thanks!. I also appreciate the fact that the dialog here generally stays more on-topic than on r.b.p. I prefer to lurk, as most often I find that most topics are thoroughly answered, and I barely have time to read the posts, let alone respond. I was planning on jumping into the drysuit/evaporative cooling thread, but Ralph finally admitted that Gore-Tex suits aren't that bad :-) Having owned a coated nylon drysuit for 9 years (until the coating delaminated in the armpits), and a Gore-Tex drysuit for 3 years (with a relief zipper!), I'll never own other than a Gore-Tex drysuit with a relief zipper (maybe I'll get latex booties with the next one). To pay the bills I work as a chemist for a corn processing company. I try to figure out new things to do with cyclodextrins, which are donut-shaped molecules made from corn starch that are used to encapsulate various and sundry compounds on a molecular basis. In my non-working time I like to tinker, bicycle, and work in the yard. One of my upcoming projects will be to build a S&G CLC Chessie 16 for my sweetheart, as soon as the ordered kit gets here. Regards, Erik *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Probably the oldest 22 year old kid you'll ever meet, I built my kayak during a 90 + degree summer on the porch of my apartment watching my neighbors and friends crack jokes. 4 weeks of 12 + hour days and i slapped it in the swimming pool, only to be chased away by the pool nazi. I am obsessive about kayaking, which doesnt work well on a college budget funded by student loans. Everything besides my pfd is homemade, which is probably why none of it works correctly. I have a nylon sprayskirt that is as water tight as a cheese grader and I just finished 2 weeks of construction on a greenland paddle that i managed to break on the first day I used it. 3 days ago at work they gave me a birthday cake with a kayak on it, no paddle... guess that is kind of symbolic. Soon I will finish nursing school and move back to New Orleans, I will miss Gulf Shores but I have some big plans for the reds and specks down in the bayou. My fellow coon-asses should get a kick out of my pirougue with a deck. I havent been able to outsmart the pool nazi yet ( he never sleeps) so I remain without roll capability, the man barbecues at 8 in the morning for heavens sakes! I paddle mostly through coastal waters, somewhat timid of hitting the open waters alone and untested. Maybe its just that i dont have enough safety gear yet... anyone got any plans for building your own GPS? 8^)> *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> enough safety gear yet... anyone got any plans for building your > own GPS? 8^)> Nope, but I have plans for the antenna! 8^) Woody *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Dave and all: I live a bit north of Dave-Seattle area. I have a Nortwest Kayaks Pursuit [17.5' x 22"] and Yakima bars to attached to the roof of my truck for transport. I'm recovering from brain surgery back in March and June of '98. While I've paddled on the Sound, for now it seems to me that Lake Washington is a far better place to bring my skills up-darn, the river down "Dave-south" will be something I hope to get to late spring/early summer :) Radio, appropriate suit [dry or wet depending], spare paddle, two paddle floats, flares, radio, strobe, knife, etc... are part of my gear. I do not have a "flag" or anything but hope to get some reflective tape for boat/paddles... I hope to move my RV to a new spot-possibly on a river up this way-come March, latest April. That would make a "quick evening paddle" much easier to arrange. For the most part I have been a solitary kayaker-this year would like to incorporate fishing as I've [just recently] finnished a new rod of my own design [looks like heck-but it should work]. I will try to joine a paddling club this year-though [thank Heaven] I got my driving privilages back last week! Now if the wather will get a little dryer... :) Thanks, Tom... { "Three left turns often make a right-The trick is surviving the attempts..."} Kirkland, Wa. <gadfly_at_isomedia.com> <http://www.isomedia.com/homes/gadfly/> *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 2/7/99 11:44:34 AM Pacific Standard Time, dkruger_at_pacifier.com writes: << it occurred to me that it might be useful for each of us to post a paragraph or two which describes our "paddling profile." >> OK, I'll bite. My body just turned forty-four. Unfortunately my mind is a number of years behind my body in maturity which has been causing some painful conflicts with an increasing regularity. I am a Southern California beach kid born and raised. My father worked his way through college as a Newport Beach life guard and a quasi commercial diver. I have been surfing, diving, canoeing and kayaking in the Pacific Ocean for more then thirty years. My real passion is surfing kayaks and waveskis. I enjoy the rough stuff and am probably considered by some to be an adrenaline junkie. I work very hard at my kayaking skills and cannot remember the last time I had to do a wet exit. In fact these days I have often been heard to say that I would rather they find my drowned body still seated in my kayak then have to resort to a wet exit (I figure you paddlewisers should have a field day with that one :-) It's a matter of pride, you know. Obviously I am a firm believer of skills over equipment. Unfortunately my job and my family do not allow for a great deal of travel and time off. I do what trips I can, when I can. In the meantime I have been working for close to ten years on the weekends as a kayaking instructor for Southern California's most reputable kayaking company. I try to keep the company I work for out of my posts as my opinions are my own (and I have a tendency to be a tad opinionated) and do not always reflect the views of the company I work for. Scott So.Cal. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I just turned 59 and have been paddling kayaks for 3 years. I'm strictly a weekend paddler but I try not to miss many weekends. I have a Prijon Taifun that I paddle on Class 1-2 whitewater and on timber-clogged blackwater rivers. My primary boat is a composite Dagger Meridian. I use a Greenland style paddle with the Meridian unless I'm going to run into sunken timber, in which case I take one of my Werner paddles. This past summer I bought a Dagger Reflection 16 for fishing and for taking my wife paddling. We do okay with the canoe but our daughter and her husband paddle it really well. Bob -------------------------------------------------- Robert C. Perkins, Ph.D. Associate Dean for Research and Planning Methodist College, Fayetteville, NC 28311 910-630-7037 rperkins_at_methodist.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
My name is John Bonaventure and I live in coastal Central Calif. I am 46 years old and paddling has kept me in great shape. Started paddling whitewater in rafts about 10 years ago then seakayaks about 6 years *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Well, I am turning 38, divorced 4 years ago and found myself having too much free time with nothing to do ;-) met a friend who had an deep addiction to sea-kayaking and during the first summer tried paddling 5 to 6 times. My father had two boats when I was a kid, so that might have something to do why I do feel so comfortable at sea. Solitude, silence, feeling of learning and personal success felt sssoooooooooooooo nice... after four summers I have found myself owning a double and a single (Nordkapp), plus lots of other gear. Got addicted, too. Seriously. I do quite often weekend trips of 2 to 4 days along the Finnish coast, and I have now started regularly paddling some 650 miles per year - at least one or two of the trips lasting a week or two. A very serious part of my learning curve was the expedition of last summer: 400 kms/ 250 miles alone, from Helsinki to the Russian border and back. Mostly, my work as a photographer and a principal lecturer wears me down before summer, so when I do start hating people it is time to go alone to the sea ;-) I am not especially fond of all that tecnical stuff, so my greatest happiness is just to enjoy the mornings when the sun has risen here at 3.30 am and after a good cup of hot coffee I am starting the voyage through silent waters. Cheers, Ari Saarto "Home of the Traditional & Famous Scandinavian Skinny-dipping [TM]" Finland - Europe GSM +358 - 50 - 526 5892 fax. +358 - 3 - 828 2815 e-mail: asaarto_at_lpt.fi *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I'm a bridge troll with a hankering for paddling in the wilderness. Since I live in Northern Ontario, I'm a very happy troll ( http://www.geocities.com/~culpeper/245264.jpg and http://www.geocities.com/~culpeper/245280.jpg ). In the summer I like to sea kayak on the Great Lakes. I am presently living in Thunder Bay, which is on Lake Superior, so the sea kayaking is tremendous -- lots of little islands, mesas galore, potable water, and no people. Previously I spent a few years in London, Ontario, earning my keep teaching kayaking on Lakes Erie and Huron. I quite enjoyed the warm water and beaches of the little port villages. Prior to that I lived in Sudbury for many years, where I ran the Sudbury Canoe Club and spent most of my time on mid-northern-Ontario wild water ( http://www.geocities.com/~culpeper/kipphoto.html and http://www.geocities.com/~culpeper/temphoto.html ) and on Georgian Bay. Sudbury is quite an amazing place, with more lakes in town than you can shake a stick at, and within an hour of town are the Killarney, Temagami, French, and Spanish paddling areas. In the late summer and fall, when the bugs are gone, I like to canoe trip on the Canadian shield. I enjoy the close vegetation and the broken terrain. As a troll, I'm built for portaging ( http://www.geocities.com/~culpeper/245240.jpg ), so I find shield paddling offers a relaxing mix of paddling and hiking/portaging. I adore being out in the middle of nowhere, and I also greatly enjoy the contrast of winding down a rugged river and then emerging onto the ocean, so rivers which are seldom visited, and which flow into James/Hudson's Bay, such as the Kattawagami ( http://www.geocities.com/~culpeper/kattaw.html and http://www.geocities.com/~culpeper/katphoto.html ), are my preference. Sometimes folks ask what the most difficult thing about tripping in the wilds is, and to be honest, for me it is having to return back to civilization. The longer I am out there, the more I feel at ease with myself, my paddling partner, and the land through which we are journeying. In the winter I ski, so when I read posts from folks wishing for warm weather and high water, I hiss and spit at my screen. In public school I got into back country skiing with a friend, and gradually progressed into telemarking -- even made the national team in 96. It's as close to grace and decorum as a troll can get ( http://www.geocities.com/~culpeper/smophoto.html ). Come spring, I hit the wild water in a kayak. Needless to say, with rugged terrain and much of the world's fresh water, Ontario has lots of delightful wild water opportunities ( http://www.geocities.com/~culpeper/gulphoto.html ), but even then I take off my hat to Idaho ( http://www.geocities.com/~culpeper/souphoto.html ), where my friends and I visit to catch the peak run-off, and to warm up in hot springs after a long winter. I particularly like the crossroads settlement of Prairie, on the arid canyon of the South Fork of the Boise. The folks there are very warm and welcoming. Certificationally speaking, I'm a wild water instructor and a sprint racing instructor. I hold a B.A. and an M.A. in English literature (feminist novels), and a law degree. I'm a tree hugger, and I have been the environmental director of Canoe Ontario and the Ontario Recreational Canoeing Association, have been the conservation chair and a director of the Wilderness Canoe Association, and am presently mucking about with Environment North. My move from technical writing into law was brought about by a number of environmental assessment adventures and some environmental TV writing work. I get great satisfaction in being able to help protect the wilderness, and find that my troll like disposition is ideal for legal environmental work ( http://www.geocities.com/~culpeper/sixpack.html ). If I get trapped inside too long, I start writing silly articles ( http://www.geocities.com/~culpeper/tales.html ). My sweetie-pie-honey-kins, Karen Smith, lives about a thousand miles from me, and having just called her my sweetie-pie-honey-kins, I doubt if she'll be moving closer any time soon. In the mean time, I have my two black cats, Merlin and Morrigaine, to keep me warm through the winter. And yes, our PFD'd cats do paddle with us. A few years ago on a hot summer afternoon while I was restoring a sprint K-2 in London, I saw a petite woman cox a north canoe (a voyageur canoe) up to the dock. It was love at first sight for me, but took a week in Temagami's lost lagoon to convince Karen. Hey, trolls may not be much to look at, but they know their grottos. Since then we have happily canoed and kayaked about southern and mid-northen Ontario. Karen spent Christmas skiing in Thunder Bay, and is hoping to make the Idaho trip with me in the spring (I encouraged her with a photo of some of the guys lazing about in the buff in a hot spring ( http://www.geocities.com/~culpeper/locphoto.html )), so while being apart for a year or two (until our careers jive) is difficult, the time we spend together is wonderful. So that's me, a happy old bridge troll, with my sweetie-pie-honey-kins, my paddling cats, a yard full of boats, and a lifetime of wilderness to explore and protect. Time to ... ( http://www.geocities.com/~culpeper/245281.jpg ). Richard Culpeper http://www.geocities.com/~culpeper/ "Hour after hour, day after day, we paddled and sang and slept under the hot sun on the northern ocean, wanting never to return." *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
On Sun, 07 Feb 1999 11:40:14 Dave Kruger wrote: > It occurred to me that it might be useful for each >of us to post a paragraph or two which describes our "paddling profile." What a bunch of old farts. :) So far I think I've only seen one other person under the age of 30. I'm 29 and my wife is ... younger. (Never reveal a womans age). We've been paddling since last summer and still rank as novices. We've taken a half day class so we can at least wet exit and reenter (but not in severe water, so far we just avoid that). This works fine for the type of water we've paddled so far. The lakes around Kansas City don't really get nasty (except during thunderstorms, and then we'll stay at home in the basement to avoid tornados). We intend to take some classes this summer to increase our skill level. I paddle a plastic Necky Looksha IV while my wife paddles a Perception Shadow. All of our trips have been day trips so far but we are hoping to do a mulit-day trip some time this year after we've had our classes. We enjoy the list. For old farts you guys and gals are great! :) Mel & Julie --- There are three types of people, those who can count and those who can't. -----== Sent via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----- http://www.dejanews.com/ Easy access to 50,000+ discussion forums *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I'll add one more female voice to this discussion. I'm 58 years old and have paddled canoes off and on for most of my life. Took up kayaking about two years ago, purchasing a used S.O.T. and quickly moved into a seakayak and sold my canoe. Currently, paddle a Dagger Magellan, and paddle at least three days a week. Longest trip so far was 16 miles. Can keep up with most of the guys around here, but doubt I could keep up with the guys on this list!! I live in Cape Haze, FL and am minutes away from the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve. Nearby are several barrier islands: Gasparilla, Little Gasparilla, Don Pedro, Captiva, Sanibel and Pine Island. Also nearby are some beautiful rivers: the Peace and Myakka Rivers are closest. Sometimes I lead eco-trips for a local tour company and sometimes lead trips for a local kayaking club. Don't have a roll, and probably never will, but practice the paddle float entry frequently and am pretty quick getting back in. The discussion on safety has made me re-think this a bit, and at the very least, I'm going to start doing some practicing in some waves to make sure I can re-enter the boat when it's rough. I put together a webpage 'postcard' for some friends a week or so ago, you might like to see. Had headed out about 4:30 on evening and paddled out to a pass on the Gulf of Mexico to watch the sunset. Took some photos with my digital camera and then put them on a webpage with descriptions. Check out http://www.cyberseas.com/beach.htm. In my real life, I'm a web designer/computer programmer and work from home, so I generally can get out anytime I want. If anyone is going to the St. Pete Seakayak Symposium, maybe I'll see you there. I'll probably be the only 'old' woman there! *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Hello all! My name is Patrick Maun, I'm 31 (not an old fart, not a kid, more of an idiot man/child) and am an artist, college teacher, and since "retiring" from the advertising industry, I run my own interactive design/consulting firm. I am approaching my fourth season kayaking. I paddle primarily on Lake Superior and some local rivers. Like many other Paddlewise people, I live in Minnesota. I've got a Current Designs GTS and have been building a stich-and-glue for four years now. One day I'll finish the damn thing. I wish I had about eight more boats, or at least a couple more for friends to use. I'd love to paddle a lot more than I do. I lead a pretty hectic life which doesn't leave enough time to get out and slow down. I do take the sport very seriously and spend a lot my time paddling refining my skills. At a pool session last night I finally nailed my offside roll. My girlfriend took a course last year and is slowly getting more active at paddling. I also jet ski and snowmobile. OK, I lied. I cross-country ski, hike and camp just like pretty much everyone else on the list in a northern clime. -Patrick -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patrick Maun pmaun_at_bitstream.net *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I have been a serious paddler since the late 60s (you do the math). These days I can be found on day or extended trips off the coast of New England anywhere from Cape Cod to the Maine Island Trail in a kevlar Arluk III or my wife's Arluk II. With local preferences being from Cape Ann, Ma north to Portsmouth,NH. In the winter months I paddle less freqeuntly in New England but find some time for a trip or two to the southeast (NC, GA or FL). XC skiing diverts some of my outdoor energies. I have combined my passions for fishing and paddling by fishing (trolling) from my kayak. During the right season fresh caught bluefish and striped bass make a great barbecue. I have further diversified my paddling by spending a lot of time on the water at night. There is something about being on the water late at night with the soft silver light of the moon or in the real darkness without the moon. I have also been rethinking the whole visibility issue and rather than become more visible I would much prefer to blend into the scenery and become totally invisible. Make no tracks, leave no trace and not be seen by man nor beast. Maybe my next boat will be like the Wonder Woman's jet. Hal Wilton, NH Power your boat with carbohydrates, not hydrocarbons. http://www.jlc.net/~hlevin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I'm Rene Milo. My first name rhymes with bean as in "Rene Rene Jelly Bean". I prefer being called Milo. :-) Last year I entered the ranks of one of the special interest groups ("mature" adult) at age 50. 1998 was my first year of kayaking and I got into it with a vengance -- every weekend from May to November (hmm, echos of a song). At the end of the year I succeeded at rolling my Feathercraft K1. This coming year my goals are to get BCU certified with AKT, do some camping from the kayak (camping is also new to me -- I'm getting a late start on a lot of things), and see whales from a kayak. Milo Poughkeepsie, NY *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
>In that vein, here's my "profile:" I'm Dave Seng. I just turned 37 (right in the middle between Mel's "old farts" and the "kids" on the list), am single and generally not too PC, and have been playing with anything that I could get into the water for 22 of those years. I spent my youth as a "water rat" on the shores of Lake Michigan and the St. Joseph river. I swam competitively for ten years and worked as a lifeguard for 5 years. I took a three day whitewater canoeing class 6 years ago, experiencing and learning more in three days about handling a canoe than I had previously dreamed possible. A once entertaining pastime became a focal point in my life. I began paddling a sea kayak to provide myself with a "fix" when I couldn't get away to paddle whitewater; eventually sea kayaking proved to take over most of my paddling time. (It was a lot easier to trundle the yak down to Lake Michigan than it was to drive 6 hours to the nearest whitewater river) I currently live in Juneau, Alaska - I moved here 18 months ago. I left the big city (Chicago) and a high paying job in the software development field for the wilds of Southeast Alaska and a low paying network consulting job (SE Alaska is not exactly a hotbed of technology). It is proving to be one of the best decisions that I ever made in my life. I try to paddle year-round, although right now the kayaks and canoe are buried under 30 inches of snow! Most of my paddling is solo day tripping, but I managed to get in a few extended trips in last year. Paddling solo in remote areas is frowned on by some, but for me the rewards out-weigh the hazards. During our long summer days I usually manage to get a kayak in the water every day after work - the short daylight hours of winter usually preclude anything other than weekend paddling. I'm too in love with life and not confident enough to paddle our frigid waters in the dark by myself, besides, it's almost impossible to spot whales and seals and sea otters in the dark. I currently paddle a Seaward Ascente and a VCP Skerray and occasionally take my Dagger Encore out to play in the surf. I'm leaning strongly towards buying a folding boat (Nautiraid Raid 2) to make travelling around Southeast (Alaska) with a kayak easier. Because we don't really have a road system (the road in Juneau stretches 40 miles) in Southeast my trips "out of town" with a kayak are taken by skiff. I think that it will be a lot easier to toss a folding boat in the skiff than it is to "rack mount" the kayak(s) on the boat. I tend to be very safety conscious and conservative in my paddling and boating although there may be some who opine that solo paddling is the opposite. The waters and land of this area can be very unforgiving to the careless or unthinking. A tip of the hat to all of the great folks who make this list such an entertaining and enlightening place. Thanks! Dave Seng Juneau, Alaska *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I have been on the list for just over a year and half, mostly lurking, with 'kayak intention', getting my first boat in August of last year with much help from all of you on the list. It is a poly Dagger 'Baja' and allowed me about 10-15 times out on the local waterways before it got too cold. It also has provided the opportunity of attending roll sessions at a pool in Philadelphia where I have both an off and on side roll- note the 'an', they are by no means pretty (and in pool conditions), but I did not require a wet exit last week I think that naivete helped because I felt that either were off-side. Another session next Saturday, more refinement. This was the reason for me getting a poly boat, instant gratification. A couple on the list recommended making a boat which I will be able to start when my studio is built and my tools are moved from Philadelphia (eastern city of the US). I have changed residence to central New Jersey last feb. after living in the Phila and NYC area for the past 25 of my 45 years. I design and make furniture (madly getting ready for my next show in May, ICFF at the Javitz), so I have a wood and metalworking shop at my disposal. My current studio is far too small to start this, but bids are out for a 36'x50' stable renovation next to my home. I am also thinking of making a portable(not necessarily foldable) for travel realizing the importance of fit and the inadequacies of rental (I am oddly proportioned)- I use aluminum extensively and just got an old industrial Singer and it seems an interesting project. I was a speed skater in the city and would admire the sculls on the Schuykill river on my daily skate. Now that I am in an area where I can be out in major body of water within 10 minutes of my house, I found the most practical alternative to be the kayak (roads are not real good for skating). I don't have much of value to post on the list being so new to kayaking, and appreciate all the information so kindly offered on the list. I guess you could see my other interests on my web sites below- on the 'journal' there are numerous references to my kayak debacles. Thanks to all for everything, gabriel -- gabriel l romeu http://members.aol.com/romeug studio furniture http://members.aol.com/romeugp paintings, photos, prints, etc. http://members.xoom.com/gabrielR a daily photo journal *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
What a fun thread, ya'll! I'm Sandy, a 45-year-old school marm, and I paddle my excellent Sparrow Hawk on rivers and creeks in the lowcountry of South Carolina every chance I get. I am more interested in the personalities of the folks on this list and the exchange of information, rather than all the technical stuff itself. (Although I have learned a thing or two.) :) I need info on paddling the Outer Banks of NC! *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 2/8/99 6:15:44 PM Central Standard Time, pmaun_at_bitstream.net writes: << I also jet ski and snowmobile. >> Hey, Patrick can I borrow one of those? Which one I will borrow depends on what form the water takes down here in Iowa this weekend! Rob *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Since our paddling buddy, Anne Burton, just chimed in on this, I guess we should too. We are Mark Whiting and Catherine Fox of Maine - both pushing 50. Both grew up on the coast - Mark in Maryland and Catherine in Maine - and have both been messing about in small boats all our lives. We took up kayaking about 20 years ago and haven't stopped since. We live 5 minutes from Stockton Harbor/Sears Island, but do most of our kayaking in the Castine/Blue Hill/Deer Isle area - mostly day trips due to work schedules. We usually paddle from early April to late October each year - every weekend together and Catherine paddles alone (but close to shore in protected water) early mornings on weekdays during the summer. Our current boat collection consists of two Necky Looksha IVs - one standard and one IVS, a Valley Pintail, and a Necky Santa Cruz (for guests and surf) and we both paddle Greenland-style. We don't roll but we regularly practice a variety of self- and assisted- rescues, we wear wetsuits when prudent (although we prefer fuzzy rubber to neoprene), and we try to be very safety-conscious. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
<<thrash and flail when it works, thrash and fail when it doesn't. Really kinda pitiful, I suppose. Probably from so many years in sailing dinghys where it is considered extraordinarily poor form to be inside a boat that is upside down.>> ROFL I think this is my mental block about the rolls, besides a fear that those who are supposed to help me might be laughing so hard they won't get to helping in time. Joan Maryland *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
It is interesting to see who we are. I am Bob Phillips (59) and came to yakking by a circuitous route. As an adult at UC Bezerkeley, I got into sailing on the bay through the Cal Sailing Club and built an International Fireball. This is a sailing dinghy that weighs about 220 lbs all -up with a crew of 2. One of the crew trapezes, and the boat has main, jib and spinnaker. In the strong sea breezes funneling through the Golden Gate, *Balls will do an exciting 22+ MPH through the chop. The Fireball is plywood (or should be), and with only the back 4-ft wet while it is planing, it is like motorcycling without the risk of skin loss in a capsize. When my family got its life together in the mid-80s and moved to the foot of Mt. Hood Oregon, we aumented our cycling with cross country skiing. Here, In Michigan (don't ask --it has to do with peace breaking out), snow season always finds me with decent aerobic fitness, useful legs and a weak upper body. Usually, by the end of the Michigan Cup season, I have gotten the upper bod in shape. Anyhow, with my background in plywood and fast boats, I decided that off season kayaking would be just the ticket to keep my shoulders and stuff in shape. So, I built a Pygmy Golden Eye and started to learn to paddle. My local lake is small, and it soon got to be confining. The GE started taking my to bigger and more remote waters, and I got so excited about slipping quietly throught he water and watching nature that it sort of took over. Now, I have to be really serious to take the bike for a ride with Michigan's dangerous, shoulderless roads, motor-city brained drivers, ... The yak has a permenant home on the top of the bungalow truck, and with my bikes goes everywhere. Vacation is time to take the yak somewhere and poke around. It has been wet in 4 great lakes, 1000 islands, ... I love to share the water with Loons and get them to yodel to me. My son taught himself to roll by reading the book and persisting in our local lake. I swear to learn to roll this season. Kayaking is a great thing to do, and I am paddling this year because of advice and problem solving help from you, my aged colleagues from WaveLength. Thank you Bob Phillips *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
This thread has been fun. It's very interesting to see how many "old farts" we are. Perhaps we should just consider ourselves mature enough to appreciate the finer things in life like enjoying nature at a less hectic pace. Kathy and I will turn 50 this year, so I guess that puts us in the median of Paddlewise respondents. We have been kayaking for a little more than one year. We mostly run the local rivers of North Florida, but wish to expand our geographic horizons: So much water, so little time. Our first, and current, boats are Wilderness Systems Manteos. They are great beginners boats and are well suited to the tight, twisty rivers we normally enjoy. We are both ready to paddle something more responsive and will likely move up to glass boats in the 17 ft range in the not-too-distant future. We will likely build our own kayaks before its said and done: I just like to build things to see if I can. In that regard, I made Kathy a Cedar Greenland Paddle from Chuck Holst's instructions and I even assembled my own set of golf clubs. We both have fairly broad boating experience. Between us, we have canoed, owned ski/fishing boats, owned a power yacht, crewed 30-50 ft blue water sailing yachts, and whitewater rafted the Nantahala in North Carolina and the Pucuare in Costa Rica. Kayaking seems to be a nice fit for us and it gives us a shared hobby/obsession. We belong to the Silent Otters Paddle Club out of High Springs, Florida. Our longest and most recent trip: 55 miles of the Suwannee in 2.5 days last week. On our "to do" list: The Florida Keys and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Greatest Experiences: Paddling with Dolphins and being pushed around by a Manatee at Crystal River. Greatest Desire: Paddle with whales, particularly Orca. Kurt Wisner Lake City, Florida *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Hello List, I very much am enjoying reading and learning about the others on this list. After someone posts for a while, I think it's natural to sort of get a mental image of what they must be like. With the "who we are" responses, I find that there's a lot more interesting things to learn about our fellow list members. I find it fascinating to note all the similarities and differences. So....it's my turn: My name is Bill Leonhardt, I'm 52 years young or old or whatever, and I grew up in the middle of Queens, NY culturally, if not geographically, far from boats. I've lived several other places in the US but have been on Long Island, NY for the last 22 years. I live in East Patchogue, less than 1/4 mile from the Great South Bay which is a great place to paddle, especially for beginners. Long Island is about 125 miles long, 20 miles wide at the widest part and is said to have about 1000 miles of coastline. Lots of great paddling places to explore, all less than 1 to 1.5 hours away. Apart from scout experiences and a Delaware River experience during college, I started "adult" paddling around 1985. I bought a Coleman Canoe on sale at Caldor's and paddled a lot with my sons on local lakes. The boys grew and departed and the canoe now awaits grandchildren. In 1988, my SO gave me some kayak lessons as a present and, after my first experience with a moonlight paddle on Moriches Bay, I was hooked. (BTW, my SO, Pat, became my wife about 1.5 years ago. In 1990, Pat and I each bought plastic kayaks made by MI Designs of England and really got serious about being on the water. These first boats, while truly for beginners, really got a lot of use and are now our "guest" boats. Currently, I paddle a Current Designs Solstice GT (fiberglass) and Pat paddles a Wilderness Systems Sealoution II (polyethylene). At present, I paddle year round, however Pat limits herself to June through October locally. In addition to paddling locally, I have had occasion both from work travel and vacations to paddle in BC, CA, CT, FL, ME, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA and once in England. It really is great to hit a city, look up the local paddling shop, talk with the folks for a while and then paddle a new place, oft times with a different boat. Sometimes I do travel to places where it's not easy to find a paddle shop and/or rent a boat, therefore I'm saving my money for a Feathercraft K-Lite. I've mentioned the four kayaks and one canoe we already have and the folder I hope to buy. But it doesn't end there. I would also like to build (in the future some time from now) a "stitch-and-glue" tandem and a single, skin covered baidarka. Well...we all need goals and/or fantasies. I have the equipment and have done a fair bit a backpacking but, while I own a boat that can haul a good deal of stuff, I've not yet been able to set aside the time for a multi day trip. I have high hopes for 1999. Like backpacking, I find that I enjoy paddling with others AND I enjoy paddling alone. I think the alone time is greater than 50% but who's counting. Safety issues set aside (and respected), there are times when one (meaning me) needs to be alone on the water. Ok Bill, let's wrap this up! I work as a mechanical engineer building "stuff" for particle accelerators, and I also enjoy philately, marquetry and I participate in a few sports, BUT I'm really passionate about kayaking! Glad to be associated with such a group as ours, Bill ps. I rolled once and may do it again. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I've been on a business trip in Puerto Rico but may have some time to write this e-mail while I contemplate the cancelled flights. (55 minutes later) I just turned 51, married with 2 pre teens and live in South Florida, between Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. I was born in South Africa and grew up in New York. My first paddling trip was a one week trip down the Delaware in a Grumman. I don't remember much (It's wonderful how the mind supresses bad experiences) of the wet sleeping bags, the camp sites next to the railroad tracks (SURPRISE!) and the pollution. Most of my clothes fell apart by the time we reached the take out. Idid enjoy the paddling and went paddling at every opportunity. I did PG work in an aspect of environmental psych and studied photography. The department headed West and I headed East to Ireland, via Glascow where I spent a number of years playing music, photographing buildings and consuming vast quantities of Guinness. After Ireland I spend tome time in Manhatten which made the trip back to South Africa a no brainer. I became the head of the photography department at the University of Cape Town, Michaelis Scool of Fine Arts, obtained digs on the beach and bought a Wave Ski. The seas were cold and typical surf was 6' with 10 and 12 not uncommon. I never felt completely comfortable on the ski and very uncomfortable off. Visibility was low and there were some VERY BIG hungry fish that roamed those waters. On off days I paddled the local marshes and up and down the coast, but it was a challenge on a wave ski..no tracking and it was a real dog, but provided a great work out. When I moved to Florida, my new office was in one of the local marinas on the intracoastal and my neighborhood was just a few miles South. I looked for a wave ski but no one knew what I was talking about, so I looked at SOTs. It took one paddle in a cockpitted boat to convince me that I wanted that sleek green and blue seakayak..a Wilderness Systems boat (can't remember the name) that I soon realized was more of a bathtub with a rudder then a seakayak. I was able to trade it in on a REAL seakayak....a Sealution....and that was good for a few more weeks untill I tried my first glass boat. I wanted a kevlar Nordkapp but could only justify a Seda Impulse. Eventually we aquired a kevlar Falcon 16, a WS Piccalo and then finally the Nordkapp and then a second. I recently purchased a K-Light and will probably trade one Nordkapp in on a Khatsalano. Paddling has become, not an addiction, but a necessity. I try to paddle 20 to 30 miles each weekend and feel a sense of loss if I am unable to paddle. I will begin paddling evenings once or twice a week, as soon as the days get just a bit longer. My put in is a bear (as Chuck Landis will verify), especially in the dark. I currently work as the IT director for a transportation company and have a small business making "Sink the Stink" a wet suit deodorizer I developed. I finally have a job where I don't need to have pages added to my passport every few years. I also enjoy scuba diving, flying, FITA archery, playing Irish music and amateur radio (W2PN). Long term plan is to sell the kids, buy a 42 foot sail boat and head East. It's been a pleasure meeting everyone through this thread....especially the lurkers! BTW, one of my kayaking buddies works for a cargo airline and has managed to get me out of San Juan on a freighter this evening!! cya *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
--Small World..... I met your father once when I lived in Hillsborough not far off River Road, maybe some 10,15 years ago. Some idiots in the county road department cut down a 250 year old Oak just so they could put in a guard rail where it wasn't needed. I was looking at the carnage when he walked up and we had a long conversation about the area and its history. I also remember your house. I grew up in Griggstown, did some of my early paddling on the canal, swam in the Millstone in Cheston's Meadow, etc. After a long hiatus in Florida I moved back up, and now live in Hopewell. One of the paddling clubs I'm a member of, Mohawk Canoe Club, has its headquarters in the old Walker Stevenson house between the Griggstown canal bridge and the turning basin. Joe Pylka PS: Simcoe's Raid on Millstone occurred in 1777, when he burned down the courthouse there. -----Original Message----- From: Chris & Ellen Kohut <chriskayak_at_earthlink.net> To: Paddlewise <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net> >>>>>>>> We launched on the Millstone River of central N.J. about a quarter mile downstream from the Griggstown bridge (across from my house). That was the last time I appeared that summer at the family table for regular meals. There was entirely too much interesting stuff that would wash up in the eddies of the frequent log jams on the Millstone, and entirely too many painted turtles to be caught. That part of New Jersey was all dairy farms and silage corn back then, as landscaping with strip malls was slow to catch on. If I had already picked through the flotsam in my little stretch of the Millstone, awaiting the next flood, the boat was light enough for a smallish kid to pick it up on my shoulder and cross the heavily treed no-man's land between the Millstone and the Delaware-Raritan Canal, and cross the tow-path and paddle the canal for a while. That having been done you were teleported back to 1850 -- or so it seemed ,what with the lock-keepers quarters and the houses still standing spared by the Brits who swept through in 1812 when they burnt the courthouse. Except for the hiss of tires on wet pavement of the occasional Sunday driver on the adjacent road, all was nearly like it was in 1850: only the sound was of your paddle drip and occasional turtle plopping off the bank as you passed too near for turtle comfort. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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