[Paddlewise] cost of paddling & quality of life

R. Walker wrote:
> 
> > was going to use it. I then found that sea kayaking was
> > quite reasonably priced. Months later when I camped on
> > an Island on Lake Superior and watched the sun set while
> > eating dinner I came to the realization that my quality
> > of had increased dramatically.
> 
> Amen!!  You know, for something that at its worst costs $400 a
> year, it sure does add a pretty significant element to quality of life.
> I've been places and seen wilderness within an hours drive of home,
> places that would never even have touched my awareness without
> having the big blue kazoo strapped to the top of my car.

The same goes for the urban paddler.  I have lived in New York City all
my life but until I got out on the water just prior to my 50th year, I
don't believe I ever really _saw_ the city.  It is so easy to forget
that New York has a strong maritime tradition and is, in essence, an
archipelago with some 700 plus miles of shoreline.  There is no better
away to appreciate this burg than from the seat of a kayak, under your
own muscle power, at the whim of currents and wind and a bit humbled by
the majesty of what man has created.

Being on the water adds to the quality of life of us cliff dwellers. 
Sea kayaking costs pro-rated over the life of kayak and its gear is that
of going to two or three Broadway shows per year.

Back in 1990 or 1991 I wrote an article in Sea Kayaker on "Paddling The
Big Apple."  Of course, I know a lot more about this phenomenon now but
I think that even then I caught some of the flavor of the experience.  A
few years later I met John Dowd who had been editor prior to when I had
submitted my article to current editor Chris Cunningham.  John said that
he had thought of running a series of articles on urban paddling.  With
some 20 or 30 major metropolises being port cities, he would have had
articles through the year 2000.  I found it interesting that the last
cover of Sea Kayaker of Dowd's reign as editor was one picturing John
and his wife paddling in front of the Statue of Liberty.  I am not even
certain that he ever paddled here, BTW.

New York remains a wonderful place to paddle despite the growing
commercial and recreational motor/sail traffic.  Anyone on this
listserver who is interested in doing so on a business trip or vacation
should really get in touch with me.  I am certain we can work something
out.  For folding kayakers: I did an article in my newsletter last year
on paddling here with a bagged boat and using public transportation to
get around; I would be happy to fax or email it to you gratis.  The
places to paddle range from the classic view of Manhattan's skyline
through to 400 foot cliffs, marshes, abandoned islands, beaches etc.
some of which are so secluded and so far visually and mentally from the
big city that you feel a million miles away.  Oh yeah you can do any of
these with a hardshell but a folding kayak let's you do one way trips
with no doubling back and, if you run into adverse conditions, you can
just pull out, knock down the boat and take a cab.  Try that with your
Arluk or Nordkapp! :-)

happy paddling,

ralph diaz
-- 
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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