This is a response to the cost of paddling thread. To trick myself into getting involved with this sport I first went on a test paddle. I found that I had fallen in love with paddling. So when it came time to buy a sea kayak I divided its cost by the number of years that I 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. Good Paddling, Don Dimond *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> 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. This summer I'll be able to take a backcountry trip in Texas that is completely inaccessible to most people and methods. It does have a rather large hit up front; but most of the gear is very durable, and will give years of service. Richard Walker Houston, TX http://www.neosoft.com/~rww/kayak_log.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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 -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** 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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