Went out for a leisurely paddle in the hot sun today with my son and his fiance' -- lotta lazin' around, woofin' at friends on the decks of their houseboats, dodging put-put runabouts, and loafin'. Most concentrated effort we made was to examine closely (through the binocs) what that eagle was eating. Looked not real yummy, but he/she was very involved. But all that is beside the point. This trip was the first shot in my single yak after many outings in our folding double (Folbot G II). And, you know what? I had forgotten how much *closer* to the water you are in a single. How much more of a rhythm there is to paddling a single. In the G II, I'm the stern motor and rudder controller. It seems very business-like and *purposeful.* I methodically stroke along, matching the bow paddler's cadence so we don't clack paddles, and I never feel that oneness with the boat I feel in my single. So, am I alone in this? I really *enjoy* the paddling I do in a single. The blame thing responds to every wiggle of my hips. The double ... well, in that boat, I feel like the stern part of the two guys under the horse costume in the parade. Every movement has a definite goal and we are duty bound to go somewhere. Mostly, it is a duty, not a joy. Mind you, there are advantages to the double. I get to talk quietly to my sweetie -- and to share sightings of birds, otters, and the like. Lunch is more available. And, the double is more comfy on an extended paddle. But, doggone it, it just isn't as much *fun!* Anybody got tips for re-injecting the rhythm into paddling a double? Do I need to go to counseling with my G II? -- Dave Kruger ... double-challenged, in ... Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
At 09:55 PM 5/23/99 -0700, Dave Kruger wrote: >So, am I alone in this? I really *enjoy* the paddling I do in a single. Hi Dave, et al! Can't say re. those kayak thingies, but The Ms., both the pups, and I prefer paddling the solo canoes. The poor ol' tandem mostly gets used for a storage container in the garage. Maybe we're just an anti-social bunch, but paddling solo gives one a sense of freedom that seems lacking in a tandem. Freedom to go where you want, when you want, freedom to make it (or not) based on your own skills or the lack thereof, freedom from having to paddle twice as hard to correct for the bow paddlers random offside sweeps, freedom from getting paddle-drips applied to the back of your neck by a frisky stern paddler, etc. Also, it seems safer to me to have paddlers spread between two or more boats on a trip as opposed to having the whole gang in one vessel. That said, fishing is easier from a tandem where the stern "galley slave" provides the thrust, while the luxuriously reclining dictator in the bow gets to holler orders, drink all of the beer, and concentrate on catching dinner. "In retrospect, the worst I ever had was excellent" (Gene Tracy?) ;-> ByeBye! S. *************************************************************************** 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 Kruger wrote: > >BIG SNIP > Anybody got tips for re-injecting the rhythm into paddling a double? Do I need > to go to counseling with my G II? > > -- > Dave Kruger ... > double-challenged, in > ... > Astoria, OR > Dave, the wife and I have been married almost 25 years and part of the reason is, we get along perfectly when in the old super, folding folbot. The reason "we" get along is, she doesn't paddle very well(worse that even I), and doesn't even like to paddle much. That leaves me to give her a free ride around(which she likes) and I don't have to match her paddle strokes or correct for where I think we should be heading(which I like). Anytime she gets a wild hair to paddle, I just kick back and let her, and take a break. :>) After sitting behind a good friend for several hundred miles, on the Yukon river, I can say with all honesty, that anyone that likes paddling solo more than two up, is VERY sane!<G> James *************************************************************************** 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 archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:32:59 PDT