I was kayaking in a spring suit, which is OK in almost all Southern California air temperatures, but really kind of light for the midwinter ocean temperatures, if I were to actually go for an extended swim. I started shopping around for a warmer suit and found www.aquaflite.com. Their office turned out to be only a few miles away, so I went by for a fitting and ordered a Farmer John, plus full jacket. Got it in 3mm for mobility, figuring the doubled coverage on the torso would be fine for my needs. I expect to often paddle in the Farmer John only, with the jacket on deck nearby, or wear the jacket in colder conditions. They offer a very wide range of color combinations. You could get pretty hideous, if you wished. They do a lot of mail order and have a comprehensive set of instructions on measuring practically every dimension of your body. The winning feature? A relief zipper. It's one of their many options. For those of you interested, and there always are some, they do retrofits of relief zippers into your wetsuit for about $30. I have no connection to them except as a satisfied customer. Their web site is quite instructive, even if you end up buying somewhere else. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Mon, 16 Aug 1999, Mark Hunter wrote: > The winning feature? A relief zipper. It's one of their many options. > For those of you interested, and there always are some, they do > retrofits of relief zippers into your wetsuit for about $30. Hmm. Will they put in a long relief zipper that goes all the way from front to back for those of the feminine persuasion? (You haven't LIVED until you've pulled down your wetsuit on the beach and immediately had every square inch of exposed skin covered with midges. I'm convinced that midges are the real reason nothing is supposed to be worn under the kilt. It's got to be intended as the supreme test of Scottish manhood.) e Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Elaine Harmon wrote: > Hmm. Will they put in a long relief zipper that goes all the way from > front to back for those of the feminine persuasion? This lady installed one for my SO, for about US$30: Penny Schwyn <pschwyn_at_nextdim.com>. She did a good job. In case you do not want to send the wet suit to Spokane, WA, check out her Web page for advice on sewing neoprene: http://www.nextdim.com/users/pschwyn/tips.htm -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Wed, 18 Aug 1999 LIZCSTM_at_aol.com wrote: > OK, Elaine, what's a midge? Related to the no-see-ums I've heard about? Hi- yes. The same genus, Culicoides. The Scots claim they're worse than other species, but then the Scots always think they have the worst of everything. I haven't experienced no-see-ums, but I can tell you the midges are vicious biters who descend in swarms and go for the warmest, moistest places. Once I was almost into my boat taking off from Niall's when a small swarm hit my head. I fell out of the boat trying to fend them off, the while teaching a guy nearby, who had just put in, some new language. He very nearly fell out himself, from laughing. Slainte! e Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Elaine Harmon wrote: > On Wed, 18 Aug 1999 LIZCSTM_at_aol.com wrote: > > > OK, Elaine, what's a midge? Related to the no-see-ums I've heard about? > > Hi- yes. The same genus, Culicoides. The Scots claim they're worse than > other species, but then the Scots always think they have the worst of > everything. > > I haven't experienced no-see-ums, but I can tell you the midges are > vicious biters who descend in swarms and go for the warmest, moistest > places. Once I was almost into my boat taking off from Niall's when a > small swarm hit my head. I fell out of the boat trying to fend them off, > the while teaching a guy nearby, who had just put in, some new language. > He very nearly fell out himself, from laughing. No-see-ums are more than just a nuisance! On an early summer camping trip around Lake Superior a few years back, my boyfriend and I were swarmed by no-see-ums during a day hike, in spite of wearing long sleeves, bandanas on our hair, and lots of repellant. Back in the tent that night, we started counting the bites (which BTW, swell up to substantial size) and got to about 30 each above the neck only before we stopped counting and went to sleep. Based on that, I would guess we probably had about 100 bites each on our whole bodies. The next two days we were very sick - headaches, nausea, dizziness - from the bites. We were told to eat healthy, drink lots of water, take tylenol and wait it out. It wasn't life-threatening, but it certainly ruined two days of our trip. BTW, they do follow movement, so if you have long hair, tie it back or cover it up, and don't wear loose and flowing clothing. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Wed, 18 Aug 1999, Catherine Veraghen wrote: > No-see-ums are more than just a nuisance! On an early summer camping trip > around Lake Superior a few years back, my boyfriend and I were swarmed by > no-see-ums during a day hike, .... It wasn't life-threatening, but it certainly ruined two days > of our trip. Sure sounds like the same wee cratur. Maybe the guys in kilts survive because the swarms don't like to fly upwards? 'Course, they don't wear 'em much anymore - except pipers do - maybe piping serves as a repellent?....Nahhhhh, how could it? ;-) e Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
You live in Florida and have never experienced no-see-ums?????!!!! -----Original Message----- From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net] On Behalf Of Elaine Harmon Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 1999 10:27 AM To: LIZCSTM_at_aol.com Cc: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Wetsuit sites wanted On Wed, 18 Aug 1999 LIZCSTM_at_aol.com wrote: > OK, Elaine, what's a midge? Related to the no-see-ums I've heard about? Hi- yes. The same genus, Culicoides. The Scots claim they're worse than other species, but then the Scots always think they have the worst of everything. I haven't experienced no-see-ums, but I can tell you the midges are vicious biters who descend in swarms and go for the warmest, moistest places. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Wed, 18 Aug 1999, Bob Denton wrote: > You live in Florida and have never experienced no-see-ums?????!!!! Born in Miami, in fact. I've been told they're the same things we always called sandflies. Had about 40 bites per foot camping off the Hillsborough River a few months ago. But they were wusses compared to midges. Maybe they are gentler the farther south you go? e Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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