In a couple of days I'll be taking off on my yearly two week solo trip here in Southeast Alaska. Though many people question my sanity, I have my reasons for going solo. Admittedly some reasons are selfish....I can go my own speed and camp when and where I want to. The other reasons are I hope more profound...The need for solitude (my job is people intensive), quiet for life reflection and wilderness for spiritual renewal. I would be interested in hearing the reflections of others who go it alone what their motivations are. Bob,Sitka Alaska *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> I would be interested in hearing the reflections of others who go it alone > what their motivations are. Ahh, well...spiritual renewal.. yes. Silence: yes. During the wintertime I have to work with too many people and unfortunately I am not always fond of them all. So with all that solitude I am trying to restore my faith in people, etc. My experiences about kayaking solo last 4 years have also been teaching me that I better choose c a r e f u l l y with whom and what kind of people I am paddling - besides my SO. Less risk, responsibility and general mess. The sad thing about this all is that the last July was extraordinarily nice, kayaking around the SW Archipelago National Park of Finland with 6 people from local club. They were nice. Might have missed something during these years ;-) Yup. Ari - Finland, Europe *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hello all! I may be working in Chicago over the next month and would really like to get out and paddle Lake Michigan while there. The one catch is that I won't have any gear with me except what fits on my suitcase, ie wetsuits, PFD type stuff. I also won't have a car. I'd love to hook up with some Paddlewisers, anyone interested or know of on-the-water rental places? -Patrick *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I was just talking with my dad the other night (he lives directly across Lake Michigan over in St. Joseph MI) and he was telling me that the water temperature in the Lake was 80F. You might not need the wetsuit. That's _extremely_ warm for Lake Michigan! I don't recall any on-the-water rental places, but it's been a couple of years since I was there. A good local source of info and paddling connections is The Chicagoland Canoe Base - owned by Ralph Frese. Ralph's a crusty old delight and the other folks working at the store are (used to be) very helpful - they could probably help you hook up with some local paddlers. Dave Seng Juneau, Alaska (former Chicago resident) > -----Original Message----- > From: Patrick Maun [mailto:pmaun_at_bitstream.net] > Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 1999 11:06 AM > To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subject: [Paddlewise] Chicago Paddling > > > Hello all! > > I may be working in Chicago over the next month and would really like > to get out and paddle Lake Michigan while there. The one catch is > that I won't have any gear with me except what fits on my suitcase, > ie wetsuits, PFD type stuff. I also won't have a car. I'd love to > hook up with some Paddlewisers, anyone interested or know of > on-the-water rental places? > > -Patrick > ************************************************************** > ************* > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > ************************************************************** > ************* > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
http://pages.ripco.com:8080/~jwn// *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Patrick, it doesn't look like you will need a wetsuit anywhere on Lake Michigan. See http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/glsea/glsea.gif and http://chmac2.chem.mtu.edu/KITES/images.html. For Lake Superior surface temperatures, see http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/twosuperiors.html and http://chmac2.chem.mtu.edu/KITES/images.html, and note how warm it is in the Apostle Islands! Chuck Holst -----Original Message----- From: David Seng [mailto:David_at_wainet.com] Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 1999 3:16 PM To: 'Patrick Maun'; paddlewise Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Chicago Paddling I was just talking with my dad the other night (he lives directly across Lake Michigan over in St. Joseph MI) and he was telling me that the water temperature in the Lake was 80F. You might not need the wetsuit. That's _extremely_ warm for Lake Michigan! <snip> Dave Seng Juneau, Alaska (former Chicago resident) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Patrick Maun wrote: > I may be working in Chicago over the next month and would really like > to get out and paddle Lake Michigan while there. The one catch is > that I won't have any gear with me except what fits on my suitcase, > ie wetsuits, PFD type stuff. I also won't have a car. I'd love to > hook up with some Paddlewisers, anyone interested or know of > on-the-water rental places? There are two sea kayaking clubs in the Chicago area. Prairie Coast Paddlers (no current web site) does Tuesday night trips on the Lake out of Diversey Harbor (near north side), and the Chicago Area Sea Kayaking Association http://members.xoom.com/CASKAinfo/ does Wednesday evening trips also out of Diversey Harbor. (see http://pages.ripco.com:8080/~jwn//diversey.gif for a map of diversey harbor - the normal launch spot for Tues/Wed paddles is at the northern end of the harbor). Diversey Harbor connects to the Lincoln Park lagoon, where the Lincoln Park Boat Club is located. The LPBC owns a fleet of (mostly plastic) sea kayaks, and may be willing to entertain a visiting rental. The LPBC is also the best bet for finding boats close to the lake. The Chicagoland Canoe Base (773-777-1489) does rent boats, but I'm not sure if they rent sea kayaks - and they're a fair distance inland. Some of their employees are affiliated with the CASKA group, so it might be possible to arrange a boat through them. Some PCP members have extra boats which can be borrowed. Email me with dates you will be in town, and I will provide you with more specific information. Chicago has a wonderful lakefront park system, and the city skyline is most impressive when viewed after dark from the lake. With the weather as it has been, and the warm lake temps, a wet suit is not necessary at this time of year. We've just gotten out of a heat wave (15 days of 90+ F/32+ C and dew points as high as 81 F/27 C), and now are enjoying more seasonal temps. Erik Sprenne *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Alone at sea Among the numerous rewards I've found in paddling alone: The freedom to travel completely at your own pace, neither holding back nor being held back by others, and at liberty to change the day's plan moment-by-moment when swept away by a whim or a counter-current. Though you have fewer pairs of eyes to search for wildlife with, the fact that you travel mostly without talking means you do not spook animals as you approach. Then there's the fuller satisfaction of completing a challenging trip alone; you can be certain it was entirely your own skills and judgement that brought you through; there is not the slightest lingering suspicion that you used your companions as crutches, even psychological ones. For me, paddling alone also has rewards I would call spiritual. (As an agnostic, I use the term spiritual to refer to the internal life of the mind rather than necessarily a personality that survives the destruction of the body, but spirituality is nonetheless undeniably important.) I find it generally takes a trip of at least several days before the mind habits of "civilisation" and society drop temporarily away, so that I can live purely in the moment, with what I believe Buddhists call "the chattering monkey" part of my mind silenced. At first, my television-addled and short-attention-span conditioned mind leaps around searching for "stimulation" and instant variety; once I've settled into backcountry mode I can watch something which unfolds as leisurely as the languidly rising waters replenishing the food stocks of a tidal pool for hours without any boredom, and I find it as rich as any human fabricated "entertainment". Another joy is the freedom to read longer, more demanding books without distraction, and to ruminate upon the evening's reading throughout the following day, so that you give the author's ideas the attention they deserve (but so seldom get in "civilisation"). Philip Torrens N49°16' W123°06' >From: "Rev. Bob Carter" <revkayak_at_ptialaska.net> >To: <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net> >Subject: [Paddlewise] Going solo >Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1999 23:10:46 -0800 > >In a couple of days I'll be taking off on my yearly two week solo trip >here >in Southeast Alaska. Though many people question my sanity, I have my >reasons >for going solo. > > >Admittedly some reasons are selfish....I can go my own speed and camp when >and >where I want to. > > >The other reasons are I hope more profound...The need for solitude (my job >is >people intensive), quiet for life reflection and wilderness for spiritual >renewal. > > >I would be interested in hearing the reflections of others who go it alone >what their motivations are. > > >Bob,Sitka Alaska *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
<<snip>> >> >>I would be interested in hearing the reflections of others who go it >alone >>what their motivations are. >> >> >>Bob,Sitka Alaska I find that I spend the majority of my time solo because of the HUGE reduction in "hassle". Less hassle in safety, gear, logistics, provisions, etc. My V-W bus stays packed and I can be gone in about 15 minutes with a stop at a grocery somewhere if I am going alone. Even the addition of any/all of my 3 daughters tends to complicate the deal, though they are welcome and do go with me for long weekend campouts quite often. Most of my trips range from regular daytrips up to a 3 day weekend. I make a number of group events each year and always enjoy the camraderie within the larger group dynamics ...mostly. I think I have more "personal satisfaction" from going solo, but I have lots more "fun" when a relatively small group trip goes well. ....adieu .....Peyton (Louisiana) >************************************************************************ *** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ >************************************************************************ *** ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj. *************************************************************************** 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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