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From: Allison Corning <acorning_at_hotmail.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] Paul Theroux
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 10:12:22 PDT
Hi Everyone-

I'm in the process of reading a very interesting book By Paul Theroux 
entitled "The Happy Isles of Oceania" in which he describes paddling all 
around oceania in a folding kayak. I can't, however, find any details about 
his kayak(brand, style etc) except that it packs into two separate bags. 
Maybe I just haven't gotten to that part yet, but does anybody happen know 
this esotric snippet of information?

Thanks,
A

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From: <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Paul Theroux
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 18:33:34 -0700
Allison Corning wrote:
> 
> Hi Everyone-
> 
> I'm in the process of reading a very interesting book By Paul Theroux
> entitled "The Happy Isles of Oceania" in which he describes paddling all
> around oceania in a folding kayak. I can't, however, find any details about
> his kayak(brand, style etc) except that it packs into two separate bags.
> Maybe I just haven't gotten to that part yet, but does anybody happen know
> this esotric snippet of information?

For most of the trip, he was using a Klepper Aerius I Expedition model. 
He talks about them being German and being in 2 olive drab bags.  In the
Hawaii segment he paddled a Feathercraft K-1.

For awhile, Paul Theroux kept the Klepper in his home on Cape Cod and
the Feathercraft at his winter home in Hawaii.  About two years ago, he
sold the Feathercraft via the Classified section of my newsletter.  To
save him grief, I listed his name simply as "Paul."  The fellow who
bought it went bonkers when he realized that he was getting Theroux's
boat; it was also sold at a pretty low ball price.

I believe he now has a K-Light.  It is certainly what he used in a more
recent article I saw of his kayaking in some exotic place or other.

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."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------


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From: <Walt342_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Paul Theroux
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 23:22:55 EDT
Allison wrote: Does anyone happen to Know What folding Kayak  Paul Theroux 
paddled in his book "The happy Isles of Oceania" ?                              
                                                                                
Hi Allison, At this moment I'm  also reading this very interesting and funny 
book. In it he mentions that It's a German kayak. I'm assuming it's a Klepper 
Arieus 1.           Regards,                                                    
                            Dr. Walt Levins  Phd.                               
                            Director of Kayak studies                           
                            University of Oregon                                
                                Test scoring and admissions                     
                                   ( Am I being Anally retentive?)
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From: Allison Corning <acorning_at_hotmail.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Paul Theroux
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 06:07:29 PDT
Alex wrote

"The paddling bit in Fiji, Vanua Levu I found interesting as he had his
directions entirely wrong and after I'd sorted that out, it appears he got
to the same location that we stopped at one night and we had the villagers
so friendly, wanting us to come to their village, no come to our village
etc. where as he said they weren't friendly. He did not do himself a
service by his attitude. Fortunately didn't do a disservice to all kayakers.
I was told that he had time to paddle one bit of Australia or write about
it, not both, wrote as if he'd paddled it. I would not take it as a good
"paddling guide" from what I've read and heard."


Well, I'll admit that PT is a bit prickly at times, but if everyone was 
supposed to have the same experiences at the exact same places, there would 
be no reason to travel anywhere, since we could all sit home and read about 
it.  As far as Australia, all writing is an elaboration of the truth- Since 
I wouldn't use this book as a guide for a trip without consulting primary 
sources(as you did), I'm willing to suspend my disbelief long enough to 
enjoy a good story about a land I've never seen. I'm glad you had an 
interesting trip! Have you written it out anywhere?


-Allison



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