Sorry, it's taken me so long... For the 1999 Kayak Challenge to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: Maliqiaq told me he had placed second. His plaque reads: First Place - Male Open Category - 5 Mile - Closed Ocean Kayak. Since he was racing in a Futura - surely that doesn't qualify as a "Closed Ocean Kayak." or am I completely cuckooo? Does the "closed" part refer to something not-related to a cockpit boat as compared to a sit-on-top?? There were other confusions and wrong plaques handed out, so I hope someone can straighten this out for me. 48 participants and plenty of spectators in the glorious Biscayne Bay setting . His rolling demonstration was wonderful. Fortunately there was a pool - but he must have been roasting in his neoprene tuiliq. Jeff Bingham did a wonderful job of "narrating." He managed to convey his knowledge of the rolls with conversational quips. Things like, "And if you feel the need for some exercise you can always do push-ups on top of your boat." Not verbatim, but that sort of comment. Even Maliqiaq said he was impressed with Jeff's efforts. Afterward this cute blonde in a black bikini was trying out M's boat. M was giving her some tips and she was balancing and leaning and then I saw her beginning a roll. I commented, "How can you roll without a skirt?" To which I was told, "Well, it's a low volume boat." The second time she tried she sank the boat! While this was going on the PBS film crew were taping someone giving a "Kayaking 101" demonstration. The documentary, to be hosted by Hunter Reno, is basically about her love of kayaking and how/where it's done in South Florida. A local paddler did have his Sony video camera with him and I will contact him later. M went back to Fort Lauderdale with Chuck who was planning a cookout for that evening. Still haven't heard what they did yesterday (Sunday), but Chuck indicated that M could hang out at the shop with them. I suspect M did some catching up on his sleep. He was quite exhausted after the long train ride and rush to the airport. The train arrived in Orlando at 7P (instead of 3:20P!) and they were supposed to be at the airport at 8P. They tried to grab dinner, but after 40 minutes waiting, gave up and headed out. As they were riding the escalator, M had a freak accident. Apparently he was holding the tube containing his two paddles upright. Somehow it made contact with the ceiling and one of the escalator steps (I think) and the tube AND PADDLES snapped. Fortunately, Greg Stamer had a break-apart Greendland paddle and that is what M used. He raced in a Futura with a borrowed paddle, neither of which he had tried before. He was also very tired. It's amazing what you can do when you're 17, isn't it! Why, I even remember how easy it was to stay awake past midnight!! Thanks to Chuck Davis for his OUTSTANDING SUPPORT FROM THE OUTSET. Also to Paddlewise's Mad Poodle (Scott Baxter) who brought the boat down from Orlando, Kirk Olsen who paid for M's registration fee, and Luke Hoffman who is sending a pledge. I also received a pledge/check from a Sierra Club friend: Bea Stella. Thanks, Bea. My dear friend (to whom I will be eternally grateful) the feisty* ELAINE HARMON has agreed to take Maliqiaq to Orlando tomorrow. I will, of course, contribute to the travel expenses. I've nearly run out of vacation days so this is a tremendous help. Thanks, Elaine. Sandy Kramer the "feisty" comment is an inside joke: I just gave Elaine a card that says something like it's good that we're getting older because the world needs more feisty women like us! *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Sandykayak_at_aol.com wrote: First, I want to start a round of applause for the effort Sandy put into helping assure Maligiaq visit to the Sunshine State worked out well even with a hurricane tossed in to disrupt things. I get exhausted just hearing of all the helping hands being choreographed and sprung into action in various parts of the state. When the continents again collide in a few million years I suspect Greenland will want to be aligned with friendly Florida. > tried before. He was also very tired. It's amazing what you can do when > you're 17, isn't it! Why, I even remember how easy it was to stay awake > past midnight!! Well, Sandy, there are a lot of things a 17 year old can't do that we nearly-over-the-hill types can. Trouble is my mind is slipping and I can't remember any of them! :-) > My dear friend (to whom I will be eternally grateful) the feisty* ELAINE > HARMON has agreed to take Maliqiaq to Orlando tomorrow. I will, of course, > contribute to the travel expenses. I've nearly run out of vacation days so > this is a tremendous help. Thanks, Elaine. > > Sandy Kramer > > the "feisty" comment is an inside joke: I just gave Elaine a card that says > something like it's good that we're getting older because the world needs > more feisty women like us! I'm not sure if the world is ready for that. Sandy came on to the pier of the Downtown Boathouse over Labor Day weekend in a whirlwind. I could sense her energy 'though I was out of sight at the lower launch dock at the other end from the gate. She was all over the place, paddling various boats, peering into the Boathouse at the stored kayaks, introducing herself to people, bolstering up the courage of a couple in their 60s to try kayaking, etc. I'm not sure I will recognize her again as she was always whipping by in a blur. When she and her son Steven, who was drawn along in her vortex, finally left after about two or three hours I had to grab a seat and decompress. Please, no more feisty older women! :-) 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.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote: > > Well, Sandy, there are a lot of things a 17 year old can't do that we > nearly-over-the-hill types can. Trouble is my mind is slipping and I > can't remember any of them! :-) Falling asleep at 9 PM... Turning down a 4th beer... Wrenching your back hoisting a boat onto the rack... I wish my memory was as bad as Ralph's ;) Steve *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Mon, 20 Sep 1999 rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote: > Sandykayak_at_aol.com wrote: > > the "feisty" comment is an inside joke: I just gave Elaine a card that says > > something like it's good that we're getting older because the world needs > > more feisty women like us! > I'm not sure if the world is ready for that. Sandy came on to the pier > of the Downtown Boathouse over Labor Day weekend in a whirlwind. ....... Please, no more feisty older > women! :-) Sandy's comments notwithstanding, we cat people are not "feisty". (Look it up.) We only sleep, eat, purr, pounce, and scratch. See illustration posted last month(?) by Fenton, J. 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/ ***************************************************************************
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