----- Original Message ----- From: <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com> > And anyway, I get a kick out of seeing lots of people on the water. It > is one of the reasons I like being down at the Downtown Boathouse where > we put some 6,000 people on the water last year and are probably headed > to 7,000 or so in 1999. Nothing compares to the delight on people's > faces when they experience that first half hour of watery movement at > the city's edge in a boat propelled by their own muscle power bobbing > over wakes in a harbor and river in renewal. Some of those 6,000 get > the bug, buy their own kayaks and join the ranks of local paddlers who > can never crowd the thousands of miles of paddleable water within a hour > of the Big Apple. Most don't but the memory they take with them is > priceless and leaves them in kinship with us in support of recapturing > our waterfronts and waters. > ralph diaz I don't have the time, inclination, resources or life-style to make long trips to the pristine wilderness. I paddle in the middle of a built-up urban area on the East side of San Francisco Bay. I consider myself blessed to be here. The weather allows paddling year-round. The scenery is always interesting and changing. The water is cleaner than it was 20 years ago. The powers-that-be are beginning to strike a nice "development" balance that allows a busy port; public access; retail shops and restaurants to co-exist. There are protected areas for wildlife as well. Every time I go out I'm fascinated by the activities and feel renewed when I get home. When I'm off the water for a week, I feel otherwise. within a 10 mile radius I can think of more than 6 places to put in. One is a regional park that charges a nominal fee. The rest are free. 5 have picnic facilities. None are ever full of people. I'd like to see MORE people enjoying the underused facilities that are already here. I'm not sure how to do that. We have lots of separate entities, commercial and non-profit, that promote paddling, but no real co-ordination that I'm aware of. Any suggestions? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
BaysideBob wrote: > > I don't have the time, inclination, resources or life-style to make long > trips to the pristine wilderness. I paddle in the middle of a built-up > urban area on the East side of San Francisco Bay. I consider myself blessed > to be here. The weather allows paddling year-round. The scenery is always > interesting and changing. The water is cleaner than it was 20 years ago. > The powers-that-be are beginning to strike a nice "development" balance > that allows a busy port; public access; retail shops and restaurants to > co-exist. There are protected areas for wildlife as well. Every time I go > out I'm fascinated by the activities and feel renewed when I get home. When > I'm off the water for a week, I feel otherwise. > > within a 10 mile radius I can think of more than 6 places to put in. One is > a regional park that charges a nominal fee. The rest are free. 5 have > picnic facilities. None are ever full of people. Again, I find myself in agreement with BaysideBob. When I saw some earlier postings by others about _over-impacted_ areas I paddle in around NYC or my possibly finding some people's isolated spots spooky, I was about to rush in with some comments when BaysideBob beat me to the punch. It amazes me to find that so many people have such misconceptions about urban areas thinking them devoid of pristine settings. It is so far from true. Take for example, the area of the Palisades in New Jersey. It can be accessed from an official kayak launch site just a mile across the Hudson river in Northern Manhattan. Boat traffic in the area is marginal compared to the busy harbor just 10 miles downstream. Here you will find majestic cliffs up to 500 feet high that were formed under the earth's surface 93 million years ago (I won't bore you with the fascinating geology of it and the immediate area except to say that NYC is unique among places in being at the meeting point of three distinct geological regions and right on a spot that continents both collided and separated at different times). The Palisades are all green with different plant life and has two waterfalls, one higher than Niagra, albeit not very powerful. If you paddle along there the city can seem a million miles away. (if you want to know more about it, I wrote a description of it in Tamsin Venn's Seakayaking the Middle Atlantic States, published by AMC Press) I have kayak camped there just a few miles from the edge of the city. I remember waking up on one weekday morning next to one of the waterfalls while deep in the cocoon of my bivy tent and forest mantle over me and looking out across the river to the east bank where ribbons of light formed by commuter trains rushed their occupants to the canyons of Manhattan. Other areas boost of marshlands and the unique world of saltmarshes with their plant and animal life that can adapt to changes from fresh water to salt water as the river's currents vie with the ocean's tides. So it ain't all just steel and concrete and asphalt. > I'd like to see MORE > people enjoying the underused facilities that are already here. I'm not > sure how to do that. We have lots of separate entities, commercial and > non-profit, that promote paddling, but no real co-ordination that I'm aware > of. I think that a lot of _adventure_ is in the state of mind and not necessarily having it all presented to you in some unique package delivered by stunning displays by Mother Nature. I remember listening to a fascinating talk at the LL Bean Sea Kayaking Symposium where Mike Perry, one of the organizers, talked of his and a few paddling buddies' effort to circumnavigate a town in Maine (I forget which). It is on a bay. A look at maps and charts revealed to them that marshes and small streams on the town's inland side might contain enough water to circumnavigate the place by kayak with a few portages. They did it, much to their own delight and that of the listeners who were intrigued by their innovation and imagination in carving out a unique adventure. BTW, regarding my finding isolated places spooky, I ask the commentator has he ever walked miles of wooded trails at night without a flashlight guided only by the intermittent light of stars and moonbeams breaking through the tree cover and deciphering the different shades of grey of the path and its surroundings to find your way. Or paddled along a shoreline in total darkness (without lights) finding your way only by the different sounds made by surf on one side and that of waves breaking on the beach alongside you. I have. 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/ ***************************************************************************
Right on, Ralph. They are TALKING of cleaning up the Miami River. Elaine Harmon and I went out a few months ago (Elaine, do you still have that trip report?) and found that what used to be called the rapids had barely a trickle of water that went around the garbage. Sandy Kramer *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> From: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com > BTW, regarding my finding isolated places spooky, I ask the commentator > has he ever walked miles of wooded trails at night without a flashlight Don't know about you, but I found his comment regarding you possibly finding isolated places spooky as rather condescending. Maybe he is spooked by the idea of trying to survive in his interpretation of New York City. I'm not sure what all the motives from all the different folks are for kayaking but it's obvious to me that Ralph isn't just "making the most of it." It's plain to me that he genuinely enjoys being in a kayak. Period. :-) Cheers, Jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
. Maybe he > is spooked by the idea of trying to survive in his interpretation of > New York City. In defense of Dave (who doesn't need my defense) I lived in Alaska 25 years... lived and worked in some of the most remote wild areas you can imagine in the Brooks Range and Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, hiked and backpacked alone in areas full of grizzlies and moose and wolves, never carried a weapon......... but I am terrified of NYC! I would rather walk through a group of 20 moose than walk the streets of that city. Scares the **** out of me and I've never even been there!! =:0 It's true.... Karen ;-) (I happen to identify with Dave's camp on this saturation point issue) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
What exactly is meant by "over impacted"? 1. On a personal and subjective level, "over impacted" might simply refer to an individual's comfort level relating to the numbers of other people encountered on an excursion. I think this is relative to one's expectation. Thus when I paddle in an urban area frequented by other paddlers, more often than not I am quite comfortable with the presence of these other folks, and don't consider the area over impacted. When I am off on a remote wilderness trip for a few weeks, I don't want to see anybody and I don't want to see any traces of anybody. If I come across a fire pit I find it annoying. In some areas simply finding a cut portage is annoying. It all depends on my expectation of the level of use. Where many people, including myself, get antsy is when our expectations don't match up with reality. We have learned to expect a certain level of use for a given area, but now find that this level is changing. If solitude was one of the primary reasons we visited an area, then increased use reduces the value of the area for us. The impact is very real, but the harm is not to the land, but rather to our sense of what the land means to us. Over the last decade or so many of us have noticed a dramatic increase in use by paddlers, and this increase in use has hurt those of us who greatly value solitude. 2. On an objective level, "over impacted" deals more with the effect on the environment as a whole. What species are being affected and how? Is there a loss of habitat, and will this loss move a species closer to the brink? Is our use isolating species, which in itself often contributes to putting a species at risk? Most importantly, can we change our pattern or intensity of use to mitigate our impact? The increase in paddling in the last decade has not had that much of an negative effect on the environment as a whole. Yes, there are a handful of sad exceptions, but over all paddling is pretty benign. As I mentioned in my previous post on "saturation level", I believe that over all the benefits of increased environmental awareness derived from increased participation in paddling out weigh the negative objective impacts. 3. The question that many of us now face is to what degree we are willing to sacrifice our subjective values for the sake of the objective values. To what degree are we willing to share our special areas with others so that hopefully the public will become more supportive of protecting more areas? I have seen it work both ways. In Temagami there is a wonderful place known as "Lost Lagoon" or "Paradise Lagoon". Diving off of waterfalls and cliffs, crystal clear water, old cedars, secluded nooks. You won't find it on a map. A mining exploration road was proposed near the lagoon. It went through because there was opposition by only a few of us. Now access to the lagoon is easier, and it is subjectively overused. A little to the west in the Spanish River Complex, we went public concerning a section of the Aux Sables River, which has very beautiful scenery and quite demanding wild water in its canyon section. Thanks to public pressure it has gained a strong level of protection, despite developers wanting to dam it over. Again, the are is now subjectively overused thanks to increased awareness of its existence. What is the difference between the two? The one in Temagami is not protected from development. The one in the Spanish complex is protected from development. Either way we end up with subjectively too many paddlers, but if we play our cards right we can at least ensure some degree of objective protection of the environment as a whole. In short, it is almost impossible to keep special spots secret. The best we can do is attempt to control when and how an area becomes more public, so that despite the loss of solitude we can at least protect many other values -- values including protection of habitat, which I suggest is far more important than solitude. Cheers, Richard Culpeper *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Thanks, Richard, for your thoughtful essay on urban paddling, overuse of pristine areas, and the need to protect them. BijiliE *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Karen Hancock wrote: > > . Maybe he > > is spooked by the idea of trying to survive in his interpretation of > > New York City. > > In defense of Dave (who doesn't need my defense) I lived in Alaska 25 > years... lived and worked in some of the most remote wild areas you can > imagine in the Brooks Range and Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, hiked and backpacked > alone in areas full of grizzlies and moose and wolves, never carried a > weapon......... but I am terrified of NYC! I would rather walk through a > group of 20 moose than walk the streets of that city. Scares the **** out of > me and I've never even been there!! =:0 > > It's true.... > Karen ;-) Well, it scares the excrement outta me too and I've lived here all my life! :-) Seriously, I do understand why a place like NYC can seem frightening and I am more than willing to accomodate visitors who are nervous about the prospects. I'm sorry we are detouring toward relative levels of fright/spook in this discussion. What I really wanted to get across is: 1. Being in an urban center does not mean that pristine natural beauty and soul-enriching isolation is unattainable for the paddler (and hiker, and nature photographer and the like). In many superficially crowded areas you can easily feel pretty far from it all while paddling in a matter of a half hour or less in places in which you will hardly see anyone else all day. In New York City you can get within easy reach of them by subway if you have a folding kayak; and get there even faster with a car and roof-racked boat. 2. My firm belief that paddling adventure is as much a matter of the mind as in the concrete elements cooked up and packaged for you by Nature. There is no argument that some places are just knockouts as are the islands and coastline of the Pacific Northwest. But you can create your own adventure as did the guy from LL Bean I mentioned when he circumnavigated that town in Maine or when I have while paddling and camping on the Hudson. You certainly are going to find it in outplaces of Alaska, Labrador, Greenland, etc. But you can also find it much closer to home even if your address contains Chicago or New York zip codes. 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/ ***************************************************************************
1998 Necky Looksha IVS, low-volume fiberglass sea kayak, excellent condition, 53 lbs, 16.5' long, 12" deep, 22" beam. Double hard chines, terrific on rough water. It's the one for shorter and/or smaller paddlers. Two bulkheads and hatches, rudder. Stored indoors. Color: red and white. Selling to make room for new boat. $1700. Boat located in Portland, Maine. Call 207-781-4425 or email: aburton1_at_maine.rr.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
-----Original Message----- > > -----Original Message----- > > > > > Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 09:25:50 -0700 > > From: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com > > Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] The urban paddler > <snip> > > > > It amazes me to find that so many people have such > > misconceptions about > > urban areas thinking them devoid of pristine settings. It is so far > > from true. <snip> > The Mississippi in the Twin Cities is another example. There are parts of the river that do not look urban. > > > > BTW, regarding my finding isolated places spooky, I ask the > > commentator > > has he ever walked miles of wooded trails at night without a > > flashlight > > guided only by the intermittent light of stars and moonbeams breaking > > through the tree cover and deciphering the different shades > > of grey of > > the path and its surroundings to find your way. Or paddled along a > > shoreline in total darkness (without lights) finding your way only by > > the different sounds made by surf on one side and that of > > waves breaking > > on the beach alongside you. I have. > > The wooded trails of NY city are likely to be more of an adventure than any > of us would expect. OTOH skiing in the moonlight and the howling of the > wolves stopping when you get to the ridge top is also a adventure. > > Dana > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
"Dickson, Dana A." wrote: > > > > It amazes me to find that so many people have such > > > misconceptions about > > > urban areas thinking them devoid of pristine settings. It is so far > > > from true. <snip> > > > The Mississippi in the Twin Cities is another example. There are parts of > the river that do not look urban. As is the Chattahoochee through Atlanta, at least the northern section. Tall cliffs, trout, geese, heron, ducks, beaver. Oops, now I've let the cat out of the bag and there will be hordes of people going there. Oh, never mind, there already are hordes there, but only in the summer. Steve *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> 1. Being in an urban center does not mean that pristine natural beauty > and soul-enriching isolation is unattainable > 2. My firm belief that paddling adventure is as much a matter of the > mind Agreed, Ralph. And as I get older my adventure requirements seem to be getting less rugged. ;-) Still, I am one of those who have experienced the destruction and loss of wilderness (in the Sierras, & in Alaska) and it saddens me. Karen A fringe dweller (seeing no solution; feeling no need to place blame) *************************************************************************** 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: > BTW, regarding my finding isolated places spooky, I ask the commentator > has he ever walked miles of wooded trails at night without a flashlight > guided only by the intermittent light of stars and moonbeams breaking > through the tree cover and deciphering the different shades of grey of > the path and its surroundings to find your way. Or paddled along a > shoreline in total darkness (without lights) finding your way only by > the different sounds made by surf on one side and that of waves breaking > on the beach alongside you. I have. I'm the guy who is the "commentator" [just an ordinary potato :-)] in the above piece. I apologize to Ralph for appearing to ding his thoughtful contribution regarding urban paddling. I certainly did not intend to mock Ralph. Ralph is one of my heroes. I was kidding in that business about my sloughs "spooking" Ralph. Sorry for any misinterpretations which have occurred. I believe someone suggested my attitude was condescending. Sorry if it appeared that way. Certainly not intended that way. Just for the record: I am never intentionally condescending. Frequently sardonic, yes -- sometimes even on purpose! I am almost always writing with tongue partly in cheek (or at least around something tasty to eat). I am, in addition, not perfect. :-) <G> 'Bought Ralph's comments re: urban paddling: (now I'm serious) he really hit a bunch of nails on the head for me. Semi-urban and full-tilt urban areas often have marvelous pockets of near-wilderness hidden in their core. It is arrogant to suggest the only truly "wild" places are in the middle of "nowhere." I cherish and stand in awe at the likes of Ralph, Bayside Bob, and a host of others, who work to keep wonderful those niches near urban centers which provide solitude and peace for we folks living in cities. -- 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/ ***************************************************************************
>From: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com > >> BTW, regarding my finding isolated places spooky, I ask the commentator >> has he ever walked miles of wooded trails at night without a flashlight > Ahh, have you ever walked thru St. Marks place at night without a flashlight? Now that's spooky........ Scott Somebody remind me, why did I leave the safety of Miami to go to New York???? Oh yeah, I wanted to experience a mugging!!! *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Flashlight? Perish the thought! My most recent trip (Pukaskwa on Superior a few weeks ago) finished with a night long paddle under the moon and northern lights, ending just as the sun rose. The shades of silver and gray and the soundscape at night are truly wonderful. (Bawhhh!!! I wanna go back there now!!!) Cheers, Richard MadPoodle_at_aol.com wrote: > >From: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com > > > >> BTW, regarding my finding isolated places spooky, I ask the commentator > >> has he ever walked miles of wooded trails at night without a flashlight > > > > Ahh, have you ever walked thru St. Marks place at night without a > flashlight? Now that's spooky........ > > Scott > > Somebody remind me, why did I leave the safety of Miami to go to New York???? > Oh yeah, I wanted to experience a mugging!!! > *************************************************************************** > 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/ ***************************************************************************
MadPoodle_at_aol.com wrote: > > >From: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com > > > >> BTW, regarding my finding isolated places spooky, I ask the commentator > >> has he ever walked miles of wooded trails at night without a flashlight > > > > Ahh, have you ever walked thru St. Marks place at night without a > flashlight? Now that's spooky........ > > Scott > > Somebody remind me, why did I leave the safety of Miami to go to New York???? > Oh yeah, I wanted to experience a mugging!!! Actually, you are mug-safe if you stay in your paddling gear. I once landed by my lonesome at an NYC urban takeout as day was ending. Several really tough looking guys were hanging around at the site. I wasn't sure what impression my wearing a skirt(spray) would give but I had a lethal looking 8-foot paddle in hand and a knife in its holster Rambo-style on my PFD. However, what seemed to intimidate them more than anything was that I had just emerged from the water. One of them, startled by my appearing suddenly in their midst, exclaimed "Man, you've been out there?!?!" They were clearly terrified of it and seemed to have decided that anyone who would go out on the water was certifiably crazy and not to be messed with. They then left, followed by the fastest disassembly of a folding kayak ever for me! :-) 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/ ***************************************************************************
One of my favorite urban paddles was on the Desplaines River in Chicago. As we paddled upstream we traversed a golf course. Golf balls, attendend by Canada geese lined the side of the stream. Golf carts trundled overhead on a little bridge. I wished I'd had my helmet! Farther upstream we encountered two wild reporters from a TV station tracking down "outdoors" news. They interviewed us. Farther along we saw deer, (not far from semi-submerged shopping carts under a street crossing). The whole trip was highlighted by a view of snapping turtles spinning around in the murky water together. Mating perhaps? It was spring. Barbara South of San Francisco Barbara Kossy Communications PO Box 434 Moss Beach, California bkossy _at_igc.org 650-728-8720 fax: 650-728-8753 *************************************************************************** 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: > > BaysideBob wrote: > > > > > I don't have the time, inclination, resources or life-style to make long > > trips to the pristine wilderness. I paddle in the middle of a built-up > > urban area <snip> This and Ralph's comments reminded me of the advice of another sage paddler- Harry Roberts- who was the editor of Canoesport Journal before his death several years ago. He said "if its wet- paddle it". Sure I'd rather be on Prince William Sound or on the Middle Fork of the Salmon- but I can also get great enjoyment from paddling on the local reservoir or Class II river, and do it a lot more often! Walt Park City *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hmm, could be a whole new genre of horror flicks.. "It came from the New York Swamps" The smelly (sorry Ralph, nothing personal, just adds to the flick) rubber coated creature slowly arose from the dark water. Carrying a long, flexible cocoon, it approached the innocent crowd of bystanders. Flexing its muscles, it proudly displayed its sharp, yet surprisingly shiny, external fangs. As the crowd cowered in fear, it ripped apart its cocoon in a show of bravery such as few had ever seen before. Shouldering its load in one hand, brandishing its evil looking wide bladed scythe like the grim reaper himself, it headed for the downtown boathouse, searching for further, more interesting prey, and maybe some Sink the Stink™ to soothe its overwhelmed senses..... Scott Pls. forward my royalty checks to the safety of Miami *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 04:17 PM 9/27/99 -0700, Dave Kruger <dkruger_at_pacifier.com> wrote: SNIP > >'Bought Ralph's comments re: urban paddling: (now I'm serious) he really hit >a bunch of nails on the head for me. Semi-urban and full-tilt urban areas >often have marvelous pockets of near-wilderness hidden in their core. It is >arrogant to suggest the only truly "wild" places are in the middle of >"nowhere." I cherish and stand in awe at the likes of Ralph, Bayside Bob, and >a host of others, who work to keep wonderful those niches near urban centers >which provide solitude and peace for we folks living in cities. > Hello List, I haven't read all the posts on saturation and urban paddling so I apologize in advance if this has been covered before. I like to paddle. I really like to paddle. I like to paddle in wilderness areas, pristine or whatever, just like everyone else. My take on the recent discussions was that, on the one hand people loved to paddle in wilderness areas and, on the other hand, people found wilderness areas in urban settings. Wilderness, wilderness, wilderness. It's great. Perhaps though, there are others like me who enjoy paddling in urban areas to see the urban sights. I enjoy exploring harbors and marinas and industrial areas and boat yards and bridges and piers and....(I don't know yet all of what there is to find. That's the point.) Yeah, the water may not be the cleanest, but the variety is outstanding. I was once on a trip with Ralph Diaz along the Hudson. One part of that trip that I really enjoyed was Ralph's explaining the ruins of railroad car handling mechanisms we saw along the shore. (BTW, if you ever get to paddle with Ralph, you will see that he is a wealth of information from a history, geological and archeological perspective. Other perspectives, too :-}) If I lived in a wilderness area I would still want to occasionally travel to an urban area to experience a wider spectrum of paddling experiences. So, while everyone is rushing out to enjoy the wilderness areas before they die from overcrowding, I will enjoy being alone in an urban setting (with the tugs and freighters and ferrys and jet skis and...). Just another perspective. Bill Leonhardt *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Barbara, Can you (or any other paddlewisers) recommend any places for renting kayaks in the Chicago area? I'm travelling there in a couple weeks. Thanks, Ted Whitney Farther South of San Francisco > -----Original Message----- > From: Barbara Kossy [SMTP:bkossy_at_igc.org] > Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 1999 1:15 AM > To: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com; MadPoodle_at_aol.com > Cc: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] The urban paddler > > One of my favorite urban paddles was on the Desplaines River in Chicago. > As > we paddled upstream we traversed a golf course. Golf balls, attendend by > Canada geese lined the side of the stream. Golf carts trundled overhead on > a little bridge. I wished I'd had my helmet! Farther upstream we > encountered two wild reporters from a TV station tracking down "outdoors" > news. They interviewed us. Farther along we saw deer, (not far from > semi-submerged shopping carts under a street crossing). The whole trip was > highlighted by a view of snapping turtles spinning around in the murky > water together. Mating perhaps? It was spring. > Barbara > South of San Francisco > > > > Barbara Kossy Communications > PO Box 434 > Moss Beach, California > bkossy _at_igc.org > 650-728-8720 > fax: 650-728-8753 > ************************************************************************** > * > 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/ ***************************************************************************
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