Hopefully this gets through in a more easily read format....sorry bout the previous one....Russell Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Paddlewise Who's Who - The Entry Form (fwd) Date: Sat, 30 Oct 1999 01:36:37 -0500 From: William Russell <wjrussell_at_mailhost.kal.ameritech.net> Reply-To: wjrussell_at_ameritech.net To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > > A)Name: William J. Russell (Russell) > > B) Contact: wjrussell_at_ameritech.net this address might change in the near future > > C) Boats: Have two skin Baidarkas (NOT replicas as I've modified them somewhat from the > original plan I had) I used to have a double Klepper, but, when my wife stopped > paddling, I found it to be to much boat > for me (I'm 5'8" and 150 lbs) so I sold it....sometimes I > wish I still had it. > D) Radio call sign: > > E) Special Interests: Special interest USED to be computers, quite naturally, since I was in > the business of repairing them for quite some time...since I've retired > (this past February) I've pretty much lost interest other than using > one to communicate on the net..my REAL interest now is kayaking and > skin boats..hope to build a Hooper Bay this winter..of > course I said this last winter as well and never > did quite get roundtoit...to much time traveling > around the country. > F) Specialist Knowledge: No special knowledge (other than LAAAGE computers and my expertise in > that area is quickly becoming obsolete)...no higher education to help > me understand all the engineers lingo, no special talents and no > special writing skills to match the prose and poetry I sometimes > read here...my main source of education is merely from > living....which is good enough for me for NOW > > G) Strong opinions: I have pretty strong feelings regarding such things as alcohol or drug > abuse, abortion politics, religion....NONE of which will I inflict > upon the PW readers...most other areas I'm pretty much open for discussion. > > H) Most interesting trip: The Nam, 1968...but that's another life...I guess my most interesting > trip (tiring and scary) was about two or three years ago in late > October or early November...I'd been kayaking for about two years > at that time and still had the double Klepper....I was camping on > the southern shore (county camp ground) of Lake Superior waiting > for the weather to clear enough for me to circumnavigate > Grand island...I'd initially planned on a three day trip...first > day to the northern tip of the island, second day coming around the > East side of the island to about half way down and then back to my > base camp area on the third day....I'd been waiting for three days > and every morning when I got up there would be fog enough to not be > able to see Grand island or either of the other two islands on the > west side of Grand...Williams island which was about 3 miles from my > camp and Wood island which was about 1.75 miles further...the day > before my "adventure" I'd paddled out to and around Williams > island...I kept an eye on the weather and it wasn't so bad...the fog > would periodically clear then roll back in and the waves picked up > to two or three feet ( could just see over the tops when I was in > the trough)...I didn't worry cause I was in my trusty double Klepper > , after all people cross the Atlantic in these boats)..I found the > ONLY place to land on this island was at the dock of someone that > owned the only house on the island(for all I know the house owner > also, owned the island)..anyway I didn't stop, just paddled > on back to my campsite...the following day, weather conditions were > same as the previous day, so I decided to head out to Wood island... > I figured about a 9 or 10 mile round trip...started out around > 10:00 AM, just after the fog cleared (for the first time) today > would be like the previous 3 or 4 days fog then clear, fog, the > clear...by the time I reached Williams island the wind was right in > my face...I have no idea how hard it was blowing, just that my job > had gotton quite a bit harder...waves were coming right at me at > about three feet again...I CONSIDERED going back but thought, > Nah, I'm in my trusty Klepper, after all people cross the Atlantic > in these boats...so onward and upward....By the time I reached Wood island I was starting to worry > a little...my headway was VERY slow, I was REALLY working hard and > the waves were now higher than my head...as I started around the > North end of the island I saw a LOT of water activity in one area > and thought I'd better stand off from shore further than I'd > intended....it's a good thing I made that decision, cause I could > see when I'd paddled on further that if I'd gone where I'd intended I'd have sunk my > boat on rocks....just about the same time I saw the rocky area the > wind really hit me hard..it appeared to be coming from the NorthEast > now and naturally I was coming around the East side of the island... > the wind was so strong I was REALLY worried about getting dashed on > the rocks of this island...up till now I hadn't seen ANYPLACE I > could land on this dratted place...waves were now so high I had > to look UP to see the tops....I'm no expert at judging the height > of waves but I KNOW they were at least 25 feet high...welll, at > least 6 or 7 feet high...I was getting pretty tired by now fighting > the wind and waves...now...what's this wierd feeling in the pit of > my stomach...I haven't felt like this since I was on that troop ship > in 1951..sea sick for crying out loud....onward and upward.... > FINALLY...I've gotten around Wood Island...decided to head for the > West side of Williams Island...maybe I'll have some protection from > the wind and waves over there....gasp, gasp, gasp..I've made it to > the home owners dock...I was so tired and sick that I could barely > get out of the boat....I just ROLLED out of the boat onto the dock > and layed there...I couldn't move....what's this....there's no > wind now and the waves are WAAAY down, sun's coming out...boy, did > it feel good to just lay there.....after > about 30 minutes I'd gotten my wind back and didn't feel funny in > the stomach anymore....finally I made myself get up and paddle that > last three miles to my campsite....figured I'd better get that last > leg out of the way before the waves and wind picked up again....this part > wasn't to bad...waves were only two feet or so....I couldn't believe > it....including my 30 minute stop to rest, I'd been on the water for > almost 8 hours of CONSTANT paddling...you can bet your bottom dollar > I slept well that night...I'm glad I experienced that trip but I was > VERY happy to have it over.......needless to say I did NOT get to > circumnavigate Grand island........I WAS ALONE ON THIS TRIP....which > is the way I usually paddle > Personal: I'm 65 this past February (DID I say that)...20 years in the military...3 years in > England, 3 years in Japan and 1 year in that great tourist area, Viet Nam....from > Michigan originally and I've lived here, except for one two or three year period, > since 1971 when I retired from the military....Worked as a Field Engineer for Data > General (fancy title for a computer repair guy) for 20 years...retired from that > company in February....I DO like retirement William J. Russell Grand Rapids, Michigan > > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not > to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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