Re: [Paddlewise] Who's Who - "Ladies & Gentlemen last orders pleeeeze"

From: Catherine Veraghen <catherin_at_imagebuilder.com>
Date: Tue, 02 Nov 1999 16:15:00 -0800
> a) Name

Catherine Veraghen

>
> b) Email address

catherin_at_imagebuilder.com

>
> c) Kayaks owned or paddled (boat names also if you like)

New to the sport, so I have only one boat - a Perception Sealion

>
> d) Boat name and serial number if maritime radio operator

n/a

>
> e) Special interests

Hiking, mountain biking, creating stuff I like to call art, home remodeling and
construction, good beer, clean, secluded beaches, paddling calm water at
sunrise/sunset.

>
> f) Specialist knowledge

n/a

>
> g) Strong opinions (I doubt we'll have any of those :~)

I only recently figured out what a greenland paddle was, and I actually welcome
moderate traffic on waterways because it makes me feel safer to be in company,
so I guess I have nothing to feel strongly about yet. However, I'm new to this
sport, so in time, I'm sure I'll come up with a rant:)!

>
> h) Most interesting kayak trip

I find every trip thus far has presented new and interesting challenges and
discoveries. Probably the most bizarre experience was on Lacamas Lake near
Camas, Washington. The morning started out absolutely serene as I paddled along
the length of the Lake into the small river that feeds it, passing silent
fishermen in the fog. After a couple of hours, I returned to the main body of
the Lake which was starting to see some boat traffic as the sun came out.
Eventually, the lake became heavy with waterskiiers and jetskis, and since it's
walled in by high hills, the sound echoed deafeningly. I paddled to a more
secluded area full of lily pads, and came face to face with a heron perched on
a deadhead. Here was this beautiful bird just sitting so calmly in the midst of
the chaos. I think he and I were the only ones being quiet on the lake that
day. Just when I thought it couldn't get more surreal, the nearby gun club
began practicing at their target range, adding the almost constant ring of
gunfire to the already nutty noise level. Still the heron sat on his log, and I
sat next to him. It made me want to cry. I haven't paddled there since.

i) Short Bio (personal description)

Single, just turned 40 (and still not over it), one daughter, one boyfriend
(who only paddles with me to be nice - he really doesn't enjoy it much), one
big dog, one small cat who hates the big dog.  I work as the creative director
for a large game developer, designing and producing games for the PC and
Playstation for a mostly younger audience (no blood and gore). I am originally
from Michigan's UP, on the balmy south shore of Lake Superior, so I grew up
very much a water person. Moving to the Pacific Northwest, I had to develop a
relationship with the water out here - primarily rivers and ocean. I found
kayaking to be a wonderful way to do just that, and I spend as much time as I
can in my boat.

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Received on Tue Nov 02 1999 - 16:15:27 PST

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