Yeah, late and the stupid thing is still long..sorry! a) Name James Lofton b) Email address n5yyx_at_etsc.net c) Kayaks owned or paddled (boat names also if you like) 1st "kayak" was a oblong wash tub(I was about 6) folbot, super 17.5' folbot, kodiak 15' folbot, aluet 12' d) Boat name and serial number if maritime radio operator Amateur, N5YYX e) Special interests kayaking, amateur radio, hiking, backpacking, kites(all kinds but especially 2 line stunt), photography, astronomy, falconry, traditional bowhunting, buckskinner, primative weapons, survivial skills, invironment issues, looking into my wifes green eyes, and heck most outdoor things(except organized sports!) f) Specialist knowledge time will tell g) Strong opinions (I doubt we'll have any of those :~) everyone can make a differance. For starters, turn off those extra lights! h) Most interesting kayak trip No brainer. Yukon river trip, 1986. A dream trip I had planned and studied on for years. When I first moved to Alaska in 1968 we drove, but this allowed me to back up and slowly go back there, the way I would have like to the first time. My only time limit was to leave on the trip when the ice went out at Lake Laberge and to get off before winter set in. It was a summer with little rain, lots of sunshine, few bugs. It was also a bad year for forest fires up north. With that said, any trip I'm on, long or short is special. i) Short Bio (personal description) Born 1945 on a ranch and farm that stratteled the Tierra Blanca creek in eastern New Mexico. From my earliest days I can remember looking off down that draw and wondering where it went(where my wonder lust was born). I must have drove my folks crazy with worry, as I was forever sneaking off down there. My first great kayak adventure was on that creek and was almost my last one. We had gotten rains and the normally dry creek was running high and good. I launched my wash tub boat with plans to go just a ways. The good news was I didn't get killed when I got swept into the barbed wire fence. The bad news was when my dad heard about my adventure! I grew older and traveled farther down that creek drainage. In my junior year of high school I found a young golden eagle that had been kicked out of the nest by it's larger sister. The next two years with that bird probably had a more profound impact on my life than any one thing. While my friends were active with sports, girls and each other, I spent each free moment roaming the pastures with that eagle. I missed learning a lot of social skills. I learned other things. I wouldn't change a moment! Then there was a war. The eagle was set free. I joined the US Navy, "GMT". Getting out found me married and a baby on the way. Settled down in NM, got a good job, bought home, filled house with "things", played cards on tuesday nights, saturday nights was domanoes. Hated life!!!!! One year of the rat race found everything sold and headed for Alaska. Filed on a piece of BLM land in the Copper river valley, just up stream of where the Tonsina flows into the Copper river. Built a little 12X20' log cabin. Life was great! Guess she got the seven year itch. Remarried and hauled my new wife and her two kids back up. I worked LONG hours fighting forest fires(helitack)and a city girl gets lonely away from family, so it wasn't to be. We moved back to NM. Bought 25 acres of rolling grass land and manage it for the wildlife and the ecology here. It takes care of our needs. "O", married almost 25 years now to Roxie and we're soon to be GREAT grandparents!! Lastly, yes I miss Alaska(you can't escape her), and I will go back. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Nov 05 1999 - 14:42:52 PST
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