Re: [Paddlewise] Conquering Kayakers?

James Lofton wrote:
> 
> John Fereira wrote:
> >
> > At 10:00 AM 11/15/99 -0800, James Lofton wrote:
> > >Shawn W. Baker wrote:
> > >>
> > >> (SNIP)
> > >> I think there are a few female paddlers who are motivated to conquer,
> > >> but by and large, the vast majority of them are men.  I'm sure
> > >> "conquering" is not their sole motivator, but I'm sure it's a large
> > >> factor in a lot of guys' paddling exploits.  I can't speak personally
> > >> for her, but does anyone know what Audrey Sutherland's motivations are
> > >> for paddling such long distances?
> > >
> > >While I don't know her, and wouldn't speak for her even if I did, I will
> > >offer my personal quess. I think it may be a very simple case of love for
> > >being out there.
> >
> > And she's been doing it for 20 years so she must really love it.
> >
> > >What's wrong with having a child like
> > >curiosty of "what's over there"?, that drives one on.?
> >
> > In this case, that child is 80 years old.  As Chris Duff said, "I want to
> > be Audrey Sutherland when I grow up."
> >
> 
> All I know about her is that a week or so ago I saw her on the Anyplace
> Wild show. She was asked if she ever gets lonely. She responded yes, that
> she does somethimes when she is alone in, say, a US forest cabin, or some
> other place that humans reside. She went on to say that when she was
> alone and camping out, that she was not like a human any longer, but more
> like the other plants and things. That small statement told me a great
> deal about her.
> 

I have met Audrey only a few times but she is my hero through and
through.  A couple of things worth noting:

--she doesn't cover great distances in any one day.

--she prides herself in having every item she carries being able to do
double or triple duty.

--this triple duty imperative allows her to take pride in another
feature of her gear...she is able to lug boat and camping gear herself
through airport terminals.

--Audrey is a tarp person through and through in addition to a tent.  it
is a central focus of any campsite.  It weighs next to nothing.

--no matter what, she has a set of clothing with her that would let her
walk into any fancy lodge in the world and not look like a swamp rat.

--best of all for the several ladies on this list who believe they are
old-timers, Audrey I believe is somewhere in her 70s.

ralph  
-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
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