[Paddlewise] Conquering Kayakers?

About those conquering kayakers. My sense of satisfaction kicks in when
I accompany swimmers travelling some amazing open water course. Consider
this.
    Each year we have about 30 swimmers make their way in a race around
Manhattan. That is a 28.5 mile swim, which also is a significant paddle.
This year the swim took place on June 12. The water was 63 deg. F.. (So
much for all of  discussion about survival charts in the water.) There
were 30 swimmers, 2 relays. Of the 30 swimmers, 13 were female. 7 of the
top ten finishers; 4 of the top  5 were females. They are accomplished.
    The winner, Toby Smith (F)  finished around 6 hrs. 19 minutes.
(www.nycswim.org) My swimmer (F) finished 19 minutes later in second
place. Each swimmer had a kayaker. And none of the swimmers wore a wet
suit. On other occasions I have accompanied swimmers going for record
times. Twice they made the trip in the middle of the night, starting the
swims at 2:20 A.M..
    In late August I went to Loch Ness, Scotland, and kayaked the 24
miles with Tammy van Wisse. She swam the length in 9 hours and 6 min.
(as I recall). It was a record time. The water temperature was 53 deg.
F. at its warmest spot and went as low as 47 deg. F.. She did wear a
swimming wet suit - no sleeves.
    I just don't read "macho" as meaning too much anymore. It's sort of
a dated & quaint expression. Being gung ho is propbaly closer to what
many of us have seen. Being over-enthusiastic, unrealistic and un- or
under-prepared all can descibe males or females who kayak. The swimmers
I mentioned were able to accomplish each event with a crew. The kayaker
was part of the crew. One climber wants to chew up the scenery, another
wants to go across a lake. It only is going to happen where there is
support and good planning. I really don't see hormones as the base for
extended accomplishments. And there really is no such thing as
"conquering" anymore. One conquers the course and another stumbles along
to do it faster.
    But dangerous undertakings that are motivated by a "childlike"
curiosity often lead to disaster, or the characterization of an
"adventure" rather than a trip. It is simply a sense of personal
accomplishment and satisfaction. People find it in many, many different
ways and levels. Thanks for your time. Richard

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