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From: Doug Lloyd <dlloyd_at_bc.sympatico.ca>
subject: [Paddlewise] Journaling
Date: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 08:41:29 -0800
How many paddlers keep a journal or diary of their trips? Most travel books
are based on the daily entries one makes while underway. I keep a "log
book", which I was directed to keep by my BCU masters in the early 1980's,
so that future certification could be verified by documentation provided. I
was subsequently told that my log book was "no good" because it was "touchy
feely" reportage, rather than a delineation of what training and course
preparation I had done. That's when I gave up on the BCU. But my fondest
remembrances and some interesting lessons are all recorded for posterity,
or perhaps just for simple recounting purposes. I have no book aspirations.

Question. Does anyone on the list use an electronic means of recording
their "data" and reflections while out on multi-day trips, such as a Palm
Pilot or other such device. Lap tops are kind of big and heavy and
power-hungry. I have an NEC Mobile Pro (a miniature PC) which does CE
Microsoft Word, can be downloaded with classic books off the internet for
reading in remote locations, and has e-mail link ability, etc. I keep it in
a small "Otter" waterproof box. I easily upload and download files from and
to my desk top computer via a cradle hooked up to my com port 2. Anybody
else use "computer-age" tecnology to journal?  

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd
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From: Robert Woodard <woodardr_at_tidalwave.net>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Journaling
Date: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 15:30:16 -0500
> Anybody else use "computer-age" tecnology to journal?

Hi Doug,

I use a computer to journal all my trips, although not until I get home. The
two multi-day vacations I took this year I scribbled some notes to remind me
of things until I got home.

My vocabulary is pretty limited so there are only so many ways I can say the
leaves are pretty. So I pretty much stick to talking about what I'm
learning, or at least what I'm doing. That's interesting about the BCU
though. I think it would be funny to carry in a bunch of computer printouts
as an aid towards certification!

Anyhow, for anyone who might be interested, my online journal is at:

http://www.tidalwave.net/~woodardr/Tripndx.html

Woody


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From: RiDem <RiDem_at_email.msn.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Journaling
Date: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 15:48:10 -0600
A wonderful page.  Your maps add a great deal  to your narrative, making it
easy to follow your route and tie it in with the text. Your attention to
detail makes for a great story in the retelling. You  have put a lot of work
into this page , thank you for sharing it. We visited (day hiked) the
Chincoteague-Assateague  NS back on a wet stormy January weekend back in '91
while working in Seaford Delaware. Your story brought back found memories of
the area.
Thanks again!

rich dempsey
ridem_at_msn.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Woodard <woodardr_at_tidalwave.net>
To: Doug Lloyd <dlloyd_at_bc.sympatico.ca>; <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 14, 1999 2:30 PM
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Journaling


> (SNIP)
>
> Anyhow, for anyone who might be interested, my online journal is at:
>
> http://www.tidalwave.net/~woodardr/Tripndx.html
>
> Woody
>
>
>
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>


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From: Wes Boyd <boydwe_at_dmci.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] Float coats?
Date: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 16:53:25
While leafing through a West Marine catalog, I came across a special USCG
Type III PFD called a "float coat". This thing is a thick, floating jacket,
and it's supposed to provide fair hypothermia protection. I wonder how one
would work, in moderately cold water, with a farmer john.

My concerns would be, first, that it's probably impermeable, so it probably
could get uncomfortable when exercising. Secondly, while they're supposed
to have good flexibility, I wonder if they might not restrict arm and
shoulder movements.

Has anybody tried one of these things? It seems to me that they'd have some
interesting advantages.

-- Wes

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From: <Sidney_Stone_at_amsinc.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Journaling
Date: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 18:22:45 -0500
I work with computers all week long.  Love them, but no way will one join me on
the water.  Not even one of the palms.  I carry a VHF for emergencies.  I carry
one or more cameras.  I go out to relax with the water, wildlife, plants, and my
friends.  I do not want to hear computers talking or beeping at me.  I do not
want ot hear cell phone ringings.  Write thoughts on paper or commit the momemt
to memory.

sid


                                                                  
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 to file:      11/14/99 03:30 PM                                  
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To:   "Doug Lloyd" <dlloyd_at_bc.sympatico.ca>, paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
cc:    (bcc: Sidney Stone/AMS/AMSINC)
Subject:  RE: [Paddlewise] Journaling



> Anybody else use "computer-age" tecnology to journal?

Hi Doug,

I use a computer to journal all my trips, although not until I get home. The
two multi-day vacations I took this year I scribbled some notes to remind me
of things until I got home.

My vocabulary is pretty limited so there are only so many ways I can say the
leaves are pretty. So I pretty much stick to talking about what I'm
learning, or at least what I'm doing. That's interesting about the BCU
though. I think it would be funny to carry in a bunch of computer printouts
as an aid towards certification!

Anyhow, for anyone who might be interested, my online journal is at:

http://www.tidalwave.net/~woodardr/Tripndx.html

Woody


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[demime 0.92b removed an attachment of type application/octet-stream which had a name of pic11127.pcx]
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From: Gabriel L Romeu <romeug_at_erols.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Journaling
Date: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 18:59:55 -0500
I am surprised no one mentioned a micro cassette and later
transcribing.  Probably the way I would do it if I could talk or write
coherently...
-- 
:                         :
Gabriel L Romeu                                                      :
http://studiofurniture.com  furniture from the workshop               :
http://members.xoom.com/gabrielR  life as a tourist, daily
journal         :
http://users.aol.com/romeugp  paintings, photographs, etchings, objects

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From: <dmccarty_at_us.ibm.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Journaling
Date: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 21:13:20 -0500
I keep a journal of my trips to record things I learned and experienced.  I
log milage, time paddling, time put in, time taken out, weather and wave
conditions, etc.  I keep a running count of how many trips, hours and miles
I have done.  I'm not sure why I started doing this but I have kept it up.
It is interesting to watch it all add up and go read earlier observations.

I just use a journal I bought at an office store to record my trip.  I try
not to get wordy but sometimes I can use a page or so of the journal.  It
litterally can be a pain to write sometimes since I'm so used to typing.
And writing sure is slow.

Instead of writing and taking a computer, you might want to consider a tape
recorder.  The small micro tapes store an hour or so and you can carry lots
of tapes.  MUCH smaller than a computer and more reliable.  I use a small
recorder when I'm taking pictures to track lense useds, aperature, shutter
speed, frame id, scene specifics and such.  It so much easier and faster
than taking notes.

Hope this helps...
Dan McCarty



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From: Shawn W. Baker <baker_at_montana.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Journaling
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 09:33:50 -0700
Doug Lloyd wrote:
>How many paddlers keep a journal or diary of their trips? 

I do--for me, it makes my day that much more fulfilling to be able to
sit for an hour or so and just reflect on the day's happenings.  You
also forget so much by the time you get home, that it's nice to look
back and "see what you did".  I also enjoy reading my journals on a cold
evening after a day of work that is less-than-fulfilling.

I write very few journal entries after day trips.  Sometimes when
mountaineering, but usually never when paddling.  I probably should.

>Question. Does anyone on the list use an electronic means of recording
>their "data" and reflections   

I think it would be handy, but there are other "toys" on my wish list
before PDA-type gear.

Shawn W. Baker          0                                    46°53'N
© 1999            ____©/______                              114°06'W
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^\  ,/      /~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
baker_at_montana.com    0        http://www.missoulaconcrete.com/shawn/
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From: Rainer Schroeter <kayaker_at_gmx.de>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Journaling
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 19:19:47 +0100
Hello Dough,

yes I keep a diary on my paddling trips (other trips also). On
whitewater trips I write up more "technical" issues like the water level,
the stretch we paddled the difficulties, weather and so on. This is very
useful for me if I come to the same river later and read what conditions
I found at what water level may be a year earlier. It helps me also to
sort my pictures at home.

On touring trips I write more about the day and how I felt, about the
scenery and for example about nice campgrounds.

And I use my notebook on whitewater trips, because I go there with my
mobile home, so electricity is not the problem. Since some months I own
a Toshiba Libretto, which is a very small but complete computer (about
the size of a video cassette). I plan to bring it on touring trips. I
will install an solar panel on the rear deck of my K1 to load a
lead-gel-accu (sp?) over the day (which I plan to install for an
electric bilge pump). With my cell-phone I could also log in the net and
read paddlewise, but I am really not sure if I will do :-) The notebook
is more important to store the pictures of a digital camera I will by in
the next months.

Rainer


--
Rainer Schroeter, Marburg, Germany
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From: James Lofton <n5yyx_at_etsc.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Journaling
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 12:33:19 -0800
I don't, but wish I did(could)sometimes. I do scribble down a few notes 
from time to time. My maps of the Yukon river trip have lots of such 
notes, dates, and such.
I do take LOTS of pictures tho, and I can look at them and "flash" back 
to a moment in time. Most pictures will remind me of more details than I 
could ever hope to write down.
With that said, I have started in later times, to write a trip report (of 
sorts) when I get back. I'm not sure if it's for me or to just share with 
a couple of buddies tho.?
I do have a HP 100LX, but have never quite gotten the hang of typing with 
it. Neat thing tho! I do have a map program in it, and use it for 
tracking sometime(APRS), along with the GPS.

James

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From: Wes Boyd <boydwe_at_dmci.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Journaling
Date: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 15:15:34
At 08:41 AM 11/14/99 -0800, Doug Lloyd wrote:
>How many paddlers keep a journal or diary of their trips? Most travel books

I do. When the nights get long and the water gets hard, I find my journal a
way to help me make it to spring.

>to my desk top computer via a cradle hooked up to my com port 2. Anybody
>else use "computer-age" tecnology to journal?  

I do keep my journal on my desktop computer, and print it out to hard copy
when I get a few pages built up. When in the field, I make notes in a
notebook, then type them onto my computer when I'm home. I was in a West
Marine store the other day, and discovered a waterproof notebook. It's
going to be a regular part of the gear next year. (This year is pretty well
done for me -- the water will be getting too hard soon, and it's too cold
for me to go paddling except in very placid, benign conditions.)

-- Wes

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From: Jerry Hawkins <jhawkins_at_cisco.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Journaling
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 13:38:51 -0800
After canoeing for 3 years without keeping a journal, I suddenly realized that I was losing part of the paddling experience.  I've kept a journal since late summer this year.  For me, it doesn't have the same character if I do it on the computer.  Maybe it turns it into work for me ... so I do my journal in a blank notebook.  I write in script, too, probably the only writing in script that I do anymore other than signing my name.  I can paste in a map or a list of GPS coordinates (my traditional nature is limited only to the journal) or sketch a map or a view or some lucky critter.

I plan out trips, write up trips from past seasons and scouting reports from places I may try in future, and ramble about gear in my journal, in addition to the page I write up after each trip.

Say, what's all this talk of winter?  My son and I took the Navarro Loon out yesterday for 8 miles on the Alviso Slough.  We were both in short sleeves.  We saw lots of migrating and resident birds (herons, egrets, many different kinds of gulls, oystercatchers, geese and several kinds of ducks), plus a seal or two. Some of the year's best morning high tides are coming up (on the west coast), Sunday Nov. 21, Monday December 20 and Wednesday January 19.


At 03:15 PM 11/14/1999 +0000, Wes Boyd wrote:
>At 08:41 AM 11/14/99 -0800, Doug Lloyd wrote:
>>How many paddlers keep a journal or diary of their trips? Most travel books
>
>I do. When the nights get long and the water gets hard, I find my journal a
>way to help me make it to spring.
>
>>to my desk top computer via a cradle hooked up to my com port 2. Anybody
>>else use "computer-age" tecnology to journal?  
>
>I do keep my journal on my desktop computer, and print it out to hard copy
>when I get a few pages built up. When in the field, I make notes in a
>notebook, then type them onto my computer when I'm home. I was in a West
>Marine store the other day, and discovered a waterproof notebook. It's
>going to be a regular part of the gear next year. (This year is pretty well
>done for me -- the water will be getting too hard soon, and it's too cold
>for me to go paddling except in very placid, benign conditions.)
>
>-- Wes
>
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From: John Fereira <jaf30_at_cornell.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Journaling
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 17:28:39 -0500
At 01:38 PM 11/15/99 -0800, Jerry Hawkins wrote:

>Say, what's all this talk of winter? 

It's something a lot of Californian's only hear about (BTW, I've a 5th
generation native
Californian).   It snowed here in Ithaca for the first time this winter.



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From: R. Walker <rww_at_mailbox.neosoft.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Journaling
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 18:03:34 -0600
At 08:41 AM 11/14/99 -0800, Doug Lloyd wrote:
>How many paddlers keep a journal or diary of their trips? Most travel
>books

I keep one, and actually, I post it to the web (see link below).  I do it 
though for a number of wierd reasons.

1. I can't remember squat on my own, without the log file, I'd never be able 
to cumulatively learn any nifty kayak tricks, nor remember where I've been 
before.

2. When I was going through the buying-a-kayak process, everything I read 
was by experts, and even when recounting their early experiences, the 
experts would color what they remembered with their current technical 
expertise.   If someone reads my log file, they get the first day out, written 
with first day on the water knowledge.   They get 1.5yr experience outings 
written with a 1.5yr degree of knowledge.   I don't edit them as the time 
goes on.  [though I have added addendum info when the report contained a 
blatant factual error, ie a bad fish ID].

3. When summer comes along, and it is to hot to even go outside, much 
less exert oneself, I can read the log file and vicariously re-experience the 
outing....


Richard Walker
Houston, TX
http://www.neosoft.com/~rww/kayak_log.html
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From: Andree Hurley <ahurley_at_viewit.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Journaling
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 19:03:21 -0500 (EST)
Hmm, this is a good topic for me! I tried taking my other Powerbook on
trips to but never got it in a boat. Need a solar pack or something to
keep the battery charged, and a good box. This new G3 is meant for
traveling, and I got an Ortleib briefcase to put it in, which isn't
watertight but proof. It won't fit through my boats 6" hatches, however.

I've been doing a lot of journaling in general this year as I worked
through a book called the Artist's Way and it gets you in the habit of
writing 3 pages every day. When I guide and on trips I always write a log
and journal at night. I like to take a book along by Hemingway or somebody
whoes writing influences my perceptions and style. 

Maybe I'll have to look into a littler thing to take like yours.

Andree Hurley
Hurley Design Communications - ICQ# 27469637
On-line Editor - http://www.canoekayak.com
Other Kayaking - http://www.onwatersports.com
Web Sites for Specialty Businesses -  http://www.viewit.com/HDC/


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From: RiDem <RiDem_at_email.msn.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Journaling
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 19:13:19 -0600
While on the topic of "journals" there are several e-journals/ and paper
journals, that are really little more than the self-published accounts of
trips and impressions. This isn't "vanity press" sort of stuff, it reminds
me more of "chapbooks"... the best (for the Eastern US) is Mike Hurley's
"Hurley's Journal"  http://www.hurleysjournal.com/
which I subscribe to ,which is notable for  it's family orientated
traditional canoeing.

Another is  CHE-MUN , which is Canadian, it has  both a paper  and
electronic magazine at http://www.canoe.ca/AllAboutCanoes/che-mun.html
this is a labor of love of  Michael Peake.

The last, in print form only is Nastawgan, published by the Wilderness Canoe
Association (Canada) , some contact info is at www.wildernesscanoe.org

The reason I mention these  sites are that many paddlers DO write for
friends & family, but often distribute their work, with the sort of
embarrassment better reserved for Xeroxed "Christmas Letters" beginning with
"Dear Friends..".  Paddlewise is a great venue to share experiences and Trip
Reports ( Woodards site http://www.tidalwave.net/~woodardr/Tripndx.html   is
a good example) And in my VERY opinionated view, I think that the best
travel writing is being distributed informally, as the publishing
establishment thrusts the Jon Turks, Kasselbaums (sic), and others into our
face via the slick magazines and mass distributed paperbacks. The
non-commercial stuff, this "small and self distributed writing " , is like
the Russian 'samizdat'...it is distributed informally, amongst friends, but
calls for a wider audience, I think.

I believe that the  biggest hurdle to cross (after time restraints) is the
nagging doubt.. "Do I really have anything to say that would interest
others?" I would let others be the judge of that!!! Keeping notes, journal
writing, and distributing them is the heart and soul of travel writing. So
PalmPilot or marble notebook... write.

rich dempsey
ridem_at_msn.com


----- Original Message -----
From: Andree Hurley <ahurley_at_viewit.com>
To: Doug Lloyd <dlloyd_at_bc.sympatico.ca>
Cc: <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 6:03 PM
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Journaling
(SNIP)

> I've been doing a lot of journaling in general this year as I worked
> through a book called the Artist's Way and it gets you in the habit of
> writing 3 pages every day. When I guide and on trips I always write a log
> and journal at night. >
> Maybe I'll have to look into a littler thing to take like yours.
>
> Andree Hurley
> Hurley Design Communications - ICQ# 27469637
> On-line Editor - http://www.canoekayak.com
> Other Kayaking - http://www.onwatersports.com
> Web Sites for Specialty Businesses -  http://www.viewit.com/HDC/
>
>
>
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>
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>



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From: Wes Boyd <boydwe_at_dmci.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Journaling
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 09:32:25
At 07:13 PM 11/15/99 -0600, RiDem wrote:

>
>The reason I mention these  sites are that many paddlers DO write for
>friends & family, but often distribute their work, with the sort of
>embarrassment better reserved for Xeroxed "Christmas Letters" beginning with
>"Dear Friends..".  Paddlewise is a great venue to share experiences and Trip
>Reports ( Woodards site http://www.tidalwave.net/~woodardr/Tripndx.html   is
>a good example) And in my VERY opinionated view, I think that the best
>travel writing is being distributed informally, as the publishing
>establishment thrusts the Jon Turks, Kasselbaums (sic), and others into our
>face via the slick magazines and mass distributed paperbacks. The
>non-commercial stuff, this "small and self distributed writing " , is like
>the Russian 'samizdat'...it is distributed informally, amongst friends, but
>calls for a wider audience, I think.

I agree wholeheartedly. There's nothing I enjoy reading more than someone's
trip report that contains largely unedited descriptions of real happenings.
Not conquering Everest or paddling across an ocean, but just their reation
to eagles in a mating dance, or fighting the wind across a long reach, or
whatever. I've enjoyed Woody's stuff, and would like to see more of it from
others.

-- Wes

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From: Robert Woodard <woodardr_at_tidalwave.net>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Journaling
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 18:38:06 -0500
>I've enjoyed Woody's stuff, and would like to see more
> of it from others.


Since Wes is too modest to mention it, I'd should point out that he has an
EXCELLENT trip report page:

http://www2.dmci.net/users/wesboyd/kayak.htm

Wes's command of the English language is several orders of magnitude greater
than mine, and I always feel like "I'm there" when reading one of his trip
reports.

I must confess to the true reason of my Journaling though - My memory is so
bad I forget a lot of the details very quickly. I even find the detail in my
journal is directly proportional to how long I wait to write the story.
After it is written though, it has been great to re-experience it again from
time to time by reading what I wrote in days gone by. It is also a big help
when planning a trip through the same area again.

Woody


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From: <JSpinner_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Journaling
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 21:03:30 EST
Journals:
    I've been keeping a log that has the places, miles, conditions and 
anything unusual like the bit of being a pylon for a jetski or seeing the 
mating flight of eagles, as we did at Mason Neck last April. But I haven't 
been keeping the kind of trip report log that Woody makes. Besides, about 250 
of my almost 500 miles has been with him so he is doing the work for me. I 
just print them out on Mondays with the maps.
    Mostly, I remember what I've seen and where. I have to admit the when 
totally escapes me as time increases the clutter in my brain. I won't forget 
either the eagles nor the trip because I wrote down the eagles and that it 
was my first CPA trip. I'd rather make my short, non-sentence notes on a trip 
and save the real writing for stuff others have to decipher.
    Why journal at all then? I like to see what I've done that I don't notice 
except in retrospect, like miles. I like to note the exceptional so that it 
doesn't loose its context. I like to read where I wrote down that first roll 
or the first time paddling in fairly steep waves.  Just because they would be 
really small to me today doesn't diminish my memory of the exhilaration I 
felt then. I was so pleased.

Camping:
    I wish I camped more so I could get the camping/boat thing to at least a 
less ludicrous level. I'm a list maker so journaling what I took would be 
just Scotch taping the list into my book. I know what equipment I must have, 
what I want, and what is useless except in the most unusual circumstances. I 
truly don't need the down comforter I take car camping in the boat. The 
coffee pot is a different issue. It is one of the bigger things but one of 
the last things to be sorted out of the kit. It is a relief to learn that 
most of you take 2 hours to get under way. I thought it was just us. When 
pressed to the wall we can do it faster but it isn't fun.
    I am really torn about the camping equipment I want every time people 
start writing about the issue. When you all make your Christmas list here are 
the things  I want: a new boat-Gulfstream, a new tent, a parawing tarp, a 
down sleeping bag, a new stove and a full length therma-rest mat. I just KNOW 
that if I had just the right gear I could do it in 45 minutes<G>.

Joan
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From: Doug Lloyd <dlloyd_at_bc.sympatico.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Journaling
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 00:17:48 -0800
Andree, et al:
I hate bringing along electronic stuff on my "escapes from the modern
world" journeys, but I find I am a very poor physical writer. I have a hard
time with paper. I have pieces of log books, note pads, stick-it notes,
etc, all over the place (kayak and none kayak related). The electronic
medium, for better or for worse, is slowly helping to keep me organized
(and spell better).

I may come across on Paddlewise as kind of macho, but I'm really just a fun
loving guy who enjoys mother nature in all her splendor and moods. There is
an esthetic appeal paddling year round in a variety of conditions. When I'm
on the water, the moments are so vivid, like I'll never forget them. But
one does to some degree. Keeping a journal or log book or whatever you want
to call it, will assist me in my feeble old age (along with the pictures I
keep), to relive the moments and voyages of my very personal outward and
inward discoveries. I'll use whatever medium I need to to achieve that goal.

  
At 07:03 PM 11/15/99 -0500, you wrote:
>Hmm, this is a good topic for me! I tried taking my other Powerbook on
>trips to but never got it in a boat. Need a solar pack or something to
>keep the battery charged, and a good box. This new G3 is meant for
>traveling, and I got an Ortleib briefcase to put it in, which isn't
>watertight but proof. It won't fit through my boats 6" hatches, however.
>
>I've been doing a lot of journaling in general this year as I worked
>through a book called the Artist's Way and it gets you in the habit of
>writing 3 pages every day. When I guide and on trips I always write a log
>and journal at night. I like to take a book along by Hemingway or somebody
>whoes writing influences my perceptions and style. 
>
>Maybe I'll have to look into a littler thing to take like yours.
>
>Andree Hurley
>Hurley Design Communications - ICQ# 27469637
>On-line Editor - http://www.canoekayak.com
>Other Kayaking - http://www.onwatersports.com
>Web Sites for Specialty Businesses -  http://www.viewit.com/HDC/
>
>
>
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