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From: Steve Cramer <cramer_at_coe.uga.edu>
subject: [Paddlewise] Mayan Holiday
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 15:30:01 -0500
My wife just called to tell me that she's taking me to Mexico in a few
weeks to a place near Cancun that's apparently known as the Mayan
Riveria. I don't do too well in resorts, but this is supposed to be less
resort-ish, I dunno.

Anyhow, has anyone every paddled that part of the world? Is there an
outfitter in the neighborhood? I think the hotel has some sort of kayaks
on the beach, but I'm not expecting much.

Ralph, thanks in advance for your suggestion :)

Steve
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From: Mark Zen <canoeist_at_netbox.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Mayan Holiday
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 14:54:04 +0000
At 15:30 12/22/99 -0500, Steve Cramer wrote:
>
>
[snip]
>
>Ralph, thanks in advance for your suggestion :)
>
>Steve

i'll beat him too it, by suggesting the place that fed-ex's them to you,
several on this list seemed to have used them... ;-)

enjoy

mark

--
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#~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~
http://www.jacknjillz.com/paddler  [index of Paddling websites I manage]
Rocky Mtn Sea Kayak Club, Colorado River Flows, Poudre Paddlers
The Colorado Paddlers' Resource, Rocky Mtn Canoe Club Trip Page 
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From: ralph diaz <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Mayan Holiday
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 19:39:21 -0800
Steve Cramer wrote:
> 
> My wife just called to tell me that she's taking me to Mexico in a few
> weeks to a place near Cancun that's apparently known as the Mayan
> Riveria. I don't do too well in resorts, but this is supposed to be less
> resort-ish, I dunno.
> 
> Anyhow, has anyone every paddled that part of the world? Is there an
> outfitter in the neighborhood? I think the hotel has some sort of kayaks
> on the beach, but I'm not expecting much.
> 
> Ralph, thanks in advance for your suggestion :)
> 
> Steve

What makes you think that _I_ would know?  Just because I have a Latino
surname, doesn't mean I would know about Latin American places to
paddle.  Would you ask Jackie Fenton about paddling in the UK because
she has a British surname?  Would you ask Sandy Kramer about paddling in
Germany because of her last name?  Or Richard Clifford about the
paddling in Ireland because of his Gaelic origins?

Actually, I hope you know I am just kidding. :-) :-)

I have never paddled in Mexico since I was not a paddler back when I
visited the country quite often.  I understand that in the Yucatan,
where Cancun and environs are located, there are sit-on-top rentals in
just about every place.

feliz navidad,

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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From: Jackie Fenton <jackie_at_intelenet.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Mayan Holiday
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 17:58:35 -0800 (PST)
> From: Steve Cramer <cramer_at_coe.uga.edu>

> My wife just called to tell me that she's taking me to Mexico in a few
> weeks to a place near Cancun that's apparently known as the Mayan
> Riveria. I don't do too well in resorts, but this is supposed to be less
> resort-ish, I dunno.

My granite installer is from Cancun.  From his description, be prepared
for daily rain.  Sometimes heavy.  But nice and warm all year around.

> Anyhow, has anyone every paddled that part of the world? Is there an
> outfitter in the neighborhood? I think the hotel has some sort of kayaks
> on the beach, but I'm not expecting much.

One option is to take a folding kayak.  See http://www.foldingkayak.com
for info about having one delivered to you before you go and carry it
to Cancun with you.  I've also heard hotels usually have kayaks for
rent (SOT's).

Cheers,

Jackie

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From: John Fereira <jaf30_at_cornell.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Mayan Holiday
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 08:10:45 -0500
At 05:58 PM 12/22/99 -0800, Jackie Fenton wrote:
>> From: Steve Cramer <cramer_at_coe.uga.edu>
>
>> My wife just called to tell me that she's taking me to Mexico in a few
>> weeks to a place near Cancun that's apparently known as the Mayan
>> Riveria. I don't do too well in resorts, but this is supposed to be less
>> resort-ish, I dunno.
>
>My granite installer is from Cancun.  From his description, be prepared
>for daily rain.  Sometimes heavy.  But nice and warm all year around.

I spent a week in Cancun many years ago and it only rained once, on the
first day.


>One option is to take a folding kayak.  See http://www.foldingkayak.com
>for info about having one delivered to you before you go and carry it
>to Cancun with you.  I've also heard hotels usually have kayaks for
>rent (SOT's).

And for good reason.  The water there is really warm and the snorkeling
is excellent.  

Steve, as long as your making it a "Mayan" vacation be sure to check out
Tulum.  There are Mayan ruins there and it's on the coast.  Pretty much
all the other sites are inland.  Tulum is about 45 miles from Cancun.  On
the way you can also stop at Xel Ha, a popular swimming/snorkeling spot.
Isla Mujeras is also definately worth checking out.  There is a regular ferry
out to the Island and you might even find a kayak outfitter out there.
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From: <volinjo_at_juno.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Mayan Holiday
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 00:16:07 -0500
Ralph
I think everyone on this list kind of thinks you know everything = it
doesn't have anything to do with your surname, you're a genral resource,
and we all thank you for it.

Happy New Year

Joan

On Wed, 22 Dec 1999 19:39:21 -0800 ralph diaz <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
writes:
> Steve Cramer wrote:
> > 
> > My wife just called to tell me that she's taking me to Mexico in a 
> few
> > weeks to a place near Cancun that's apparently known as the Mayan
> > Riveria. I don't do too well in resorts, but this is supposed to 
> be less
> > resort-ish, I dunno.
> > 
> > Anyhow, has anyone every paddled that part of the world? Is there 
> an
> > outfitter in the neighborhood? I think the hotel has some sort of 
> kayaks
> > on the beach, but I'm not expecting much.
> > 
> > Ralph, thanks in advance for your suggestion :)
> > 
> > Steve
> 
> What makes you think that _I_ would know?  Just because I have a 
> Latino
> surname, doesn't mean I would know about Latin American places to
> paddle.  Would you ask Jackie Fenton about paddling in the UK because
> she has a British surname?  Would you ask Sandy Kramer about 
> paddling in
> Germany because of her last name?  Or Richard Clifford about the
> paddling in Ireland because of his Gaelic origins?
> 
> Actually, I hope you know I am just kidding. :-) :-)
> 
> I have never paddled in Mexico since I was not a paddler back when I
> visited the country quite often.  I understand that in the Yucatan,
> where Cancun and environs are located, there are sit-on-top rentals 
> in
> just about every place.
> 
> feliz navidad,
> 
> 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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From: Shawn W. Baker <baker_at_montana.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Mayan Holiday
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 08:11:17 -0700
Personally, I assumed he made the "thanks in advance" comment because,
if I'm not mistaken, Folding-Kayak is your _middle_name_!  :)

Shawn

Ralph wrote:
>What makes you think that _I_ would know?  Just because I have a Latino
>surname, doesn't mean I would know about Latin American places to
>paddle. 
<<snip>>
>Actually, I hope you know I am just kidding. :-) :-)
>
>I have never paddled in Mexico since I was not a paddler back when I
>visited the country quite often.  I understand that in the Yucatan,
>where Cancun and environs are located, there are sit-on-top rentals in
>just about every place.


-- 
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: Steve Cramer <cramer_at_coe.uga.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Mayan Holiday
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 10:45:19 -0500 (EST)
On Thu, 23 Dec 1999 Outfit3029_at_aol.com wrote:

> rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com writes:
> 
> << What makes you think that _I_ would know?  Just because I have a Latino
>  surname, doesn't mean I would know about Latin American places to
>  paddle.  Would you ask Jackie Fenton about paddling in the UK because
>  she has a British surname?  Would you ask Sandy Kramer about paddling in
>  Germany because of her last name?  Or Richard Clifford about the
>  paddling in Ireland because of his Gaelic origins?
>  
>  Actually, I hope you know I am just kidding. :-) :-) >>
> 
> Ralph,
>  You missed the boat.  Or did I?
>   I am sure that Steve Cramer was referring to folding kayaks.
> 
Bingo! I was trying to (playfully) pre-empt a "if your boat fit in a bag,
you could take it with you" response. Mark Z and Jackie mentioned the
FedEx-you-a-boat-in-a-bag services, which I had forgotten about.

I've also discovered that Trek & Trail, who we have paddled Lake Superior
with in June, moves their operation to the Yucatan in the winter, so I'll 
be checking with them, also.

Anyway, what would Ralph know about Mexico? He's from Puerto Rico. :)
If you meet anybody named Bubba, though, be sure he'll know about paddling
in GA, NC, and TN.

Steve Cramer (Whose Dutch surname qualifies him to know there ain't no
white water paddling in Holland :) )


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From: ralph diaz <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Mayan Holiday
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 12:07:10 -0800
Steve Cramer wrote:

> Bingo! I was trying to (playfully) pre-empt a "if your boat fit in a bag,
> you could take it with you" response. Mark Z and Jackie mentioned the
> FedEx-you-a-boat-in-a-bag services, which I had forgotten about.

That would have been much too obvious a response by me and therefore I
didn't give it figuring some other people would.  :-)

I think actually for a Mayan holiday of the nature you seem to be
planning, you would probably want to paddle only a few times for a few
hours and a rental SOT would have been a fine vessel for that operating
in its own element, i.e. warm.

> 
> Anyway, what would Ralph know about Mexico? He's from Puerto Rico. :)
> If you meet anybody named Bubba, though, be sure he'll know about paddling
> in GA, NC, and TN.

Actually I'm of Cuban descent.  But that's okay.  Jose Marti who led the
Cuban revolution against Spain in the 1890s (and whose poem is
immortalized in the words of the one Cuban song most people know,
Guantamera") once said that Cuba and Puerto Rico are two wings of the
same bird.

ralph 
> 
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-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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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From: Arthur Hebert <seacajun_at_gs.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Mayan Holiday
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 15:38:02 -0600
->Steve, as long as your making it a "Mayan" vacation be sure to check out
>Tulum.  There are Mayan ruins there and it's on the coast.  Pretty much
>all the other sites are inland.  Tulum is about 45 miles from Cancun.  On
>the way you can also stop at Xel Ha, a popular swimming/snorkeling spot.
>Isla Mujeras is also definately worth checking out.  There is a regular
ferry
>out to the Island and you might even find a kayak outfitter out there.



They only have SOT's on Isla Mujeres.

 Arthur

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From: Wes Boyd <boydwe_at_dmci.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] Happy Holiday
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 20:37:37
All you Paddlewisenheimers out there have a Merry Christmas and a happy new
year.

-- Wes

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From: Jackie Fenton <jackie_at_intelenet.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Mayan Holiday
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 17:23:24 -0800 (PST)
> From jaf30_at_cornell.edu Thu Dec 23 05:15 PST 1999
> At 05:58 PM 12/22/99 -0800, Jackie Fenton wrote:
> >> From: Steve Cramer <cramer_at_coe.uga.edu>
> >
> >> My wife just called to tell me that she's taking me to Mexico in a few
> >> weeks to a place near Cancun that's apparently known as the Mayan
> >> Riveria. I don't do too well in resorts, but this is supposed to be less
> >> resort-ish, I dunno.
> >
> >My granite installer is from Cancun.  From his description, be prepared
> >for daily rain.  Sometimes heavy.  But nice and warm all year around.
> 
> I spent a week in Cancun many years ago and it only rained once, on the
> first day.


Actually, it sounded like he was describing Hawaii (which has quite
frequent rains, I hear).  I think he misses his birth home, Cancun, quite 
a bit and, like me, also misses the rain after being in southern California 
awhile where... IT NEVER RAINS... or hardly ever... can be a bummer when
you are used to the frequent, sweet and wonderful smell of fresh showers.

Cheers,

Jackie  (74 degrees and sunny... oh so sunny)

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From: Wes Boyd <boydwe_at_dmci.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] Christmas Eve
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1999 10:09:23
For the last several days, I have been watching the ice build up around the
shores of a nearby lake, and watching a flock of hundreds of geese huddle
in the shrinking puddle of open water. This morning it was cold, after
being clear much of last night and I wondered how they were doing, so I
decided to use the excuse of a run to the convenience store for a cup of
coffee to see how they were doing. I headed up the road in my van to the
sparkle of the overnight's light snow twinkling in the light of a cold
winter sun. 

As far as I could see, the lake was frozen over, but far out on the lake
there was a flock of what appeared to be hundreds of geese huddled
together, steam rolling off their body warmth. You'd think they'd fly off
to a warmer climate, and they're going to have to pretty soon, but they're
apparently hanging on in hopes of a thaw that will have to be a lot bigger
than the weatherman says is coming. 

I don't paddle the lake the geese were on very often, since there's no good
public access and it's surrounded with cottages, each with a couple of
jetskis at the dock in the warmer months. Coffee in hand, I decided to head
down to Lake Hudson, my regular kayaking grounds to see what was happening
there, if anything. 

Down at Lake Hudson, I pulled into the familiar driveway, to see the think
skin of the snow from the night before covering the road; in my rear view
mirror, I could see the wind wash from my van piling it in a complicated
skien of chaotic windthrows. My eye picks out a particular shiny spot, and
I wonder at how it can continue to throw the light at me as I change angles
in approaching it. How magical sunlight and snowflakes can be!

It was obvious that I was the first person to head into the lake today,
even though by now it was midmorning of another short winter's day. The
colors of the day were white and brown, with the blue of the sky overhead.
Off to sunward, I saw the shape of a large bird gliding between naked,
barren branches. It looked sort of like a hawk, but since I only saw a
silhouette, my bird identification was challenged. Whatever it was, it was
another bird that I would have thought would be off in a warmer climate,
soaking in the rays of a tropical sun, soaring over some beach crowded with
sunbathers, but it too must have had some reason to hang around and put up
with the cold of a Michigan winter, at least for a bit longer.

It was bleak down at the boat launch, the scene of many loadings and
unloadings over the years. There would be none today, for the lake was
covered with ice. There was the gray where stress fractures resulting from
the expansion of the ice when it froze shoved a little water out onto the
surface, enough to wet down the dusting of snow, but as a last gasp of hope
of open water, it wasn't much to think about. The ice was new enough that
there was no way I was going to walk out on it, although in the back of my
head I thought that I might like to take a hike out there later in the
winter, when the ice is thicker. Such a hike might reveal a few secrets
that are hard to discern from the seat of a kayak, but today wouldn't be
the day, either.

I could at least take a walk around the boat launch. I left the van
running; the heater isn't very good, and it could use all the help it would
get. A light breeze bit at my ears, and I pulled down the stocking cap that
I'd only started wearing this week. A mile off in the distance, I could see
the secret little spot that I call "The Narrows", where a channel leads to
the western part of the lake. Today, the western section was hidden, and
this time, it would remain so, since there'd be no trip down there, along
the ridge where the turkey vultures soar in the summers, no blue herons to
inspire by the grace of their flight, no geese -- not even a huddling flock
of diehards like I'd seen on the other lake earlier. There'd be no soft
putter of motors as fishermen trolled for the lake's lunker muskies, and no
dip of paddle in the water. Under it's hard, white blanket, the lake was
asleep for the winter.

The days and weeks until the lake wakes up seem endless, a near eternity
looming ahead. Over the last decade or so, we've had open water by the end
of February about half the time, but I've seen the ice remain until April,
too, so there's no safe way to make a prediction of how long I'll have to
wait, frustrated by nature's cycle. I make a mental note to take the
paddling gear out of the back of the van, where it's ridden regularly since
March. I have to have faith in the cycles of nature, in the wanderings of
the sun, that sooner or later the days will warm up, that the first sprigs
of green will appear, and that the geese will come back.

"Two months", I think. "Two months, and at least we'll be looking out of
it." I'm lying to myself, of course; it'll be more like three, or even
more, before I'll be able to get out with the kayak with any regularity.

I'm not really dressed for being out in the breeze, so I turn back to the
van, where the heater is struggling to pull ahead of the winter's cold. All
the holiday activities lie ahead, the dinners, the gifts, the family time.
It's a bright spot in a bleak period, when spring seems so far away.


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