Whoa! Just arrived home from work and read my better half's post. Doug, Duane I don't believe Deb read our previous postings a while back, so she doesn't relies the "no pun intended" use of the word macho. Guess she felt like the gator protecting her young ( or do they eat their young?), well ya know what I mean. Believe me if I were macho I'd be single. I guess maybe macho has different definitions to different people. In our home macho is defined as a attitude not how one looks or ones accomplishments. What most people don't see or hear is the comments I've received from people (mostly non paddlers) who think the Gulf crossing was done as a "macho thing" Deb and we heard it way to many times. Debbie is perfectly satisfied with my strength as long as I can open up a jar that she can't, I'm just wondering who is the intelligent man she is talking about ;-). Ok back to the real subject, crossings. I'm totally in tune with Duane and Doug's post referencing crossings. Although open water crossing may not be for everyone there is many things special about being in a tiny vessel with no site of land. Of course I believe Doug is correct in his statement of how fortunate we are to have access to the high tech gear available to us today. We should have all the "sensible" back ups any time we are on the water. But on long crossings your best "back up" is your strength both physical, MENTAL and your experience. Experience needs to broken down to so many parts such as sea kayaking, navigation, weather, sea conditions,rules of the nautical road. One that ventures on the open sea without "back up" is a fool, and could very likely be a dead fool. A long crossing could be five miles, less to whatever, it depends upon the individual, when attempting YOUR long crossing be prepared. Silly as it may sound to some many times I will just paddle offshore a few miles then just turn around and head back in (humm, I wonder if that can be considered a crossing, doubt it ;-) ). To be even more political incorrect I enjoy paddling offshore (crossings) at night, to a point where land formations isn't even a dark black line. There is a special sensation being alone on the open sea. I'll leave the rest for my book if I ever get da darn ting finished. When it is finished all my silly and dump mistakes will be reveal. For now I'll just let Doug inform us of the mistakes possible on long crossings and we all can learn ;-) For those who may be considering any long (or short) crossings it is through the many books available on the subject and Paddle Wise that will help enable you to be successful. Arthur Hebert www.homepages.gs.net/seacajun >> >>Duane said: >>>Hey, >>> >>>We shouldn't forget our cajun paddlewiser, Arthur Hebert, who crossed the >>the >>>Gulf of Mexico solo. By the way, he has a nice website: <A >>>HREF="http://homepages.gs.net/seacajun">Arthur Hebert's Sea Kayak Page</A> >. >> >>I specifically didn't mention his name because he's too much like us >>Duane...macho maniacs! And besides, I didn't want any adulation going to >>Arthur's head! >> >Now & then I read this paddlewise stuff. I would like to set the record >straight about Arthur Hebert. He loves his sport & puts a lot of effort >into learning it. What may come across as "macho" to some is really >excitement about the challenge & getting it right. I don't like macho! But >I do like strong, intelligent men. Signed, his wife of 23 years! > Debbie Hebert *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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