On Sat, 22 Jan 2000 16, Arthur Hebert wrote: >>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.>> <snip> Sorry Arthur, I thought everyone would understand the "inside joke" that we had about the macho thread a few months ago that exonerated you already. However, it was pretty cool hearing your wife on PW come to your defense, as well as a number of other posters. So, I'm really _not_ sorry people mistook the post - it was worth seeing people come out of the woodwork. >>Ok back to the real subject, crossings.<snip> But on long crossings your best "back up" is your strength both physical, MENTAL and your experience.<snip> >> I posted something a while back about "determination and mind-over-matter". Your comment about "MENTAL" was precisely what I was trying to partially identify as an attribute necessary for more committed paddling (as a co-commitant to intelligence, etc). Of course, it was not directed toward novices or even intermediate paddlers. Unfortunately (or fortunately as the case may be), unless you have gone out and really tested yourself, even got in over your head, it is difficult to relate to this kind of talk. I know both Dave, Andrew and I, after our failed crossing to the Storm Islands, felt we had been inducted or initiated into some kind of secret order of paddlers-who-screwed-up-big-time and/or were pushed to the limits a bit too far. I know you have "been there" Arthur, as has Derek H on his North Sea crossing and even Nigel F on his Northern Canada sojourn where he was picked up by a freighter in the end (Nigel wrote up something for SK Mag about it). The physical is a must too, but I would caution against conveying too strong a representation of the need for brute force type strength. You probably mean't "good physical conditioning", etc. I know a couple of big body-builders who wouldn't last very long on an arduous crossing. Guys like Matt Broze aren't exactly "hunks", but man, can they paddle fast and far. Back-ups per say, are a debatable subject for sure. I take a lot of flak over my promotion of "safety equipment". I'm sticking to my guns on it though. I've worked with SK Magazine to try and promote both "requisit skills" and "back-up gear" as a two-pronged answer the "being properly prepared" idea. The more "tools" you have in your rescue bag, the more options you have and have practiced, the better off you are. I know you wern't flaming me hear, but others have. Chris and I at SK have chatted over this thrust for some time, and it is mantra now. Anyway Arthur, and all of you out there in PW land, stay healthy - both mentally and physically. We are all headed to the same place one day, 'tis a grave situation and it comes up real fast, so get the most out of life and enjoy your paddling, whatever your particular pursuit and level of personal risk you are willing to expose yourself to. I'm not sure what's on the other side for us all - if it will be a safe beach or a dangerous lee shore, heaven or hell, God, Jesus, Alah, Budda, the Wizard of Oz, or if my first conscious thought after dying is that there won't be any 'cause that's it - worm food (at least I'll live forever in my children, and accordingly teach them to love this planet and the ocean, as that is part of me); or maybe, for me, I'll be reincarnated rich, and can afford new kayaks - one vacuum bagged, one plastic, and one or two in carbon/kevlar - stiff _and_ light. Probably my bad karma will have me come back as a Coast Guard worker rescuing nerdy weekend-warrior kayakers from dangerous crossings - who knows. Regardless, have a safe voyage wherever you are headed! BC'in Ya Doug Lloyd *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Arthur wrote; >>>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.>> <snip> > Doug wrote; >Sorry Arthur, I thought everyone would understand the "inside joke" that we >had about the macho thread a few months ago that exonerated you already. Just another good thing about PW, we can always remind the salted or inform newcomers on the list about previous post. No worries, with any luck my wife will beat me tonight for not telling her it was a inside joke ;-0 >>>Ok back to the real subject, crossings.<snip> But on long crossings your >best "back up" is your strength both physical, MENTAL and your >experience.<snip> >> > >The physical is a must too, but I would caution against conveying too >strong a representation of the need for brute force type strength. You >probably meant "good physical conditioning", etc. I know a couple of big >body-builders who wouldn't last very long on an arduous crossing. Guys like >Matt Broze aren't exactly "hunks", but man, can they paddle fast and far. Doug, thanks for reading between the lines, "good physical conditioning" is EXACTLY what I meant. I'm sure you were talking about body builders un-experienced to the sport of paddling. Body building is a totally different of sport and requires a different type training from paddling I first observed that "some body builders" may not be able strenuous paddling during a pirogue race back in the late eighties (last century) . I no expert (strictly shade tree gym guy) in exercise physiology but one with bulk can handle an arduous crossings, with proper training (endurance paddling and cardio work). I'm in total agreement about the people that aren't "hunks" that can paddle fast and far. I've paddle with a couple women paddlers that has truly impressed me. My most frequent paddling partner (next to my daughter), Larry Koenig also a Paddle Wiser, is "not exactly a hunk" but he can paddle seriously fast and far. But hey lets be truthful brut strength is of little value on a long crossing but it could help to get your British Heavy on your vechile ;-) Doug wrote; >Back-ups per say, are a debatable subject for sure. I take a lot of flak >over my promotion of "safety equipment". I'm sticking to my guns on it >though. I've worked with SK Magazine to try and promote both "requisit >skills" and "back-up gear" as a two-pronged answer the "being properly >prepared" idea. The more "tools" you have in your rescue bag, the more >options you have and have practiced, the better off you are. Well said. >Anyway Arthur, and all of you out there in PW land, stay healthy - both >mentally and physically. We are all headed to the same place one day, 'tis >a grave situation and it comes up real fast, so get the most out of life >and enjoy your paddling, whatever your particular pursuit and level of >personal risk you are willing to expose yourself to. I'm not sure what's on >the other side for us all - if it will be a safe beach or a dangerous lee >shore, heaven or hell, God, Jesus, Alah, Budda, the Wizard of Oz, or if my >first conscious thought after dying is that there won't be any 'cause >that's it - worm food (at least I'll live forever in my children, and >accordingly teach them to love this planet and the ocean, as that is part >of me); or maybe, for me, I'll be reincarnated rich, and can afford new >kayaks - one vacuum bagged, one plastic, and one or two in carbon/kevlar - >stiff _and_ light. Probably my bad karma will have me come back as a Coast >Guard worker rescuing nerdy weekend-warrior kayakers from dangerous >crossings - who knows. Regardless, have a safe voyage wherever you are headed! Again well said, your writing abilities is impressive, truly from a person who is in tune to what he writes. Arthur 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/ ***************************************************************************
> Probably my bad karma will have me come back as a Coast > >Guard worker rescuing nerdy weekend-warrior kayakers from dangerous > >crossings - who knows. I'm not sure that would be such a bad fate. I can think of lots worse things to be doing with a life than spending my time on a boat helping people who are doing the things we love to do. :-) Some of the greatest satisfaction/pleasure I've experienced has been when I've seen the result of something that I have taught save someone from serious injury/death. Doug, you can probably take credit for my having had star flares with me when my faulty logic got me in trouble in Monterey. I really don't think I'd be here if I had not had those. We generally get in trouble when we think we've taken everything into consideration but have missed some significant factor. In my case I didn't practice getting back into my SOT boat because I'd done it lots of times before. The only problem was that I neglected the difference in buoyancy and ability to drive myself up out of the water which was provided by a full 1/4 inch wetsuit and big fins. Because of this miscalculation of fact I didn't have a paddle float which allows me to reenter with no problem. Because of folks like the Broze boys Paddle floats exist. I never ever heard of them back 30 years when I was paddling a Royak. Because of Doug's messages, specifically, I had flares and a whistle. (now I have star flares, smokes, whistle and air horn, paddle floats (plural) Wet Suit (replacing two piece dry suit which just didn't cut it keeping me warm) and will be getting flotation bags for inside the boat, just in case I ever lose the hatch cover/puncture the hull. VHF radio will come before I go very far offshore as well as a GPS to backup up my old fart navigational ability. Sometimes I feel very average....... ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dave Flory, San Jose, CA. dflory_at_earthlink.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The average person is an idiot, that is why they are only average. ©1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> Sometimes I feel very average....... Oh, phooey!! especially so when I double post while trying to change the subject line in a cued message. Sorry, I hear the mind is the second thing to go, I forget what the first thing was...... ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dave Flory, San Jose, CA. dflory_at_earthlink.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The average person is an idiot, that is why they are only average. ©1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** 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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