Re: [Paddlewise] Symposium water temps?

At 04:12 PM 2/24/00 -0500, Steve Cramer wrote:
>MJAkayaker_at_aol.com wrote:
>> 
>> I am considering attending the East Coast symposium in Charleston, SC
which I
>> believe is middle of April.  What kind of water temp should I be expecting?
>> 
>> If I do not make that one I am also considering the Western Michigan
>> symposium which I think is the end of May.  What can I expect there?
>> 
>> My "Winter" paddling gear is probably only good for about 55 degf so I have
>> to be a little careful in planning my trips up north.
>> 
>I don't remember the water temperature in degrees, but 2 years ago I
>spent an hour rolling in the Symposium pond wearing a fuzzy rubber shirt
>and that was plenty. Oh, I also spent about 10 minutes swimming in the
>Atlantic (not on purpose) in polypro and nylon, and didn't get chilled.
>
>As I write this it's 71 F in Charleston. Sea temp 30 miles offshore
>(nearest buoy) is 69 F.
>
>I've been snowed on in Southern Michigan in May. Charleston in April is
>warmer. :)

Yeah, but that's pretty rare, and we're talking Memorial Day weekend for
the Western Michigan symposium. The demos are on a small inland lake, and
the water temps should be in the fifties, if not higher, so you'd be OK.
They do run some trips out on Lake Michigan, and that can be somewhat cooler. 

I should point out that the Western Michigan affair is a rather small and
intimate symposium. It's enjoyable for that reason, but you do not have the
range of displays, training, and demos that you'd get at a larger one, like
the Great Lakes Symposium in the U.P. in July. That's on Lake Superior,
where the water temp rarely gets over 55, anyway.

I happen to like the intimacy of the Western Michigan symposium, and will 
probably be there if not somewhere else that weekend, in spite of what I
consider an inordinately high cost for what's available. If you're looking
for a wide selection, though, I'd suggest the Great Lakes Symposium.

-- Wes


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