I've received over 30 responses to my posting about a possible Paddlewise get-together sometime next spring. I have also combed through the discussion about possible get-togethers that came down before I put out my post, and came up with about a dozen more people that from the tone of their posts seem to show interest in a get-together. It may have been that there had already been a discussion about a possible get-together in New York that spurred the response, but by far the biggest number of respondents -- about 40% of the total -- are within a reasonable weekend distance of New York or might be willing to travel a greater distance to come to such a get-together. The second largest response was from the southeast -- this is rather scattered -- from Florida to Texas, with a concentration at both ends. There were about the same number of west coast responses, mostly from southern California or the Northwest, with slightly more from the latter. I'd note that there does seem to be a Northwest Paddlewise get-together seeming to be forming in conjunction with the Columbia River Paddle Festival on April 15-16. Sure wish I could go! The rest of the respondents were scattered, and didn't show any particular concentrations. Anyway, there seems to be enough interest to have a northeast get- together this spring. Ralph, in a post earlier this week, suggests Memorial Day weekend, as OpSail activities seem to rule out the Fourth of July weekend, at least if we're going to do New York. Several people have commented on the desire to have camping -- preferably at a location on the water, and boat rental facilities available on site or nearby; some would like motel facilities, and safe water for recreational paddlers is a must. Sandy has also pointed out that the availability of an airport large enough to have special discounted flights is also desirable. I know nothing about the NY area, but would think that it would be best if we could find a campground outside the metro area, say on Long Island, the Connecticut or Jersey shores, or up the Hudson a bit, and do a day trip out of there to the Downtown Boathouse for a NY harbor paddle, possibly to the Statue of Liberty. In a back channel e-mail, Ralph noted to me that liability concerns about having an "Official" Paddlewise event. He suggests keeping the event totally informal, saying something to the effect that "We're going paddling at such and such a place at such and such a time, and maybe some people would like to come along." He's got a point. We need to organize this as a group of friends that happen to read Paddlewise, and not as a Paddlewise event, and avoid using the Paddlewise name. (It has been suggested that we start a discussion about how we can organize basically informal paddling events, Paddlewise-related or not, and minimize liability risks. Anyone got any suggestions?) Anyway, Ralph, the Violins, and Joan Spinner have expressed interest in taking point on developing such a get-together. I will e-mail them the list of respondents to my survey, and some other collated thoughts. I'll be glad to help with the "organization", but I'm pretty far from the scene and there may not be much that I can do. In addition, I'd like to suggest that we consider a southern get- together next winter, along about January or February, either in Florida, or somewhere along the Gulf coast, perhaps the New Orleans or Mobile area. My thinking on this is that given enough lead time for planning, people might be willing to travel farther -- and, at that time of the year, getting to warmer paddling conditions is a blessing for those of us in the cold lands. If someone would like to take point on a Florida - Gulf Coast event next winter, I'll also be glad to pass along the same list and comments on request, or to anyone else interested in organizing an informal get-together. It looks like this could be fun! -- Wes *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I want to thank Wes for the work he has done in putting together a well thought out note and survey of interest in PaddleWise people getting together. Liability is always an issue and one way to minimize it is not to have any such thing called a symposium or event etc. that connotes more organization or officialdom than any of these should be. In discussions, someone came up with the word "mingling" and I tend to like it because it really comes closest to the heart of what this would be all about. Let's look at this as a paddling mingling, even rhymes :-). These are not PaddleWise sponsored or sanctioned events and PaddleWise's only role is as a site for listing such minglings so that individuals can meet and mingle on their own. Following Wes's suggestion we could have two of these paddling minglings. The first could take place in NYC over the Memorial Day Weekend. The other could be scheduled for late next fall in Florida or some other warmer clime. I am going to go into a brief look at the possibilities for an NYC paddling mingling here for people to get the flavor of possibilities. But after this, this discussion will go back-channel so not to burden the whole list with such minutiae. NYC paddling mingling Memorial Day Weekend: Boats can be safely left at the Downtown Boathouse overnight and we could use the site for one or two paddling trips directly from there (to the Statue of Liberty, out into the harbor, up along the Manhattan shoreline, paddle to a sushi dinner, etc. as well as cartop to other interesting waters nearby. As for camping, I don't know of places on the water anywhere within an hour or so of Manhattan; nearest waterside camping is several hours away. The nearest straight camping that I know of is somewhat over an hour away and not on the water. However, there are fairly cheap hotels in Manhattan (believe it or not!!!) people can bunk down in. And I have noticed from the water that there is a motel on the New Jersey banks of the Hudson across from the Westside of Manhattan around the equivalent of 120th Street or so I think. It doesn't have a beach but one probably could manage to launch from there. Plus I have some space in my place for four or five people to crash. If someone is really bent on camping, one could easily pitch a tent on the roof garden wooden decks of the adjacent building to me; I am sure I could arrange that for a handful of tents. Imagine sleeping under the stars in Manhattan high above the muggers!!! Bob and Joan Volin live in Westchester somewhere an hour or so up from the Boathouse, I think. They may know of more things up that way. One of the paddle trips we might want to take is through the Hudson Highlands at West Point, which is up towards them. The river forms a narrow fiord like spot with hills rising 1,200 feet from the river. A spectacular spot to paddle just a bit over an hour from Manhattan. We can launch from West Point and even tour the place later. As you can see, there is great variety of paddling here. Okay, so much for the flavor of this potential mingling. Let's take this back channel for anyone interested in discussing this more. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Good work Wes. thanks. Joan Spinner who just finished a great kayak rack out back and has 3 stacked kayaks under cover as of tonight. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 2/12/00 2:11:56 PM, rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com writes: << Plus I have some space in my place for four or five people to crash. If someone is really bent on camping, one could easily pitch a tent on the roof garden wooden decks of the adjacent building to me; I am sure I could arrange that for a handful of tents. Imagine sleeping under the stars in Manhattan high above the muggers!!! >> Ralph, I want one of those tent space! How fun! If we do this and it is snowing I'll just have better pictures! I had friends with this great roof garden over a warehouse on the Bowery so this is just one step beyond that. What a fantastic idea. I had been leaning strongly to camping in Jersey but this is irresistible. Joan *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I know that now, in the waning days of summer, it's hard to think about next winter, but I guarantee you, it's coming. Back in the flying snow days of last winter, we had some long threads about Paddlewisenheimers getting together for face-to-face bull sessions and paddle sessions. A moderately successful get-together was held in the NYC area at Memorial Day, with Ralph, the Violins, and others participating. At the time of the discussions, the idea was floated that we consider a Paddlewise get-together in the winter, possibly in Florida or the gulf coast, possibly in January or February when most of us northerners have had enough ice and snow to hold us for a while. We'd also sort of agreed that we needed to be able to set dates far enough ahead of time to allow for some some flexibility. Anyone have any thoughts or feelings about the idea? Anyone interested in going? What dates work for you? Does anyone feel like being a local resource person? -- Wes *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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