[Paddlewise] access to water without cars (was: Kayaker's guilt)

Kevon wrote:
> ... because most kayakers transport their craft on top of their
> automobiles, which are also "noisy, polluting, high horsepower, internal
> combustion thrill machines" of a different sort. And though autos are much
> cleaner burning than jet skis, there are heck of a lot more of them. Given
this
> info, I think it is kind of hypocritical to talk about banning jet skis
from
> wilderness areas, even I fully support it. I personally feel a lot of
guilt
>>from driving all the time to go kayaking, and I wonder if any others on
this
> list feel the same way?

I do. And I acted accordingly, some years ago.
When I turned 18 (at which age Germans are allowed to dirve cars) I decided
not to get a driver licence (but to get a touring bicycle :-). I also got
into folding kayaks mainly because of those kayaks allow me to go kayaking
at different places by using public transport only.
7 years later, I still have no licence and travel around very successfully
with my folding kayaks, using public transport (okay, sometimes I get the
occasional ride with some of my car driving paddle friends).

I know Europeans are quite blessed with both geographical density and
quality of public transport. I know it can be a different matter in many
parts of North America. But if you try hard enough, you'll find ways to go
to wild places using a car less and less. Car-sharing companies and
"share-a-ride" companies (Mitfahrzentralen - you share a particular ride
with one or more passengers) are quite successful in Germanies larger towns.
You could always try to share a car with your paddling buddies, paddle round
trips so there's no need for a "shuttle car" to get back to the first car
etc.

For those of you willing to travel by fair means only: I am currently
preparing an article on "transporting a folding kayak by bicycle". This is
intended for a German folding kayak website, but if you beg hard enough,
I'll try to translate it into English ;-).

Marian
(sometimes dogmatic) environmentalist *and* (always dogmatic) kayaker ;-)





Marian Gunkel, Berlin, Germany
www.mariangunkel.de

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