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From: Marian Gunkel <marian-list_at_gmx.de>
subject: [Paddlewise] access to water without cars (was: Kayaker's guilt)
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2000 12:36:38 +0100
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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From: ralph diaz <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] access to water without cars (was: Kayaker's guilt)
Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2000 22:26:58 -0800
Marian Gunkel wrote:
> 
> 
> 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 ;-).

I think we would all like to see it.  I have had several articles in my
newsletter in the past about using a bike to transport a folding kayak.

In one, a fellow used a bike to move around on Nantucket with his
foldable, using a trailer he made.  It allowed him to travel from the
ferry to his bed and breakfast with the boat in its bags.  Then, once he
made the boat (a double Klepper), he was able to bring the assembled
boat behind him on the bike trailer.  The only problem was on those
large cobblestone streets in the old town.

In another article, a fellow used a combination of a folding bike,
child's bike trailer and a folding kayak when he sailed the entire East
Coast from Florida to Maine.  He used the bike and folded down boat to
get around stretches in which the wind wasn't cooperating or to go into
town.  He also made every part of the setup do double duty.  For
example, parts of the trailer were use to form outriggers and a steering
rod.  It was quite a setup and looked like something a hobo might use.

But, it needn't be so exotic.  At the Downtown Boathouse, I have
regularly seen a few individuals come in with K-Lights on the back of
their bikes.  So it isn't all that much of a novelty.  Still the idea of
a folding bike with a folding kayak is certainly an enviromentally,
guilt-free combination.

ralph

-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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From: Alex Ferguson <a.ferguson_at_chem.canterbury.ac.nz>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] access to water without cars (was: Kayaker's guilt)
Date: Fri, 08 Dec 2000 11:10:29 +1300
>Marian Gunkel wrote:
> > For those of you willing to travel by fair means only: I am currently
> > preparing an article on "transporting a folding kayak by bicycle".
>
>In one, a fellow used a bike to move around on Nantucket with his
>foldable, using a trailer he made......
>
>In another article, a fellow used a combination of a folding bike,
>child's bike trailer and a folding kayak when he sailed the entire East...

We had to dinner last night, a friend, who used to transport his Puffin 
(plastic) by bike trailer. Longest trip about 300 km (on land). He has 
never had a driver's licence, doesn't intend to either. He mainly 
interested in cycle touring rather than kayaking. He often does/has done 
long tours, months at a time, in various countries of the world.

So bike transport of kayaks isn't limited to folding boats though 5 metres 
of kayak out behind is the bike equivalent of a Mack truck.

Alex


Alex (Sandy) Ferguson
Chemistry Department
University of Canterbury
New Zealand


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From: Richard Kemmer <rkemmer_at_home.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] access to water without cars (was: Kayaker's guilt)
Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2000 08:41:36 -0600
----- Original Message -----
From: "ralph diaz" <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
To: "Marian Gunkel" <marian-list_at_gmx.de>
Cc: <paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net>
Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2000 12:26 AM
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] access to water without cars (was: Kayaker's
guilt)


Ralph wrote:

 >I have had several articles in my
> newsletter in the past about using a bike to transport a folding kayak.
>
> In one, a fellow used a bike to move around on Nantucket with his
> foldable, using a trailer he made.  Etc.

Reminds me of the old salt who dressed and talked like a sailor but rode a
bike around the streets of Nantucket.  After watching him do this for a long
time, a little boy asked him, "Mr. Sailor, how come you always ride a bike
and never sail your ship.  The old salt responded:  "Sonny, that's because
my barque is worse than my bike!"

Sorry, couldn't resist.
Rick


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From: Marian Gunkel <marian-list_at_gmx.de>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] access to water without cars (was: Kayaker's guilt)
Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2000 20:42:55 +0100
I wrote:
>> 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 ;-).

Ralph wrote:
> I think we would all like to see it.

Okay. I'll do my best to finish it within the next couple of days. The Other
Ralph has generously offered his help in translating the article into
English. So, no need for daughters translating it (thanks Joan, anyway).

The article will contain both methods for a normal bike, as well as for
folding bikes. I am sure one can adapt those methods to transporting a rigid
kayak, too.

Regards,
Marian


Marian Gunkel, Berlin, Germany
www.mariangunkel.de

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