[Paddlewise] Senior paddlers, how many are there

Recently, on behalf of the "Tuesday Paddlers of Florida" , I ask an outfitter
in the FL Keys if they would consider a Senior category to their annual races.
They have two age categories, 39 and under, and those 40 and  older. Since we
are a group of age 60 and older, (the oldest two being 79,who seem to have no
trouble with a 10 mile paddle), felt we should be able to compete in a group
commensurate with our age group. We are neither decrepit nor infirmed. We are
ex-sailboat owners, ex-dentists, ex-skiers, teachers,brokers, you name it, who
enjoy paddling in a different area every week. 





The group was started by David Seeley some years ago with the idea that a
Tues.. paddle would be subjected to less crowded situations both on the road
and in the water. His idea proved correct. One week we may paddle deep in the
heart of the Everglades, the next Paddle the Atlantic Ocean around Key
Biscayne and the next may be a campout in Big Pine Key next to Key West. We
don't do whitewater and we prefer take-outs near a good bar and restaurants.
Our comfortable paddles are 10 to 13 NM, although we can do more or less.





The reply to our request was there aren't really enough senior paddlers out
there to make a class. We didn't feel the request was out of order and don't
really think of ourselves as an oddity or really unusual. We didn't decide
that because we are 60 we should do something physical. most of us have been
adventurers of sorts all our lives, I dove Lake Atitilan in Guatemala when I
was 18, The Great Barrier Reef in "middle age" whatever that is. Climbed the
Italian Alps a couple of years ago, paddled The Outer Hebrides this past
summer, and don't really intend to stop anytime soon. 





I don't expect to compete with the "kids" who are the current heroes, I just
want to continue  playing the game. Is the Outfitter correct, or are there a
lot of us, (as I suspect).


Pat moss





  





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