Re: [Paddlewise] Florida Reunion

I just wanted to thank Sandy for the tremendous amount of work she put into 
hosting the reunion.  Because of a last minute offer to kayak and camp in the 
everglades, I missed the reunion activities, but I did at least get to meet 
most of the other attendees.  And I did have a wonderful long weekend of 
assorted paddling adventures.  Now that we had to go to Florida to meet, I 
look forward to paddling with Bob and Joan Viola on our home grounds, or 
should I say waters. 

On Friday, I did get to paddle with Sandy, John Fereira, and some local 
paddlers at Oleta River, a lovely state park on Biscayne Bay, though we found 
out upon leaving that we had actually not been paddling on the river. The 
previous day, Sandy, Marinell Davis, and I had paddled in the Coral Gables 
waterway, seeing a number of beautiful birds and a lot of golfers on the 
course that the now frequently seen picture of Clinton and Hugh Rodham was 
taken on. We didn't see them or the manatees which appeared to have already 
left for colder waters.  As opposed to the Clintons who have found their way 
into hotter waters.

The Everglades kayak camping was great, and I am very appreciative of the 
efforts and hospitality of my local hosts, Keith and Nancy Wellman, with whom 
I hope to kayak again. Two of many highlights on that trip were catching a 
24inch sea trout (all right, it was 23inches and a fraction), my first fish 
caught from a kayak, and getting my kayak rammed by a shark whose dorsal fin 
I saw heading right at me.  On my last kayaking day, Marinell Davis and I 
paddled the Loxahatchie River, a beautiful national wild and scenic river, 
surrounded by cypress and Spanish moss, that was a wonderful change from 
mangroves.  I am very appreciative of Marinell's hospitality throughout my 
visit, including taking me to Bass World, where I was held prisoner for some 
indeterminable period of time.

Even though I needed a good rest upon returning, I felt my engines really got 
charged by this infusion of warm water winter paddling that is making me feel 
that spring is near.  Thank you again, Sandy, for all the work you put into 
the reunion.  Even though few people were able to take advantage of the 
opportunity, if the one's that did had anything approaching the time that I 
had, it was a tremendous success.

Hank



In a message dated 2/25/01 9:33:39 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
Gypsykayak_at_aol.com writes:

<< HOMELESS NO MORE
 
 Submitted to the Paradise Paddlers newsletter by Sandy Kramer
 
 After several months of planning, the online paddlers met in Miami/Key Largo 
 over Presidents' Day weekend.  What started with someone's "how nice it 
would 
 be to paddle in warm water instead of freezing our buns off up here" comment 
 took on a life of its own.
 
 The 10 most important things I learned about hosting a group of visitors:
 
 1. Numbers change.  The initial rush was eventually replaced with 
 cancellations as job conflicts, family emergencies, and unexpected expenses 
 intervened.
 
 2. Scheduling ain't easy.  I learned it was not even remotely reasonable to 
 think I could have the gang (Bob and Joan Volin and John Fereira) - 
including 
 food for several meals -  in Key Largo by 8:30 a.m.
 
 3. Allow an hour for boat rental activities.  Trying out different boats and 
 checking out the goodies at Florida Bay Outfitters took longer than I 
thought.
 
 4. Apologizing sucks.  When we finally reached the Indian Key put-in 
visitors 
 Tina Scholnick and Kathy Peirce were sitting on a rock in the hot sun.  The 
 rest had set off.  I sincerely apologize to all of you.  It was a gorgeous 
 day, so I'm sure you enjoyed it anyway.
 
 5. Self-guided tours can be great.  Thanks to Pat Moss, who turned back to 
 Lignum Vitae Key, we were given a delightful tour.  What she had just 
learned 
 from the ranger-led tour was augmented by her own knowledge of local flora.  
 The rest of the paddle to Indian Key was very enjoyable.  We ate, swam, and 
 some of us walked around the former seat of Dade County.
 
 6. Be careful where you park.   What appeared to be a perfectly acceptable 
 parking spot turned out to be right in the line of fire of a boat trailer.  
 Seeing part of your fender lying on the ground is not a pretty sight.
 
 7. Lateness begets lateness.  If you're late to the paddle, and you don't 
 have clean clothes to change into, you're gonna be late to the Happy Hour.  
 In fact, Happy Hour was over by the time we got there (I do like to shower 
 before going out), but we sat outside and enjoyed the music.  Joan Volin was 
 able to get her conch fritters and key lime pie.
 
 8. I'm not as young as I used to be.  By Sunday my energy had failed and I 
 felt it prudent to miss the paddle and stay home to get an extra boost via a 
 couple of siestas.
 
 9. Go with the flow.  Although this is my usual motto, there were times when 
 we were flowing with the go.  
 
 By the time we got Hank Berger to the Wellman's house for an overnight 
 camping paddling trip (after changing a flat tire in the Oleta parking lot 
 prior to heading to MIA to pick up the Volins - and I'd forgotten the flight 
 info at home!) the flow had completely upped and gone!
 
 10. It's great to meet online "friends" in person.  
 
 My personal measure of the event's success is two-fold.  The visitors got to 
 paddle in warm water and they all returned without suffering any mishaps.  
 
 I could not have pulled this off without the help of several friends.  
 Marinell Davis set up a Web site for the event, and continuously bolstered, 
 advised, and encouraged me.   Sharon Alvarado hosted Tina and Kathy (as well 
 as Betsy Barnicle who was also homeless that night).  Pat Moss offered 
online 
 advice and helped on the Saturday paddle.  Keith and Nancy Wellman hosted 
 Hank Berger.  Other folk offered suggestions re housing and logistics.  
Also, 
 my ex-husband, Bill Kramer, who graciously allowed some indoor campers, and 
 FBO's Moonshine: Monica Woll, without whom I would have been up the 
 proverbial creek without a paddle.  Thanks to all of you >>
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