At 3:43 PM -0400 4/27/01, ralph diaz wrote: >I firmly believe in tailoring open trips to the paddling level that shows >up, to a degree. Say you have a 15 mile trip planned but it isn't involving >some specific destination critical to the trip's nature. If people show who >can only do 10 miles, why not adjust to that level? You can always paddle >the 15 miles or more some other day. Mixed groups of skilled and >less-skilled paddlers do learn from each other. Obviously, if the person >shows up clueless without proper gear and can't even get into his boat, then >you can't include him. > I guess it depends on how you were planning from the start. If you are "leading" a trip under the umbrella of the organization, it is not too much to expect that you tailor it to who shows up. If you are just using the organization to let people know you will be going to a certain place at a certain time then I don't see any reason to change your plans just because someone who can't do it decides to show up. Maybe this time is the "other time" and you won't have another chance until next year and you really want to go the 15 miles not 10. Life is too short to accommodate to everyone. All trips I go on are just a long detour back to the car. I don't get in my kayak because I need to get somewhere. I do it because I want to go for a fun paddle. My plans tend to be fluid and I really don't mind changing them. Chances are if I hook up with someone on my paddle I will stick with them even if they want to turn back before I do. But if I tell someone I am going to paddle 15 miles before they even leave their house and they come and are only able to do 10 miles, that is their responsibility. If it wasn't advertised as a trip they can do, it isn't incumbent on the planner to change his trip to suit someone else's ability. I am not excusing people who are snotty and don't want to mingle with the hoi polloi. Chances are I don't want much to do with them either. But I think there is a place for "leaderless" trips where "I'm going here and doing this. Anyone who wants to do the same show up at..." without being responsible for the welfare of everyone who turns up. There is also a place for "lead" trips where someone is in charge and makes decisions for the group. If someone says the trip is the first type he shouldn't be expected to make it the second. Nick -- Nick Schade Guillemot Kayaks 824 Thompson St Glastonbury, CT 06033 (860) 659-8847 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Apr 27 2001 - 14:02:14 PDT
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