RE: [Paddlewise] Visiting Paddlers was: Almost that time

Dear List,

People have been responding to this thread and inviting visiting paddlers 
to contact them to get information, arrange to paddle together, etc.  All 
of this would be good if I had a perfect memory, but I don't, therefore I'm 
not sure I can get this information when I need it.  I imagine there is a 
way to search the archives on the Paddlewise web page if the info makes it 
into one of the topics, but I fear some data may be lost.

I'd like to propose the following:

We set up a data base of people on the web page in a manner similar to the 
"who's who".  People could submit their names for any or all of the tiers 
and participate in the following way:

Tier 1 - A person would become familar with the paddling opportunities, 
launch sites, outfitters, etc. within an X mile (km) radius of where they 
live.  People travelling to their destination would contact them ahead of 
time and they would be able to recommend where to go, who to rent from, 
what to watch out for.....and so on.

Tier 2 - A person would indicate that they are often available and would be 
willing to meet with a visitor and paddle together.  The host may or may 
not be able to provide a boat(s).  I would think a Tier 2 person would have 
the knowledge of a Tier 1 person.

Tier 3 - A person would indicate that they would be willing to provide some 
type of lodging, pick-up, ferrying type of service.  Loding could be a bed 
in a spare room, a floor for your sleeping bag or a lawn for your tent.  It 
could be free or at a cost.

If this system were in place, I could imagine that, when I need to travel 
for work, I could schedule in an extra day, contact the local person on the 
Tier 1 or 2 level and do some paddling in a new place and meet some new people.

I know that the work to set this up is non-trival but I think it could 
become a wonderful Paddlewise resource.

How do the rest of you feel?   Are there just to many potential problems 
with this to not even bother or is it worth developing?

Dialog please.

Bill Leonhardt 
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