Re: [Paddlewise] THOUSAND MILERS was Kayak Community

One and all,

Thanks you for the many postings regarding tour kayaking. I posed the
questions merely to satisfy my curiousity; certainly not to delineate an
elitist subgroup. If you have read the responses you have been treated to
some intriguing logs. Perhaps I will find to cut-and-paste a summary for
posting. This impressive pool of experience might serve as a useful
resource.

Please allow me some comments. Tour kayaking, the number of boats sold
notwithstanding, is an activity of relatively few. That is not to say that
one cannot have fun paddling liesurely on a serene lake. I often do. But
after all, tour kayaking is more than a boat, a paddle and a warm
(sometimes) body. Skills and equipment rise incrementally with the ambitions
and diligence of the dauntless paddler - as do the rewards.  Kayaks are, for
me, a vehicle of solitude and an intimate platform from which to observe the
marine environment. Miles are merely the measure of my joy.

Here on the coast of California, despite its population, there seem to be
few kayaks borne by the crests and swallowed by the troughs of our often
surly sea.  In 36 days the only other kayaker I saw along 1100 miles of
coast was a companion who accompanied me for 6-7 days. There were two SOTs
out from harbors to fish. Hence my curiousity as to worldwide numbers of
true tourers.

When I began kayaking solo I avidly sought those that might provide
information and insight based on their experience. I have several boxes of
useless kayaking paraphenalia and have slaughtered many sacred cows. Thanks
to the advent of the internet a free exchange of ideas and an often robust
debate helps to cull-out the more untenable misconceptions about the nature
of this seemiongly inexorable "sport". I am enriched.

And oh yeah, I have paddled a few miles but never with the simple efficiency
of a water spider.

Sid Taylor

***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************