This is late because I have already done numerous posts, but... I was introduced to this list by Larry Koenig, whom you all know. I bought a VCP Avocet RM from him in early November. It's my first sea kayak. I've been paddling for nearly 30 years. I've owned numerous non-descript tandem canoes, none of which I still have. I do still have, and still love, a Mohawk Solo 13. I am keeping it as a summer creek boat. "Creek" around here means fast flowing sandy streams, not rapids and drops. In addition to this, my outdoor "resume" (not counting golf and running) includes the following: --Private oar powered raft trip in the Grand Canyon, January, 2001. I was on the river from Phantom Ranch to just above Lava Falls. We climbed out on the north side, the trail that ends at Tuweep. My boss is spoiled rotten, so I had to get back to work, and my trip companions were taking their time. We found a full six pack of Bud at one of the remote beaches. Untouched, clearly at least a few weeks old. I drank my single beer from that treasure V E R Y slowly. --Numerous backpacking trips in the Grand Canyon and many other places in the US, mostly West. When I travel for business, I try to tack on a weekend hike after the work part is over. --"Fellwalking" in England last June. Beautiful, COLD, rainy. This was a "roots" trip to meet the English side of my family. I drove right through Nottingham, which is where my boat is built. I had no idea then, though, that I would be sea kayaking in an English boat just a few months later. FYI for Aussies, I have a distant cousin in Oz, an actor named Kevin Golsby. --Two Outward Bound courses, which included a month-long summer mountaineering course in Colorado and cross country skiing and dogsledding in Minnesota in the winter. Outward Bound is not just for kids. I was in my 30's for both courses. Learned a lot, had a great time. --Weekend ww-kayaking at the NOC a LONG time ago. I owned a motorcycle once, sold it. I was getting fat. It feels like exercise, but it's not exercise. I skydived twice, and enjoyed that. I want to preserve my ankles, feet, and legs, for running and hiking, so I am not doing any more skydiving. I ran a marathon in 1990. Of note: I am terrified of snakes, but have amazing luck with them. I was a TV reporter for 12 years and covered numerous floods, hurricanes, and did occasional outdoor features. On 2 occasions that I can easily remember, I had snakes crawl over my feet, or I stepped right over them, without so much as a hiss from either of us. I have also floated right up next to them in canoes, had one fall in my canoe, been swimming and seen them nearby, etc. I think this is interesting, and I have no explanation for it, except that I have never raised my hand to any kind of animal in anger. Well, I fish, but without any animosity towards the fish. :<] I'm the press secretary to Louisiana Governor Mike Foster. In that capacity, I am working with Larry and Arthur on their Gulf of Mexico trip. I bought the sea kayak because I was desperate for something exciting to do in the outdoors here. Very glad I got a good boat to begin with. I love it! This group is great, thanks for making it available. Marsanne Golsby, Baton Rouge *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:32 PDT