Hi All, This thread started just before my business trip to Washington DC, so I wanted to reply to it, and this is my first chance. I have given this topic a lot of thought over the years. I love wilderness experiences, and on paddling trips prior to buying a sea kayak I was always annoying the group leaders in the paddling club because I would go on down the river by myself in my Mohawk Solo 13 canoe, which could out maneuver any other boat in the group. We paddled small twisty rivers and creeks. I don't take well to being ordered around, so I quit paddling with the group. I have done several solo backpacking trips and enjoyed them immensely. So you can imagine my surprise when, after getting a sea kayak, I discovered I would rather be with a group! It's only been a few months, and there are safety factors to be considered in the cold weather, and I am inexperienced, so I am sure those things factor in. Still, I am finding I enjoy the shared group experience. Someone in an earlier post talked about finding the few people you want to paddle with. I am finding that to be true. I want to be with people who like saltwater over swamps, who will venture out with me into the Mississippi River, who like to share my awe of my surroundings. I find a group of 3 or 4 to be about perfect. I am VERY VERY GLAD I bought a high quality boat (VCP Avocet RM) and outstanding paddle (Onno)to begin with. I am in reasonably good shape, so that means I have no trouble keeping up with the stronger paddlers. Perhaps when I learn to roll, etc, I will be more comfortable venturing out alone, but for now I like the small group, amazingly! By the way, I did not get to any DC paddle shops. I got a last minute invitation to the White House on my only afternoon off so I took it. I got to wait in the cold for an hour to see President and Mrs. Bush arrive in the helicopter coming back from Texas, but it was fun. I got to chat with him for about 45 seconds. The cutest thing was their dogs, just trotting right into the WH as if they belonged there. I was glad to get home. Too cold up there! I have not checked on the LaCosta kayakers, hope to call Janell today. Marsanne *************************************************************************** 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 Thu Feb 27 2003 - 07:31:37 PST
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