Alright, I'm so damn sick and tired of this winter weather. I want to paddle. I'm affraid I only have one summer season under my paddling bet, but I'm anxious to get out. As a method of increasing the frequency of my paddles, I am considering some local group (organized) paddles instead of the usual solo paddles that I do. I'm in a WS Pungo and I currently paddle up and down the various rivers in Maryland. I tend to go paddling for around 3 hours or so and alternate between agressive more exercise oriented paddles and consistant distance (form) paddles during each trip. Will I be able to keep up with a group of possible regulars. How does paddling in a group feel versus thos solo paddles that we all know and understand? *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> I'm in a WS Pungo and I currently paddle up and down the various rivers in > Maryland. I tend to go paddling for around 3 hours or so and alternate > between agressive more exercise oriented paddles and consistant distance > (form) paddles during each trip. > The fact that you are doing at least 3 hours and are doing exercise paddling is a good sign that you will be able to keep up. I would suggest that you get a good estimate of your paddling speed. Get a detailed map of one of the rivers you paddle regularly. The detail is necessary so you can measure actual river miles paddled. Try to make a trip without a lot of sightseeing stops and record your paddling time. I don't count lunch break time. Be sure you record time upstream/upwind and downstream/downwind so you get a accurate indication of your speed. Once you know your speed and about how long you can maintain it, you can talk with a trip leader and make sure that you fit in with the group for that trip. Remember this is not a test of how fast you can paddle, it is a measure of your speed when paddling comfortably. I think knowing you paddling speed in various conditions is a very important safety skill. I check my time on most of my paddles and make mental notes of my speed and the conations for that trip. Every so often I do a paddle almost exclusively dedicated to measuring my speed in higher wind and waves just to see if I really make the time I think I can. With a good knowledge of your speed and a little planning you can avoid landing problems due to tide changes, rough water due to currents, trying to find your takeout after dark, and the tongue lashing from the significant other for not getting home on time (or the embarrassment of explaining to the Coast Guard that you were a lot slower than your float plan called for). The two main benefits of group paddling are the chance to meet those 2 or 3 other people who will make your perfect paddling partners and the opportunity to go places (or have things pointed out to you) that you might not have found on your own. I paddled with a large group in Houston. It was amazing how many people would disappear from the large group, but you would find out they had formed their own small group of 3 or 4. Since I tried to paddle every weekend I was actually in a couple of those smaller groups. Some groups only paddled fresh water, some only short trips, some were into kayak sailing, and some wanted max speed and distance(not one of my groups). I love to explore different places. I often would find water on the map and make a special drive just looking for access points and checking out potential trips. Because of that I took lots of people to places they had no idea even existed and probably would not have found on their own. (even though most were within a couple hours drive). The main downsides of groups are your loss of freedom and the loss of "wilderness" experience. Most group trips have a destination and a plan and you have to stick to it. If you normally think of paddling "to somewhere" then you probably fit in with the groups more easily. If you normally think of paddling "for a couple of hours" and/or you stop a lot for birding, photography, or detailed nature observation you probably will not be as comfortable in a group unless it is oriented to one of those special activities. Most groups have lots more noise (conversation, laughter, general communication) than a solo trip. The conversation can make the trip seem more like a cocktail party than a wilderness trip, particularly if most of the people don't know each other. The smaller groups of people who paddle together regularly usually are more like solo paddles. I do not go to any parties and I paddle solo lots during the week so I kind enjoy this kind of weekend cocktail paddle but your taste may be different. --- Mark Arnold --- mjamja_at_earthlink.net --- EarthLink: The #1 provider of the Real Internet. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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/ ***************************************************************************
Rich, If you are concerned about group speed, have you considered renting a touring kayak similar to those typically seen in group or club outings? Often, a local store will charge a bit to go with them on their group outings and many of them provide kayaks. It might be worth it considering that exposing yourself to ideas and characteristics of other paddlers may help you. It certainly helps me grow a bit as a paddler, as I like the solo routes best, but when I paddle with others I watch the more competent members and I usually come away with something new to employ. Even if the group is comprised of a bunch of hacks you might say to yourself, * Gee, that's not what I read on Paddlewise!* Rob G Where in the Pacific Northwest, Ahem, God's Country, we paddle all year long. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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