Re: [Paddlewise] THEY MADE IT!!!

   I must be getting older. I'm much more impressed with someone who
discovers a new anti-biotic or proves Fermat's Last Theorem, than
a person who paddles across the Atlantic on an air mattress or runs
naked and barefoot across the Sahara, even though those would be remarkable
feats of endurance.
   I'm still impressed by my high school buddy Larry who experimented with
all manner of electrical gadgets without any formal training. He never made
history, but he does now work for the power company. And he never caught
his dad's house on fire.
   On the other hand, I found Shackleton's Expedition totally amazing.

Brad

Quoting Melissa Reese <melissa_at_bonnyweeboaty.net>:

> Hi Brad,
>
> Sunday, January 14, 2007, 12:41:44 PM, you wrote:
>
>> Personally, I'm just glad they survived.
>
> I am too. Beyond that, this sort of "expedition" just doesn't interest
> me very much. When it comes to paddling, I'm pretty sure I'll always
> prefer the "low tech" approach, so my idea of a self-righting boat
> with sleeping quarters for blue water crossings is still a sailboat.
>
> In terms of a Tasman Sea crossing, I'm still more impressed with
> Andrew McCauley's attempt, but still, it's not the kind of thing I'm
> terribly interested in, and I don't necessarily think it's the world's
> greatest idea. I much prefer the idea of coastal circumnavigation of
> interesting bits of land, or crossings of "reasonable length" where
> there's something more to it than just surviving the challenge of the
> crossing itself. While I love a good challenge, my primary goals of
> paddling have nothing to do with being the first, the fastest, or the
> most famous. I guess it's a "whatever floats your boat" kind of thing,
> and I just hope that people who feel the need to be the first and the
> fastest survive to be the most famous--if that's what floats their
> boats. For myself, I'm content with my anonymity. To each our own.
>
> --
> Melissa
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