3/29/08 It almost seemes that anybody who's anybody made it to the Aqua Adventures Southwest Symposium although I'm sorry to miss the few who couldn't attend. CKF folk were out in force monopolizing a whole section of the campground which made mixing, meeting and mooching all the more easier. Late from my surf class Friday, I chowed down some dinner and got my camp together to the sounds of Steve Wilson amped up in the exhibition tent right next to my site. Folks with Friday classes staggered in to meet old friends and gab about the good ol' days. I had planned to just take the surf class and spend Saturday just hanging out on the beach taking pictures of the goings on and maybe check out some of the new boats or tent talks, but after a lazy morning decided to join a group for a paddle out to the ocean. Henry and Kathy, Duane, Ken and Ben and I hit the water against a breezy bay. Despite the chilly start we all warmed up so as we stopped for Kathy and I to take off our jackets, Duane charged ahead needing to get back to set up for his Greenland Ropes demo later in the morn. We meandered through the channels, this being my first time kayaking anywhere past the Campland shore in SD. The longer we paddled the more we wondered why we hadn't seen Duane on his return trip, but soon figured out why. As we got close enough to the end of the channel, you could see the large swells forming outside. Up close to the jetty was Duane using the swell energy bounding off the rocks to power his way back down the jetty. We slipped out of the channel just enough to get a taste of the wind and large swells in the unprotected waters. Turning gingerly with the steep swells we headed back and I caught a couple of the rides that served Duane so well. On the way back, we met a few other folk and lost Ken to his own devices and decided to paddle home around one of the islands. I was strange at one point to see a pack of dogs running wild on the shore until we realized we were paddling next to a dog beach. Several of the water variety were bounding into the water to retrieve sticks and balls, but I couldn't entice any to chase me as I paddled close to shore. We put our trust in Henry to lead us home and though we did make it safely, we had to paddle through a couple jet ski designated area and portage our boats across a minor thoroughfare. Along the way we were also treated to sounds of hoof beats of a couple of horse riders plying the shore, a first for me on a kayak. I landed in time to watch the closing of Duane's demo where he got a middle-aged lady who used to be a gymnast interested enough to give it a try. Wet though I was, I tried one maneuver on the ropes before heading back to stow my gear. The rest of the day was left to socializing, although I'm afraid I forgot about my plan to immortalize the event photographically. Steve had asked for guitars to be brought for Nigel and Russell Farrow to use on the night's bonfire jam session. I just happened to have the only guitar no one was worried about getting too close to the fire. Around our dinner chatting at camp, Steve tried to get the guitar in some kind of tune and along with the chat gave us our own special performance. As an encore, Barb Tomita amazed us by playing and singing two beautiful Peter, Paul and Mary songs. I can only imagine it was my brush with death in my surf class that possessed me to offer my two song repertoire to the group and hands shaking like I leaf, I proceeded to butcher my two songs. But after downing three margaritas to settle my nerves, I got to try again an acquitted myself as well as I had hoped considering my talents. Soon we were all adjourning to the beachside fire pit for most people favorite part of the weekend. Last year while jamming around the fire, Steve's beloved Ovation guitar got a bit singed and this year as the fire grew a slight mist began to fall. Steve, not wanting to subject his guitar to the rain started off the night playing my guitar and I have to say I felt proud that my guitar that in its life has only know three chords could make that kind of music come out of it! It was a blast to see Steve go at it with Brent Reitz blowing the harmonica. After a few songs the weather eased a bit and Steve brought out his guitar alternating songs with Russell and Nigel and Duane Strosaker played his didgeridoo and provided a short comedy skit between songs. The music went on until the mist returned and the guitars were put away for the night. It was a great night of music and the real rain waited for most of us to be safe in our tents and even then took it easy on us. I woke in the morning to the sound of rain on my tent, but after about half an hour it stopped and we were able to get up and ingest some bacon and round up our gear. A few people still had classes on the day, but most pulled up camp and headed home. Another great weekend of kayaking music and friends. Mark Sanders www.sandmarks.net *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Sun, Mar 30, 2008 at 4:20 PM, Mark Sanders <sandmarks_at_ca.rr.com> wrote: > 3/29/08 > > It almost seemes that anybody who's anybody made it to the Aqua Adventures > Southwest Symposium A great pair of posts Mark. Wonder if Duane got a photo of that new playboat at the symposium. I spent this weekend working; had to move an entire Internet Service Provider 100 miles (7 servers, a couple of UPSs, switches, routers reconfigured, and everything). And, of course, I had to do it all in such a way that no users would notice that there were servers not operating. Quite a juggling act. But only one irate phone call. :) In addition, it snowed this morning!!! Seriously. We had to sit for 15 minutes to get past a head-on collision on a hillside (the hill south of Dry Falls between Soap Lake and Coulee City, for anyone who knows the area). I had the Kia in 4wd for at least part of the trip. Normally just over an hour; took us 2 hours. Mark.... your story about the guy coaxing good music out of your guitar reminds me of the time a guy I worked with noticed that I had a Gibson. He picked it up and picked out a Bach cantata. I traded it in for a 5-string banjo the next day. I'd like to see the SOB pick out a cantata on *that*. Wish I could have been at that symposium but your posts were the next best thing. Thanks. And I expect you to show me the bunny-hop when I get down there. Craig Jungers Where is global warming when ya need it in.... Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
<snip> > > Mark.... your story about the guy coaxing good music out of your guitar > reminds me of the time a guy I worked with noticed that I had a Gibson. He > picked it up and picked out a Bach cantata. I traded it in for a 5-string > banjo the next day. I'd like to see the SOB pick out a cantata on *that*. > <snip> > Craig Jungers > Where is global warming when ya need it in.... > Moses Lake, WA Craig, try Googling Bila Fleck sometime. He plays the banjo, and has done quite a bit of classical stuff over the years with it. As someone who "plays at" being a guitar player myself, I know just how you feel when someone casually picks up a guitar and does wondrous things with it. More than once I've considered consigning my guitar to a campfire as a sacrificial offering. -- Darryl *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Sun, Apr 20, 2008 at 7:01 AM, Darryl <Darryl.Johnson_at_sympatico.ca> wrote: Craig, try Googling Bila Fleck sometime. He plays the banjo, and has > done quite a bit of classical stuff over the years with it. I have several of Fleck's albums and you're right... he is amazing. > As someone who "plays at" being a guitar player myself, I know just > how you feel when someone casually picks up a guitar and does > wondrous things with it. More than once I've considered consigning my > guitar to a campfire as a sacrificial offering. > I've gone back to the harmonica. :P Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** 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'll second Bela Fleck's nomination... Recently heard a folk group, the Kennedys (Maura & Pate). He's pretty innovative with stringed instruments. Did "Rhapsody in Blue" on a Ukulele and brought it off... Joe P. *************************************************************************** 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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