On another forum someone brought up the fact that this season was a slower paddling year than usual. Now, I know that lots of paddlwisers (paddlewisenheimers?) are not finished with their paddling season, but I wonder if you, too, had a slow year paddling. I know several of my paddling friends have complained of fewer opportunities for kayaking, too. I noticed a distinctly lower traffic pattern here on Paddlewise this year. Even stalwart trippers like the Rev are posting less. Does that reflect fewer trips? We generally make one kayak-oriented camping trip per year as an extended family; this year we made none; probably due to the high cost of gasoline. These trips aren't packing kayaks with gear and paddling off but, rather, packing kids and tents in the cars with kayaks on top and spending 4 or 5 days camping somewhere near good paddling waters. I normally paddle somewhere over 150 miles a year and this year it was not much over 50 - and I didn't keep track as religiously as I usually do. Maybe it's been a "rest year" with lots of other items on the agenda. We moved to the lake house and sold our farm, we spent more time on weekends doing family barbecues, and I spent a lot of time working on the muthah-ship. But those are just excuses. Did you paddle more this season? Or less? Is the economy responsible? If not, what are *your *excuses? :) 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 started the year kind of slow with just two paddles in 11 days, but then went on a tear that had me thinking I could hit 150 days. The duldrums of summer hit me hard as summer paddling isn't my favorite and I scaled my plan down to 120. Now at 92 with the Holidays coming and the year ending fast, come hell and high water I'm going to end the year at 100. Just seems a nice round number. I don't think a slow kayaking year can explain the lack of posts here this year. I'm thinking posting just about every paddle I made here might have bored people to other venues! Mark -----Original Message----- On another forum someone brought up the fact that this season was a slower paddling year than usual. Now, I know that lots of paddlwisers (paddlewisenheimers?) are not finished with their paddling season, but I wonder if you, too, had a slow year paddling. I know several of my paddling friends have complained of fewer opportunities for kayaking, too. I noticed a distinctly lower traffic pattern here on Paddlewise this year. Even stalwart trippers like the Rev are posting less. Does that reflect fewer trips? *************************************************************************** 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 Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 9:17 AM, Mark Sanders <sandmarks_at_ca.rr.com> wrote: > > I don't think a slow kayaking year can explain the lack of posts here this > year. I'm thinking posting just about every paddle I made here might have > bored people to other venues! > > Mark... your posts and videos are always a high point of my day. When several days go by with zero posts on the forum it's always a relief to see that you are still out there paddling and posting. Keep up the good work!!! 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'm thinking posting just about every paddle I made here might have > bored people to other venues! Mark I enjoyed your posts especially when the weather up here was sour and I could not make it out. Keep 'em coming! Bob *************************************************************************** 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 paddle year 'round - gotta get my money's worth out of that expensive dry suit. I also don't really care for sunny weather. I much prefer wind and rain. Which is considered having a good attitude in Seattle. I didn't paddle all that much this summer because I prefer using the good weather to work in the shop with the doors open. And since I mostly go out for a few hours on a nearby lake, the gas prices don't really affect me. We've had some real 'foul' weather this week and I was out twice. It was great. The season has finally arrived! Paul Montgomery paul_at_paddleandoar.com http://paddleandoar.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
It has been a slow paddling year. Not a year of paddling slow. Reasons are: 1. Gasoline cost. A usual trip to the coast used to cost me $20 not a bad price for a day of paddling. This year the cost was $50 (too much for a day) 2. A new dog that would not stay in the van all day. 3. Crappy weekend weather (nasty wind and rain) for weeks in a row. 4. A new grandson 5. Way too many family obligations! *************************************************************************** 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 think there were many contributing factors to the slow paddling year, such as $4 + per gallon gas, political drama, a plunging economy, widespread unemployment, fires in California, too much mellamine in my diet, yard work that never ends, chronic fatigue syndrome, and now worst of all, it's time to watch college football. BRC > On Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 9:17 AM, Mark Sanders <sandmarks_at_ca.rr.com> wrote: > >> >> I don't think a slow kayaking year can explain the lack of posts here >> this >> year. I'm thinking posting just about every paddle I made here might have >> bored people to other venues! >> >> > Mark... your posts and videos are always a high point of my day. When > several days go by with zero posts on the forum it's always a relief to > see > that you are still out there paddling and posting. > > Keep up the good work!!! > > 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/ ***************************************************************************
Yes I had a "low paddling year". Note I said low rather than slow. When I did paddle I made the miles but most of the time I stayed ashore. The reason: RAIN, COLD & WIND! Up here in Southeast Alaksa we are headed for a record year for rain (remember this area is considered a temporate rain forest in the first place !) . If the trends contuinue we will see over 300 days of rain. In October it rained every day for a daily average of .81 inches. Everyone up here is lamenting that we did not have a summer due to colder and wetter conditions than normal. Officially it was the coolest summer in almost 50 years. In my pastoral counselijg I am seekig the effect this is having on peoples state of mind. A lot of times when I was able to get a day off the temperatures were in the upper 40's to low 50's the rain was coming down heavy and the winds were kicking. Not much fun. Also the low hanging clouds dropped visibility to the point that you could not see much of anything Some of the through paddlers (Seattle to Skagway) got tired of being stuck wet and cold in camp and pulled up short and went home for a season hoping next summer holds better weather. As I noted in my last story on Paddlewise I was forced back to safe shelter on my big trip this summer due to a gale that scramed throuhg Soputhest Alaska in July. (35 knot winds with 45 knot gust.) No place for kayak. I holed up in a Forest Service cabin then went home and scrambled together two smaller trips. By the way I should finish up a new trip story in the next couple days and post it soon. Hopefully next summer will prove better weather for all of us who paddle up here. take care and try to get out paddling when you can Bob *************************************************************************** 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 has been a normal paddling year for me. But, since I'm not exactly a normal person, maybe I shouldn't even be emailing this. According to my log, I have paddled 148 days this year, which means I will again meet my minimum target of 150 or more for the year. I have managed to reach that target every year since 1968 except for a couple of years with wrist problems in the early 70s. Most of the paddles have been after-work training sessions of less than an hour, but also some nice trips to Greece, Florida, Wisconsin and my always favorite Mississippi River. As is also usual for me, I have spent wonderful hours paddling with some truly wonderful people. And I get to go to the Everglades again for the end of the year/New Year with the youth I volunteer with. So, it's been another great year in a great life of paddling. It's been quite cold in the Chicago area, so I'm guessing I will soon be paddling in small circles in the only ice-free areas which are below dams. But for now, it's all good. Jim Tibensky *************************************************************************** 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 Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 5:13 AM, James <jimtibensky_at_fastmail.fm> wrote: > > According to my log, I have paddled 148 days this year, which means I > will again meet my minimum target of 150 or more for the year. I have > managed to reach that target every year since 1968 except for a couple > of years with wrist problems in the early 70s. > > Jim... you are an inspiration to us all. :) Craig *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Bob wrote; Yes I had a "low paddling year". reason: RAIN, COLD & WIND! Up here in Southeast Alaksa we are headed for a record year for rain. This seems to have been the year of no summer. down coast in Victoria we had a similar year. Victoria is in a rain shadow and we usually bask in sunshine while our neighbours to the north and south (Vancouver and Seattle) get the water works. Not this year. I was fortunate enough to spend six weeks in Great Britain (Wales and the Isle of Man) which also had a record cold and wet summer. Our warmest days were in London. I paddle all year round and also like the rough and tumble weather. However on day four of my trip around the Isle of Man when I came around the headland and entered a perfectly flat Ramsay Bay, my spirit soared. The flat water was the most beautiful sight. Alas it did not last, the Irish Sea is a fickle mistress, never to be trusted. By the time I turned my last corner and was heading Southwest the rough water wind and rain was back; it wasn't fun after 12 hours. It just seemed relentless much like our missing summer. Gordin Warner Victoria *************************************************************************** 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 have paddled a bit more than I normally do. This spring and summer I managed to get out quite a bit during the week to run a local river or flop around in the bay for rolling. I also scored a Desolation and Grey Canyon permit and spent a week on that, plus host a couple of pals from out of town to just go find stuff to do on different rivers. I paddled more whitewater this year than ever because we had a huge snow pack and a cool spring and early summer to melt it off slowly. Still, there were several great sea paddling trips out to Cape Flattery, Deception Pass and a bit of surfing on the coast. Probably one of the best years overall despite starring in a Sea Kayaker safety article, swimming a couple brutish class 4's, injuring myself in one of them, destroying a boat, breaking a carbon fiber helmet and due to a bad seat in a boat losing all feeling in my lower half and aborting a fine trip. I also realized that some boats not just anyone can paddle well and she is the most skittish mare in my herd...or fleet. Cheers, Rob G *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
The last few years have been slow paddling for Linda and me, beginning in 2005 when I had my quadruple bypass operation in May. We changed our plans that August from paddling Pukaskwa to paddling in the Apostle Islands, and then I came down with a lengthy bout of flu at just the wrong time, so no paddling at all in 2005. In 2006, we made two trips to the Apostle Islands, one on Memorial Day weekend and one the weekend before the Fourth of July. The water was unusually warm during the second trip, and we enjoyed rolling in the clear, shallow waters in front of our campsite on York Island. We had so much fun that the day after our return we spent a couple of hours playing on Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis. But while playing with Greenland sculls, I turned sideways in my cockpit and capsized several times onto my back. The next day I had a stiff neck and pain shooting down my right arm, symptoms of a herniated cervical disc. The pain was worst when sitting, so long car trips were out of the question, and we regretfully cancelled our postponed Pukaska trip again. The neck problem persisted till the holidays, and we did no more kayaking that year. In 2007 Linda had health problems, so we paddled only once or twice locally, and then started a week-long trip in the Apostles, postponing Pukaskwa once again. However, Linda strained an arm muscle during our first-day crossing on calm water to Devils Island, so, with forecast strong winds and not wanting to stress her arm any further, we returned to the mainland two days later, cancelling the remainder of our trip. This year Linda again had health problems that kept us off the water till July 16, my 64th birthday. I celebrated by rolling my kayak 64 times over a couple of hours, with Linda anxiously standing by to make sure I didn't overdo it. It was the first time I had rolled since my neck problem, but I survived it, and three weeks later we were back in the Apostles for a week-long trip, during which we paddled 45 miles, stayed at five campsites on three different islands, and had a great time. Other things have kept us off the water beside health problems. Weekends tend to be for family events, grocery shopping, house cleaning, gardening, and other chores, among them construction projects and lawn care for me. For long trips, we have to arrange for Linda's house plants and garden to be watered, her pond fish to be fed, the birds to be fed, our cat to be fed, and for someone to look in on her mother, who lives with us and turns 97 in a couple of weeks. Also, this year the Olympics and the election kept us in front of the TV more than usual. However, two weeks ago I retired, and Linda plans to retire in another five months, so we will have next summer off together. Maybe, among other things, I will have time to make more paddles. And maybe we will even get to Pukaskwa. Chuck Holst __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3636 (20081124) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com *************************************************************************** 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 Mon, Nov 24, 2008 at 8:18 AM, Chuck Holst <cholst_at_bitstream.net> wrote: > > However, two weeks ago I retired, and Linda plans to retire in another five > months, so we will have next summer off together. Maybe, among other > things, > I will have time to make more paddles. And maybe we will even get to > Pukaskwa. Congratulations on your retirement, Chuck. I'd like to take a minute and thank you for your instructional article on building a Greenland paddle. I have two western red cedar 2x4s in the shop waiting for me to get to them. I'm thinking that I might build a test paddle out of a cheap piece of fir 2x4 before I dive into the expensive cedar. Your piece certainly makes me sweat a little less over the project. Health problems are certainly an issue when it comes to paddling. When we sold our farm in 2007 I had to use a saber saw to cut up some old farm machinery that the new buyer insisted be removed. After spending a week at this (in 20F weather) I noticed that my hands had begun to hurt. Over the past year they really haven't stopped and I'm pretty sure it's arthritis. This had a bearing on my paddling because I felt that any long trips would make it worse. It's pretty bad when a 7-year-old-girl can bring you to your knees just by holding your hand. LOL. This all plays right into my idea of more mothership kayaking. I drove to Seattle to look at a 1979 Uniflite Sport Fisherman with twinNissan diesels for $7,000. And other than being too big for my purposes, and needing some TLC, it was in decent working condition. Just imagine a fiberglass diesel cruiser for about the price of two good fiberglass sea kayaks! It's starting to get crazy out there. 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/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:50 PDT