Re: [Paddlewise] the beginning of the end

On Tue, Jul 14, 2009 at 11:15 AM, Bradford R. Crain <crainb_at_pdx.edu> wrote:

>  Life was so much simpler when I was a child.
>
>
Let us not go into that. It would take forever. I will add, however, that I
saw someone who did some research and found that children today have a much
smaller "circle of freedom" than we had and that our parents had a larger
one that us. I commonly rode my bike across Spokane at age 12. I doubt
anyone lets their 12-yr-olds ride a bike to school let alone across town.
I'm convinced that the incidence of child kidnappings and violence is no
worse than it was 50 years ago but just much better publicized. We now hear
of kidnappings in Europe where we would never hear of them across county
lines in the 50s.

I don't believe Washington has a boat ramp fee or a permit unless it's a
fishing or hunting ramp and then you get a sticker with a license. There are
fees in state parks for launching however. As an officially disabled person
I get to do them free. I'd be happy to shoot you in the kneecap if you think
that would help. :D

My use of cross-country ski trails actually increased with the permits as
they fund trail grooming and I am unable to go off into deep snow. So I
happily pay the "parking" fee every year and then try to go often enough to
get the cost down under $1 per trip. We also try to load the car up.

The Muthah-Ship does relieve me of a lot of the hassles of kayakers. I don't
have to worry about where to camp but simply find a quiet anchorage. I pay
$185 a month for my covered slip in Oak Harbor just 20nm from Lopez Island
and it doesn't seem unreasonable to me. Even the State Marine Parks only
charge for the use of the docks or the buoys so when I drop the hook I get
all the rest for free. Even so, I'm going to buy an annual pass next year
simply because I believe in it. But I remember when they were all free.
Heck, I remember when camping in Washington State Parks was free. But they
didn't have sixteen "rangers" all armed with handguns patrolling the parks
and living in housing provided by the park system either.

Mike Euritt's words about the seeming inability of bureaucrats to spend
money wisely are certainly apt. Maybe that generation which went to war as a
necessity of the country's survival as opposed to going to war as a
political exercise is the difference but there was something about a country
ran by WWII veterans that is now missing. Call it an ability to focus, to
make decisions, or whatever. I am not of that generation but I grew up with
them as my relatives, my teachers and my supervisors and the contrast is
stark.

I should stop now or I'll seem like just another ol' guy whining about back
in the day.

A better write-up of the "shakdown cruise" is on my web page with a spiffy
photo of a Hobie Cat on one ama whizzing by. Dang, but that looks fun!!!


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
www.nwkayaking.net
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