Hi People, It's been at least 5 years since I've last posted here, but some may still remember me. I lost my subscription when I changed providers and didn't bother to renew my email. I see in the "who's who" that my email still refers to Foxboro, although I stopped working there 9 years ago. Shame on me! I got curious whether the list still existed and whether the old crowd was still there. I renewed my subscription yesterday; I'm honestly thrilled that the first post came from Doug Lloyd. I remember him struggling with his health, so I'm relieved that he's still live and kicking. I hope he's still writing those hair-curling trip reports. I hope Matt Broze is still on the list too. Years ago, I promised myself to visit him in Seattle and buy a boat off him as soon as I had money to spare. I still don't have money, but since Matt is out of business, that's a mute point - alas. Who was it that wrote about the "cursing paddle"? Who was that reverend that wrote such beautiful trip reports? I hope they're still here too; I will certainly remember their names when I see their posts. It's good to see that the list still exists, and I'm a bit relieved that it hasn't been turned into a forum. I'm old enough (44) to appreciate low-tech and things that simply stay the same. I may not have been posting, but I _have_ been paddling. I still give instruction to my local club; I guide some of the more demanding trips of that club (although I don't find them that demanding myself) and I spend at least 3 weeks every year paddling the west coast of Corsica in the Mediterranean. There's some things that I deserve to be flamed for. Obviously, I deserve a reprimand for disappearing for a decade. More serious though: - Not only do I paddle a plastic boat; I paddle a _comfortable_ boat. It's the kind that's popular as a rental. I know that will raise some eyebrows here. It has no rudder though; Matt is right that a good boat doesn't need one. - I prefer _easy_ paddling. I like my seas windless, flat and sunny - although I can handle the rougher stuff well enough. - I'm working on an kayak-related invention that will hopefully earn me some money, but that should certainly earn me the name of "disgrace of the seven seas". It's not as bad as a rudder or a sail, but still... No, I don't dare tell yet. I want to test these waters before diving in. I'm looking forward to renewed friendships, discussions and trip reports. Some may like my pictures of Corsica: http://www.nibla.nl/fotoalbum/corsica . Niels *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Niels, Welcome back aboard. List is pretty quiet these days. I'm taking a year or two off killer paddling to get the house finished, and restore some perspective, especially before my wife kills me (she's been waiting on some of the rooms to be finished for 15 years now). Just shopping for the right boat too; cut up my old heavy Nordkapp). Reverend Bob gives us great stories every so often, still. Awesome weather this year on the west coast and Alaska. Still kicking myself I didn't get up to Alaska in the early season. One day. Just got my pension statement this week - three years to go 'till 55! Then, maybe do what I want. I often print out Rev. Bob's post and read them while soaking in a hot bath as my wife knocks on the door wondering what the heck I'm doing so long with the door closed. I'll send you Bob's last post, Into Narnia. Cheers, Doug *************************************************************************** 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 Niels, Matt is still here and contributing to the list with his vast wisdom. Rev Bob is still here and posting his wonderful trip reports. PeterO from Australia is still maintaining the who's who list on PaddleWise (as far as I know). There are lots of other generous contributors that are still here. We are very fortunate they are still here as well as a whole bunch of "new" folks you haven't heard of yet. You can catch up with as many postings as you would like from the archives. There are instructions on how to obtain those on the website http://www.paddlewise.net . Kirk Olsen now manages the list. Welcome back. Jackie Niels Blaauw wrote: > Hi People, > > It's been at least 5 years since I've last posted here, but some may > still remember me. I lost my subscription when I changed providers and > didn't bother to renew my email. I see in the "who's who" that my > email still refers to Foxboro, although I stopped working there 9 > years ago. Shame on me! *************************************************************************** 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 People, > > It's been at least 5 years since I've last posted here, but some may > still remember me. welcome back and thanks for the compliment rev.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/ ***************************************************************************
Thinking of the good old times ... what happened to Professor Inverborn ? Fernando Lopez Arbarello www.FerLopez.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/ ***************************************************************************
In response to "It's been at least 5 years since I've last posted here" Niels I only joined paddlewise this year, but I'm glad to say 'welcome back'. Also, thank you for such an artistic and wide-ranging look at Corsica - an island I knew only as Napoleon's birthplace. It now seems much more interesting ! In New Zealand, the art of camping quietly in places where it is not 'approved' is often called 'stealth' camping. For this, I think you have chosen wisely your car colour (blue) and awning colour (green) - but I don't think your red kayak helps ;-) Is the coastline of Corsica friendly for kayaking & camping trips lasting for some days ? or is it better to travel by road and then paddle 'out & back' in one day ? Best Regards Paul Hayward, Auckland, New Zealand *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Jackie wrote >PeterO from Australia is still maintaining the who's who list on >PaddleWise (as far as I know). G'Day Jackie and welcome back Niels, Apologies for the slow response. Thought life was supposed to get slow and relaxed as one gets older. Oh well yet another theory bites the dust! Happy to update the Who's Who list if anyone would like something updated, just let me know. Haven't had much time to maintain it properly the last year or two. Sorry! All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Thanks for the welcome back, guys & Jackie. The list seems just active enough for my likings, and the posts still very worthwhile. I hope I can match the standard. _at_PeterO: Thanks for the offer of updating the Who's who. I'd be much obliged; I'll add my info below. It's good to see that you're still maintaining this list. a) NAME: Niels Blaauw <image: http://www.nibla.nl/tmp/paddlewise/whoswho_me.jpg> b) CONTACT: niels BOAS nibla DOT nl c) KAYAKS: Rainbow Oasis - which is the boat you'd chose for your grandmother: Stable, well-tracking with a large cockpit. <image: http://www.nibla.nl/tmp/paddlewise/whoswho_myboat.jpg> e) SPECIAL INTERESTS: Computer programming (Have done so professionally for 15 years, but still enjoy doing it) Science (I'm passionate about factual knowledge and solid reasoning) Technical Design (My home, boat and car are full of small inventions) f) SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE: shellscript, python, javascript evolution classical mechanics photoshop (as you might have guessed from my picture) g) STRONG OPINIONS: - You don't have to paddle a tippy, non-tracking boat, just because you can. - Paddling equipment needs to be either completely watertight, or as open as a sieve. (I HATE footrests and seats that are rotomolded with a single hole, allowing them to fill but not to drain.) - For me, solo-paddling is worth the risk. h) MOST INTERESTING TRIP: Every first-timer, like the first time I set out on a Swedish lake, a Norwegian fjord or the Mediterranean. While I love those remote places, I can perfectly enjoy myself on the local pond. Every once in a while it'll have a great sunset, a torrential downpour or a smell of spring that will turn an evening paddle into a magical trip. BIO PROFESSIONALLY: I've been a computer programmer for 15 years, before burning out in 2000. (The millenium bug didn't crash many computers, but it did crash me.) Unemployed since then, and enjoying it hugely. I consider myself a self-made-man. I have some friends, but I happily spend most of my time in solitude, dreaming, thinking or tinkering. I've had a solid technical education, which greatly helped me in learning to sew my own clothes, maintain and extend my home, and being able to build or fix most anything. Right now, October of 2009, I'm trying to set up a one-man-company, based on a kayak-related invention. If I'm lucky, my invention will get as popular as the paddle itself. If so, I will buy up Corsica and turn it into kayaking paradise. If my invention fails, I'll be 3000 dollars poorer, but half a year of experiences richer. Building up a company from scratch was worth my while, even if it fails. BIO KAYAKING: I've started paddling at the age of 10, in the inflatable of my dad. Since then, I've owned my own inflatable, a double foldable POUCH and several plastic boats. My boats grew with my skills, while I slowly expanded my horizon onto large water and sea. I don't even like large bodies of water that much: I just like rough shorelines. I've come to conclude that the largest bodies of water have the roughest shores, so there I went. I've been the beginners-instructor for my local kayak club for the last 10 years. It's as fun for them as it is for me: I love watching people learn. I maintain an instruction-related website, with some selfmade instruction videos and lots of technical information. It's in Dutch though, so it won't be very interesting for Paddlewise members. *************************************************************************** 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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