Comments on: That was FUN! http://blog.xcski.com/2004/07/14/that-was-fun Everything I used to bore people on newsgroups and mailing lists with, now in one inconvenient place. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:07:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Chris Clarke http://blog.xcski.com/2004/07/14/that-was-fun#comment-301 Chris Clarke Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 http://xcski.com/wordpress/?p=256#comment-301 I've only done a little bit of kayaking - the "sit-on-top" variety - but I love it. If you guys ever get out to the Bay Area, we could take you to Elkhorn Slough to kayak past the sea otters. I’ve only done a little bit of kayaking - the “sit-on-top” variety - but I love it. If you guys ever get out to the Bay Area, we could take you to Elkhorn Slough to kayak past the sea otters.

]]> By: Cathy http://blog.xcski.com/2004/07/14/that-was-fun#comment-302 Cathy Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 http://xcski.com/wordpress/?p=256#comment-302 Did a three-day weekend sea kayak a coupla years ago in the Pelorus Sound (NZ's South Island). Except for the first evening, it was very calm and incredibly peaceful (except for the swearing as I tried to steer the $%##@#%& thing). On the way back to the ferry and reality, we stopped off at a rock in the middle of nowhere, picked us a few dozen mussels then built a campfire on a nearby island for an awesome lunch (there were even two cans of beer left over. Mmmmmm. Beer. Mmmm. Mussels. Mmmm...) Gotta do that again sometime soon. Did a three-day weekend sea kayak a coupla years ago in the Pelorus Sound (NZ’s South Island). Except for the first evening, it was very calm and incredibly peaceful (except for the swearing as I tried to steer the $%##@#%& thing). On the way back to the ferry and reality, we stopped off at a rock in the middle of nowhere, picked us a few dozen mussels then built a campfire on a nearby island for an awesome lunch (there were even two cans of beer left over. Mmmmmm. Beer. Mmmm. Mussels. Mmmm…) Gotta do that again sometime soon.

]]> By: wb8foz http://blog.xcski.com/2004/07/14/that-was-fun#comment-303 wb8foz Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 http://xcski.com/wordpress/?p=256#comment-303 My friend Paul, as unlikely a kayaker as I could imagine [short, big build, impatient, retired Special Forces] got dragged into this by his all-knowing spouse. They go out on Piss-That-Away Bay or in the Potomac itself, opposite Mt. Vernon.. He LOVES it. She loves it. Best part is they now bought him a new one so there are three and I can go too. It's a lot of arm work for a lazy bum like me. But we see ospray's, bald eagles, Canadian geese and lots of smaller aviators. (We've yet to see any snakeheads but will keep looking.) It's oh-so-quiet on the Bay. My friend Paul, as unlikely a kayaker as I could imagine [short, big build, impatient, retired Special Forces] got dragged into this by his all-knowing spouse. They go out on Piss-That-Away Bay or in the Potomac itself, opposite Mt. Vernon..

He LOVES it. She loves it. Best part is they now bought him a new one so there are three and I can go too. It’s a lot of arm work for a lazy bum like me. But we see ospray’s, bald eagles, Canadian geese and lots of smaller aviators. (We’ve yet to see any snakeheads but will keep looking.) It’s oh-so-quiet on the Bay.

]]> By: Jim http://blog.xcski.com/2004/07/14/that-was-fun#comment-304 Jim Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 http://xcski.com/wordpress/?p=256#comment-304 I stumbled across your blog a couple months ago, and come back to it when I'm looking for reassurance that there are others who see the world more or less the same way. Plus in some ways our lives seem oddly parallel (I'm just now struggling with my first pair of bifocals, for example) , and/or you might be an alternate (or future) version of my oldest son. Oh well. On exercise, can I assume you don't find swimming fun? It's probably the best for high-quality, low-pain effort. I treadmill, by default; I am NOT a 'runner', but want my heart to last and hate getting short of breath. In law school I swam, though I am not a 'swimmer' either, but it was readily available and my wife - Vicki - loves to swim. I find that once you invest enough time and effort to get comfortable with a reasonable workout and to want to start increasing it, it becomes its own reward. But most people probably fall off that first step. I also view it as an opportunity for medititative exercises. My brain is always so busy commentating on everything, or making me worry about stuff I can't do anything about, that sometimes it seems the most precious gift would be a few minutes of no-mind. So right now I try reciting Buddhist mantras in my head while treading. Very limited success, but it's a process, not a result, right? I stumbled across your blog a couple months ago, and come back to it when I’m looking for reassurance that there are others who see the world more or less the same way. Plus in some ways our lives seem oddly parallel (I’m just now struggling with my first pair of bifocals, for example) , and/or you might be an alternate (or future) version of my oldest son. Oh well. On exercise, can I assume you don’t find swimming fun? It’s probably the best for high-quality, low-pain effort. I treadmill, by default; I am NOT a ‘runner’, but want my heart to last and hate getting short of breath. In law school I swam, though I am not a ’swimmer’ either, but it was readily available and my wife - Vicki - loves to swim. I find that once you invest enough time and effort to get comfortable with a reasonable workout and to want to start increasing it, it becomes its own reward. But most people probably fall off that first step. I also view it as an opportunity for medititative exercises. My brain is always so busy commentating on everything, or making me worry about stuff I can’t do anything about, that sometimes it seems the most precious gift would be a few minutes of no-mind. So right now I try reciting Buddhist mantras in my head while treading. Very limited success, but it’s a process, not a result, right?

]]> By: Jim http://blog.xcski.com/2004/07/14/that-was-fun#comment-305 Jim Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 http://xcski.com/wordpress/?p=256#comment-305 Oops, meant to add; you might want to look at http://klepper-usa.com/. I have a klepper I inherited from my Dad, with one replacement skin it's lasted for maybe 30 years. Pros: easily portable, very comfortable, very safe, good stowage for camping, can move at a real clip; and it gets plenty of attention when you drag the parts out and start assembling it! Cons: heavy, not cheap, and while in some ways more portable than a kayak, longer set-up and take-down time than just putting a kayak on or off a roof carrier. Oops, meant to add; you might want to look at http://klepper-usa.com/. I have a klepper I inherited from my Dad, with one replacement skin it’s lasted for maybe 30 years. Pros: easily portable, very comfortable, very safe, good stowage for camping, can move at a real clip; and it gets plenty of attention when you drag the parts out and start assembling it! Cons: heavy, not cheap, and while in some ways more portable than a kayak, longer set-up and take-down time than just putting a kayak on or off a roof carrier.

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