krueger wrote:

But in some respects, I think this also reflects the state of the paddling
community, especially open boaters on the West Coast. It used to be our
rivers were a busy place with lots of folks of both persuasion out there
enjoying a great sport. Did anyone catch "My Turn" in Newsweek? Now it
seems that every other outing, our group is the only one out there and it's
getting smaller too........We're getting older, our boats are getting older
and neither are replaceable to a certain degree. Yes, along with the creaky
joints, our interests are slowly shifting or is it expanding? Be it better
or worse. But as long as the knees still bend, the ankles still flex and the
wrists/fingers are willing to grip, we'll still paddle. Rivers may morph
into the bay, slough, and lagoons, but the spirit carries on!

The higher cost of gasoline might have something to do with it.
I was going to drive north from San Jose to run the class 2 Klamath
(below Copco reservoir) last weekend, but didn't want to pay for gas.
However two weekends ago on the South Silver below Ice House reservoir,
there were scads of kayakers!

Build a river, and they will come!

I was going to submit a TR of my recent Grand Canyon adventure,
but the audience here is so small I didn't take the time.