Hi, my Dutch friend Wilko, and I mean that sincerely.

I took rivermans recommendation, and did some research on some of my
apparent antagonist, and found that you are a well document foreigner.
I had actually been to your web site before and enjoyed the pictures
and stories. You are obviously a very proficient and experienced
paddler. I also read your recent post on this board, "Padding with
hurdles", and that was a very good read about a crazy water trip, you
had me LOL. Reminds me of the Texas Water Safari tales that I have
heard about, minus the Black Water, and about 255 miles, give or take
a few, but lots of craziness.

I was also interested in your gear recommendations, and even decided
against a dry suit earlier in the year, for the reasons you stated.
They are more comfortable, but subject to filling with water if torn,
and becoming a death trap. I don't breath water very well when upside
down, or right side up for that matter! They are fine for diving,
where you have a breathing apparatus, but kayaking, is to violent for
an active life support system that requires special naintenance and
training in and of itself. A wetsuit is a passive system, that works
basically whether you do anything to it or not. If it gets torn, you
may get a cold spot, but you won't drown.

In my Watertribe contacts, they require the dry suit if you don't use
a spray skirt. Now if you have been reading any other post to this
thread, you know that I have a Folbot. I also have a Perception/Dagger
Overflow, and a much older FG Phoenix. I have been working toward
spending more time with the Folbot hence the Watertribe. Lots of good
people there! And I am working on fitting a skirt to my Folbot.

Now I have a couple of Farmer Johns that I got during the summer. The
idea of putting on a wet, and cold wetsuit was not appealling to me
either. I also have a 5mm and 3mm neoprene shortie if it gets really
cold. As well as a spray jacket with neoprene seals, for warmer days.
I hope to do some winter paddling, but the lake does freeze up at some
point!

I had picked up a helmet with full face shield cage last year at
Confluence Kayaks. We have had a lot of low water here in Colorado,
during the last couple of years, with lots of boney areas. A friend of
mine got drug through a boneyard upside down, and got all beat up.
Broken teeth, cheek bone, and nose. It wasn't pretty, but got me
motivated to get a helmet. I am going to check the straps again.

Elbow pads are a must, and knee pads. I banged my elbow hard getting
into a ride at the local water park. Took months to heal. A few years
back, I also bunged up my knees so I am real sensitive to hurting them
again on a bad exit, or hitting them on rocks. Try walking out to the
put-in when you can't walk.

I also got some good water boots. Mostly to protect from the
biohazards in the form of hypodermic needle found along and in the
riverbeds. The news reported this situation last summer, and showed
needles collected along the river. Not all paddlers are ecologically
sensitive. Previously I had worn Tevas, but they don't do much to keep
your feet warm, or safe fron possible HIV puncture.

You mentioned neoprene socks, and I wondered if they help with neo
boots. I have thought of adding a velcrowed strip to the outside
around the bottom of Farmer John and boot top, because I get water in
the boot. But maybe the sock would do better to keep excess water out.

I was also interested in what you said about burping the suit, that
the water layer is not necessary. I suppose divers do it because they
are definitly going in the water. Another gear cross-over dilemna. I
have tried it a few times, and you are definitly warmer if you don't
ever get wet. One instructor encouraged us to do wet entrys, since if
we could get in, we could always get out. Sort of defeated the idea of
staying dry, though works fine with the Folbot since I do not expect
to roll. Mostly using it there as a sailing suit.

I have other gear that I had picked up before, but this is what I got,
largely because of your input. I appreciate your experience and the
willingness to share. My only regret is that I waited until 50 to get
started. You ask do I paddle, and the answer is yes. Do I paddle as
much as I would like, NO! Will I ever be as proficient as you. Never!
I am 55 now, and the old muscles don't work as good, and the bones
don't heal so fast, but I do love paddling.

Most of the time my wife and I go down to Cherry Creek Resv. which is
a runoff drainage flood control reservoir. The water has come from who
knows where, and has some ofthe same qualities of your "Black Water" !
Sometimes the authorities actually close the lake for health reasons.

Will I ever paddle the rivers you have paddled, probably not. But I do
enjoy the lake when I get to go out there. I have spent hours fishing
without a hook, it is amazing how tranquil fishing is if even the fish
aren't bothering you. Ten years ago, I learned to windsurf there. I
got so I could go out and get back to the same spot, without falling
in. Lots of fun, but I missed the tranquility of floating. Then I came
across the Phoenix, which was way to small volume for my 280 lbs, but
fit my wife fine. She just paddles circles around me.

A bit later I got my Overflow, and was all excited about getting on
the river.
Until an aquaintance that was kayaking caught a barbed wire strand
that had been strung acoss the river to keep out kayakers. It
basically took his head off! My wife said no way was I going to do
anything that would end like that! Turns out there is a long running
battle here about river access and passage. The landowners say no
kayaker, they ruin the river ecology and environment. So they hang
barbed wire, and we go out to the lake and play in the wake of the
passing boats. Bracing to keep the Overflow from rolling is a
challenge, and I definitly don't stay dry. Yeah, I love paddling, but
I love my wife more.

Does this qualify as paddling in your book, you tell me, maybe when
you're 55! And personally I do prefer this kind of a post!


wrote in message ...
Tinkerntom wrote:

Thanks, Tinkerntom, aka KnesisKnosis, Live, Live it!

Tinkerntom, I have just one (off-topic to this thread) question: do you
paddle?