It's Beginning to Look Like a Boat

My son Alan and his NC State roommates, Matt, Chris, and Mike, are planning to race the 2007 WaterTribe Everglades Challenge. They registered as a 4 member, 2 boat team, before even having a boat.

Check out their blog, as they document the process of building 2 double outriggered Wa'apa, three board sailing canoes.

Having to beg and borrow to make this happen, they'd appreciate any sponsor donations of materials or supplies for boat or paddling related equipment and gear.

Where are the Women?

Where are the women adventurers? There are 44 boats registered so far for the WaterTribe Everglades Challenge in March '07, and only 4 of them will have a woman in them, 2 of them in solo boats, the other 2 in mixed doubles.

KiwiBird and I will both be in Class 1 solo boats, this is her first EC, my fourth. According to the WaterTribe Record Book, KiwiBird will become the 6th woman to officially complete an EC in a solo kayak. There have also been 4 women to finish an EC in mixed doubles, SandDollar being the only one who has done it in both solo and mixed division.

That's only 9 women to ever complete an Everglades Challenge. Why is that?



Photo left, SandyBottom and TurtleWoman celebrating EC04 in Key Largo.





Photo right, Arctic Doc and SandyBottom celebrating EC05 in Key Largo.


It's not because there aren't alot of women out there doing paddling expeditions. Even Derrick posted in KayakQuixotica; "I'm sure you've noticed it too. 2006 was by all means a banner year for the women of sea kayaking.", this in his post "dream amazing dreams" as he introduced Sandy Robson beginning her adventure paddling around the Australian Coastline. And of course there is Renata and Wendy and .......

So yes, there are alot of women paddlers out there seeking adventure. But I'd sure like to see more of them join the Tribe for the Everglades Challenge 2007, an expedition style adventure race.

"Break loose from all the usual excuses and conventions that keep you bound to a lifestyle that does not totally fulfill". - Verlen Kruger

Lunch Time at the Movies

This afternoon at work, I finally had a chance to show the WaterTribe Ultimate Florida Challenge DVD to my coworkers. It's a 50 minute video that introduces the 10 racers, and provides a documentary of the Challenge. And there is quite a lot of footage of me in my Kruger Dreamcatcher :)

Many of those I work with followed my adventures through my husband's daily reporting on this blog during the race, and also followed the WaterTribe forum and the reports, pictures, and videos that were posted.

Still, some of them probably can't really understand why I or anyone would want to do something like this. Certainly, it's difficult to get a real sense of the enormity of the challenge, it's adventures and dangers, and the exhilaration and sense of accomplishment one feels during and after an event like this. Watching the video gives one some of this understanding.

In the video, prior to the start, Warren Ritchie (SharkChow and first place finisher) explains how in an event like this, challengers will experience a physical and spiritual connection with nature and the environment.

And Mark Przedwojewski (ManitouCruiser and second place finisher) really says it best. "A bad day on the water is better than a good day at the office".

My New Mantra

Fifty is the new thirty. It makes me feel good everytime I say it. I got the photo from a magazine ad for American Life TV Networks (giving credit). Yes, it's an ad targeting a mature audience. It sure worked for me. I don't watch much TV, but I sure liked this ad.

Lately I've not been very good at updating my training log, or even blog posting . We've moved the family computer out of the family room and into the study. Out of sight out of mind.

But I am in training for the 2007 WaterTribe Everglades Challenge, and my shoulder is doing much better. No swimming for a few weeks, but I'm okay to paddle.

Today I went back to Elizabeth Towe's Balanced Movement Studio, and started back in her early morning Tues/Thurs spin classes. What a great workout.

Fifty is the new thirty. Fifty is the new thirty. Fifty is the new thirty. Fifty is the new thirty. Fifty is the new thirty. Fifty is the new thirty. Fifty is the new thirty. Fifty is the new thirty. Fifty is the new thirty. Fifty is the new thirty. Fifty is the new thirty. ..................

A Big Change

Have you visited Derrick Mayoleth's KayakWisconsin blog today? Your in for a surprise! It has been renamed KayakQuixotica. See Derrick's posting Idiom where he talks about making the change.

And if you don't already, you really should get in the habit of reading the 'comments' made by readers of a particular blog entry, they are often interesting and fun.

Derrick says in one response to a comment : "yep (to the question: you aren't changing the name are you?) , and everyone will hate it too!! and won't be able to pronounce it either. but I'll have the old name pointing to it forever so no one should get too lost. :) actually that's the major change with a few minor upgrades. I don't want to fiddle it too much."

So, what is with that name? And how do you pronounce it? Every time I see it, I immediately think of 'Don Quixote', and then of the word 'exotica'. I assume that was Derricks' intent. Very playful, even somewhat naughty :)