December 31, 2003

Linking to the Past

his year, like all the others, I finish reflecting on the events of the past year. From the day we carried my daughter's new kayak home, to the day my grandmother died, and all the things that happened in between. The biggest change this year has been the look of Woody's kayak trip reports web site. New 'skins' that some folks liked, and others didn't. A major upgrade in hardware, software; a new domain name. Adding new sections and becoming a popular aggregation of kayak related news articles found on the net. The Geo Paddle project started late in the year but has taken off like a rocket in popularity. Some ideas worked while others didn't.

I tried to develop what I thought the concept of 'peer paddles' should be. A failed experiment. I learned that the idea of everyone being responsible for themselves, to actually paddle as a peer group, can only work when you paddle among true peers - those of like skills and decision making abilities. But this failed experiment won't stop me from taking away the lessons I learned from it.

I passed my BCU 3 star assessment. Both a feeling of accomplishment and disappointment all in one. Maybe I set the bar too high for myself. But for 2004 I have again raised the bar even more.

I enjoyed going out to a demo day to help people back in to the kayaks when they fell out. Talking with a few of the new folks about what to look for in a boat. "Try them all" I said, "make your best choice and take it home, and start saving for your second boat." I wonder how many now know that to be true.

Like always, there were some deep soul touching trips. Waltzing the Farm, Superimposed on Silence, and every time I paddled with my daughter. I enjoyed the swim supports, the camaraderie of paddling with my friends, and I enjoyed being the student and occasionally the teacher.

I wish I could tell all my stories. I wish I had the time to tell them as some of the best remain untold. Some should remain untold. But good or bad they are my own. Each and every one a part of me whether written on a computer or carved into my heart. And as a new year begins I have the hopes and dream that it is only going to get better.

Woody