The ‘Sharing Adventures Together’ Thread

PeppermintPatty said:
And do you still have 3 sea kayaks? Are there any rivers near you that you could kayak on?

I haven't owned kayaks for years. WA State is full of lakes and rivers and the sea kayaks did fine in lakes but that sort of paddling wasn't interesting to me. Also the saltwater boats weren't designed for fast flowing water and being much longer than white water boats didn't really perform well in that environment. I did keep the plastic boat for a few years because it was tough and bounced off rocks and logs when playing in rivers but eventuallty sold it as well.

Here's a pix of the 17 foot fiberglass boat. Not mine but same boat. wind dancer.jpg
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Llynn said:
I haven't owned kayaks for decades. WA State is full of lakes and rivers and the sea kayaks did fine in lakes but that sort of paddling wasn't interesting to me. Also the saltwater boats weren't designed for fast flowing water and being much longer than white water boats didn't really perform well in that environment. I did keep the plastic boat for a few years because it was tough and bounced off rocks and logs when playing in rivers but eventuallty sold it as well.

Here's a pix of the 17 foot fiberglass boat. Not mine but same boat.
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Hi Llynn,
There really is quite a big difference between our kayaks. I’ve considered getting a sea kayak since we live right by the sea but I find our 10 foot Pelican kayaks to be very versatile. They are lightweight, I think they weigh 36 to 38 pounds so carrying it in and out of the water is manageable for me. This is convenient especially if I go kayaking on my own which I do at times. It’s also not easy to tip, which I find important especially considering the choppiness the waves can bring while kayaking in the ocean whether, organic or from other boats; staying stable is certainly a plus.

I like the removable pouches at the front. There’s even a waterproof place to put a phone/camera, suntan lotion, gloves, hat etc which I really find handy. If it gets wet, it can be be hung on the clothesline to dry.
The designated water bottle holder is also a plus since staying hydrated while kayaking for hours is certainly important. We know a couple that have sea kayaks who we are supposed to go kayaking with someday and I’ve always meant to ask them what the difference between the two were but hadn’t yet. I believe theirs are made from fibreglass.


There are rivers around here that we’ve yet to explore so look forward to that. For the price we paid for these kayaks and the stability they offer, I’m quite pleased with our choice. They were on sale for an extra $100 off.

Thanks for explaining the differences between the two. The picture you added helped greatly. An additional 7 feet is a major difference.
 
From the time I met my husband, life became one long adventure. Some of them were amazing 80%, I'd say. The remaining 20% was caused by idiots lol!

Nevermind the bad, let's stick to the good stuff. There were good ones growing up as well. Fishing weekends with Father and Gramps. Archery work with Father.

Spending a weekend during heavy snowstorm during a popular Canadian Carnival. Doing cross-country skiing. So much fun.

Seeing Niagara Falls for the first time and enjoying that glorious area for a full week again. Magical... NOTE: Incredible to read online that the frontage we saw on the falls back then. Apparently, they have recessed quite a lot by now.

Enjoying the freshest seafood in the Maritimes. Canoe once only during that visit. Our canoe was leaking. Not much fun, but a memorable experience no less.

Beatles Trek to Liverpool. Wow! Trip to Northern Ireland where we saw the Giant's Causeway. Took a photo of what looked like "a beast within" the mountains surrounding. Won third prize in photo contest.

Last trip was visiting Edinburgh, the ghosts we've seen in Mary's Close...circa 2011... Now, waiting for next adventure...
 
What I remember about my sea Kayak was how comfortable it was with the ergonomic back rest and seat, which you don't get with a canoe. I went down to New Orleans for the express purpose to see a cypress swamp, but the tour was in a cypress swamp that had been clearcut. There wasn't a cypress tree for miles and the kayaks were those sit on top kind, which now seem like what all the sporting goods stores are selling. My god that thing was uncomfortable. I'd like to sit in a real kayak again to see if it's that much better or my experience was just issue of old age. I stayed in the French Quarter for 3 days, and I did enjoy walking around that part of town, seeing the tourist landmarks, riding the trollies, and eating the sea food. That was fun. I took a walk down Bourbon Street, just to see what it was like, but I don't drink, so I didn't get the "full" experience.
 
My only real adventures have been ziplining. Once I was ziplining in Park City, where the zip line paralleled the big ski jump. They were doing summer jumping and we were literally side-by-side on the way down (at least it felt that way).

Biggest zip-line adventure was an all-day experience in Costa Rica. My late sister and I did it on a trip there and it was a hard trip for two old ladies. We did seven ziplines and three tree-canopy rope bridges. The best part was the 4000-foot long zip-line ride over a valley. Long hikes from one to another. We managed to keep up with the group but we were always the last ones to get there. I wouldn't have traded it for anything. I still love to zipline but I only do the ones you can ride a ski-lift to the top to do.
 
jujube said:
My only real adventures have been ziplining. Once I was ziplining in Park City, where the zip line paralleled the big ski jump. They were doing summer jumping and we were literally side-by-side on the way down (at least it felt that way).

Biggest zip-line adventure was an all-day experience in Costa Rica. My late sister and I did it on a trip there and it was a hard trip for two old ladies. We did seven ziplines and three tree-canopy rope bridges. The best part was the 4000-foot long zip-line ride over a valley. Long hikes from one to another. We managed to keep up with the group but we were always the last ones to get there. I wouldn't have traded it for anything. I still love to zipline but I only do the ones you can ride a ski-lift to the top to do.
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Zip lining is a blast. Your adventure in Costa Rica sounds like a lot of fun. Doing it while you are older is very brave of you. It’s also nice that you have such a fun memory of your late sister
 
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I'm enjoying reading about the adventures of all that have posted so far.
I'd like to share a few of mine.

Would like to start mine as an only child of the 1940s.

As an 'only' , mother tried to raise me as she had been raised.
Clean dresses & games, things to do that would keep me indoors.
One day after my bath & being put in a clean dress,I wandered out side.

She discovered me outside sitting with a cow's head in my lap,as I was peting it.

A few more of my adventures outside made her realize pants where better than dresses.
Especially when I feel off a shed roof, head first into the rain barrel!

If I wasn't finding all the barn cats' kittens ,, I was following my grand father.
Seemed he was always down at the other end of the barn milking a cow.

Those that have grown up on a farm know it rather nasty to walk behind the cows.
So to avoid cow patty spatters,, I would walk under the cows,,pop up beside grandpa.

Of coarse I got scolded.
He finally taught me to walk in front of the cows by the manager.
 
PeppermintPatty said:
With so many serious issues currently happening around the world, I wanted to open a thread where we could share our JOY of ADVENTURE. A place where we could kick off our heels and reminisce about exciting adventures we’ve had in hopes that we might share a different side of our character with others and magically connect with each other through these stories.
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Great thread @PeppermintPatty

I won't clog up this thread with my misadventures
But
Our joy now is hiking
Since we moved to town, we just hike round the lake a couple times a week.

However, the thrill was hiking in the mountains when we lived at the cabin

We'd get our chores done
grab the ski poles
Put on our ice cleats
and venture out

Sometimes we'd head up the path in our Wrangler until the logging road became questionable

logging road in jeep.jpg

logging road.jpg

Funny, hiking thru the thickets and deep forests were sometimes less challenging than the logging roads
Just gotta be aware of getting a neck full of snow if not having yer hoody on yer noggin

off the path.jpg


But the roads begat tracks

wolf tracks

wolf tracks.jpg

wolf print.jpg

That's pretty much when we'd consider how long to get back to the cabin before dark
 
@Gary O'
I was hoping you were going to share your joy of trekking around your homestead area in all seasons. It’s truly my favourite thing to do with our dogs and around here you really need the cleats too. It’s so hilly that when the snow hits you need extra traction and like yourself, we also have logging roads that are fun to hike on as well as our trails out back. Ours go 1 kilometre back from our house. We first make ATV trails to help out some. I doubt any of the animal track marks I see are wolf but we definitely get a lot of fox ,
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deer or bobcat. I almost got a great picture of a bobcat but I was so in awe, I forgot to pull my camera out.
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I’m really glad that we have some fun places to walk, even if it means driving to get there. It’s always well worth the drive. One such walk is across the bay. It’s a lovely nice long walk with some beautiful scenery.
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Then there’s a walk along the ocean path. It used to be a railroad track years ago. Our dogs love this one. It has the option of going down to the beach. The scent of the sea is always welcoming. The other day the scent of ocean mixed with fresh cut grass was intoxicating. It’s instantly relaxng. IMG_9745.jpeg
 
Then there’s some really nice cultivated trails we enjoy walking on. The dogs enjoy this one a lot since they get to smell other dogs.
IMG_0141.jpegSmelling other dogs never fails to be a is a big hit with them. It’s nice also since it has the distance option. Some trails are longer than others so it can be a real workout.
We went there just the other day and the forest is covered with these beautiful tiny white flowers.
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It has places the dogs can stop for water and some nice bridges that go over the creek or river.
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JustDave said:
What I remember about my sea Kayak was how comfortable it was with the ergonomic back rest and seat, which you don't get with a canoe. I went down to New Orleans for the express purpose to see a cypress swamp, but the tour was in a cypress swamp that had been clearcut.
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That's too bad, there are lots of cypress swamps close to New Orleans that have not been clearcut... I have done a lot of canoeing in Louisiana swamps, it is great fun, lots of wildlife and things to see. But you need to take a compass, it can be quite disorienting...
PeppermintPatty said:
Me parasailing
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Very impressive!! And thanks for the pictures.

I've never done that, but saw my father nearly get killed trying, back in the 60s before parasailing was a thing. We attempted it with a homemade rig, parachute from an army surplus place. First tried it on land behind a car and it worked fine. Problem on the water was not enough power in the boat. Right after launching from shore my father went down and was cover by and tangled in the chute... struggled to get him out. I'm sure things were much improved by the time you did it.
 
Trying to condense my youthful years to get on to what I call our adventures.

To grow up on a small farm with cows, chicken , rabbits had been the base for my life.
I was kept busy had chores to do as I grew,, feed the cats, help with the larger animals.

At about age 12 my dream of owning a horse came true.
Neither of my parents liked horses, so rules were put down.
"Its your horse, to feed & care for"

I think they thought I would soon tire of caring for the horse .
Owning that horse was a lesson to me.

Horse had shipping fever'. cold ,, snotty nose & was thin.
So with grandpa & the neighbors help we got the horse well.

Had a lot of fun the years I owned him.
Learned about the illnesses, horse can get .
Most of all learned horses are hard work & an expense to keep.

Hopefully this will be the end of an old lady's rambles about her childhood.

I plan on on a small bit of my married & bit about our sons.

Yes to me raising children was an adventure.
I had NO experience with baby humans. :eek:
 
PeppermintPatty said:
Then there’s some really nice cultivated trails we enjoy walking on. The dogs enjoy this one a lot since they get to smell other dogs.
View attachment 291552Smelling other dogs never fails to be a is a big hit with them. It’s nice also since it has the distance option. Some trails are longer than others so it can be a real workout.
We went there just the other day and the forest is covered with these beautiful tiny white flowers.
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It has places the dogs can stop for water and some nice bridges that go over the creek or river.
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My kinda places. Love it.
 
Alligatorob said:
Very impressive!! And thanks for the pictures.

I've never done that, but saw my father nearly get killed trying, back in the 60s before parasailing was a thing. We attempted it with a homemade rig, parachute from an army surplus place. First tried it on land behind a car and it worked fine. Problem on the water was not enough power in the boat. Right after launching from shore my father went down and was cover by and tangled in the chute... struggled to get him out. I'm sure things were much improved by the time you did it.
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This was done in the Caribbean ocean in Jamaica and they definitely knew what they were doing. They had a big powerful motor, making sure you got up and made sure they had plenty of space so you didn’t have to worry about getting dangled up in anything.
I’d watched plenty of others going up before deciding to try it and it was sure a lot of fun.
Sorry about your father. It does sound a bit scary.

We were harnessed in really well also. Here’s some photos with my face blocked out.
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PeppermintPatty said:
This was done in the Caribbean ocean in Jamaica and they definitely knew what they were doing. They had a big powerful motor, making sure you got up and made sure they had plenty of space so you didn’t have to worry about getting dangled up in anything.
I’d watched plenty of others going up before deciding to try it and it was sure a lot of fun.
Sorry about your father. It does sound a bit scary.

We were harnessed in really well also. Here’s some photos with my face blocked out.
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Up .... up .... and away. That had to be an absolutely exhilarating experience.
 
Alligatorob said:
I've never done that, but saw my father nearly get killed trying, back in the 60s before parasailing was a thing. We attempted it with a homemade rig, parachute from an army surplus place. First tried it on land behind a car and it worked fine. Problem on the water was not enough power in the boat. Right after launching from shore my father went down and was cover by and tangled in the chute... struggled to get him out. I'm sure things were much improved by the time you did it.
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Trying to start parasailing from a boat is exactly that; hopeless. The boat has to build up speed in order for you to get up in the air.

The difference here is that you start from a floating dock / platform first. You are harnessed up with 2 ropes attached . One is attached to the boat and the other one is attached to the dock. This way when the boat takes off, it takes up directly up. Once you are up high enough and the boat is going fast enough, they then let the other rope go so the boat can take you all around the bay and you are directly above , so can’t get dangled up on anything.

While up there I could see way past our hotel into the mountains of the island. I could also see all the other boats, skidoos, water skiers, kayaks etc. It truly is memorable.

Here is a pic of the dock below and shows how I am stick attached to the dock and only going straight up. These people really know what they were doing.
It was very safe.

🪂

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Alligatorob said:
Thanks, we should have called you first, LOL!
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LOL! Sorry. While I was out walking the dogs I thought about it. If I wouldn’t have done this here, I would have probably tried your way also. For the record, I must have tried water skiing at least 12 times and could not get myself up long enough to get going and that’s far more simple than trying to do a DIY for parasailing rig.
I applaud your sense of adventure, courage and creativity.
Yes I can get annoying. 🤷‍♀️🤪
 
PeppermintPatty said:
I must have tried water skiing at least 12 times and could not get myself up long enough to get going and that’s far more simple than trying to do a DIY for parasailing rig.
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When I was a kid we lived on a lake for a while and tried most everything we could find related to waterskiing. I even managed to get up on a wooden bread crate once... Back then all our boats were underpowered by today's standards. Just getting up on the skis was often a challenge. Almost impossible to get up on a single ski, to slalom we had to get up on two and drop one. One friend's boat was barely powerful enough to get up on one ski, but only if you dragged your free leg like a ski. Tried barefooting, but that was completely hopeless.

Haven't been on water skis in years.
 
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