View topic - The Canoers Stereotype

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how do you stereotype Canoers?
isolationists 0%  0%  [ 0 ]
closet drunk who prefers to drink in the bush 5%  5%  [ 2 ]
escapists 21%  21%  [ 8 ]
environmentalists, or 'tree-huggers' 8%  8%  [ 3 ]
fisherman too poor to buy a motor boat 0%  0%  [ 0 ]
traveller/ explorer who prefers self propulsion 67%  67%  [ 26 ]
Tilley Hatter 0%  0%  [ 0 ]
Total votes : 39
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 Post subject:
PostPosted: January 19th, 2005, 5:06 pm 
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Location: Grand Haven, Michigan U.S.A.
canoetripper wrote:
Have you looked into the costs of cottages or lake front property. Still need a canoe , paddles etc and a $1000 won't get you far . Wouldn't buy the stove pipe for my wood stove


canoetripper wrote:
PS replacing my water line heater will be $2000 . Buys a bit of canoe gear I'd say .


Once again, Canoetripper, I don't see how this has any relevance to calling canoeists cheapskates.. I know canoeists that I would agree are cheap. I used to paddle with one guy that never brought lunch. He'd sit with everyone and say he wasn't hungry... But everyone would feel sorry for him and offer him food. He wouldn't accept right away... but eventually he'd have some. He also never brought money... so if we stopped for lunch he never had money for food.

But in general, most canoeists I paddle with bring quality gear, and come prepared financially. I haven't gotten screwed with the bill during my paddling time.

I also know folks that won't upgrade from old canoes and paddles... but that's up to them so long as their gear doesn't cause risk to the rest of the crew.

But in response to the statement about carrying across on portages. I'm firmly of the opinion that "You run what you brung." I'm all game to carry group equipment across portages... but I don't carry personal stuff.

PK


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PostPosted: January 19th, 2005, 5:11 pm 
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Location: Casper, WY
canoetripper wrote:
Too much campsite nig**r for a half baked thanks in the end.


Please tell me I am reading this wrong. Please!


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PostPosted: January 19th, 2005, 5:18 pm 
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Joined: April 3rd, 2003, 5:35 am
Posts: 1537
Location: NORTHERN ONTARIO
in reflection after reading these posts, i think i would say that perhaps we are not "cheap", as the upfront costs of gears and such are quite abit (at least in my prespective). but the logistics are just not there to spend any money after that. i mean, there ain't no toll at each site or portage (unless you count park permits). and as for spending in towns, what's to spend? lodging perhaps? food? i know i look forward to indulging in the local "fry-stands". but for me lodging is usually not an issue as i am fortunate enough to be so close to most places i like to paddle. as mentioned before in other threads i am basically a hour away from all the prime spots, Temagami, Algonquin and two from Kilarney, so no need to lodge overnight anywhere...


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PostPosted: January 19th, 2005, 5:33 pm 
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Joined: January 14th, 2003, 7:00 pm
Posts: 214
Location: Milwaukee, WI USA
I canoe by choice. If we wanted, we could have a sailboat or a power boat on Lake Michigan or one of the inland lakes. But, My family and I canoe by choice.
If with my wife on a canoe trip, we always stay at a nice hotel before and after the trip. And we cannot pass on the local arts and crafts an area offers.
I belong to a tennis club also and play 3 -4 times a week when not paddling. The guys hate it when I return from an extended canoe trip because my stamina is up and my game is terrific.
I think some of us do paddle because it is a relatively inexpensive way to get out.
I have felt the "canoers not wanted" vibe in many towns on the edge of wilderness.
But, my credit card has never been refused at a nice hotel because I just got to town from a 2 week trip and am still in my canoeing clothes. I have even squished into the lobby of the town's finest - boots and pant legs still wet. Got the room and didn't get the look.
How many of you would park the canoe and start up the motor boat if you had the chance at either?
I think we make a mistake in perpetuating this myth of the cheap paddler.
And I think we should all do what we are able to support the local economies of the "border" towns.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: January 19th, 2005, 5:50 pm 
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Joined: August 11th, 2002, 7:00 pm
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Location: Sunny Wasaga Beach
There are only 2 ways to really see this country. Float plane or canoe! Which, for most all of us, boils down to one choice...canoe! The natives got it right. It's the only way to go. :)

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Old canoeists never die---they just smell that way.



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 Post subject:
PostPosted: January 19th, 2005, 6:54 pm 
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Joined: April 7th, 2003, 4:31 pm
Posts: 27
Location: North of 7
I think i'm just a paddler.


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PostPosted: January 19th, 2005, 7:23 pm 
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Joined: August 11th, 2002, 7:00 pm
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Location: Sunny Wasaga Beach
Time once again to recycle this one:

You might be a paddler if...Paddling Humor

(It's scary how true many of these are!)
You might be a paddler if...
...Your paddle costs more than a week's paycheck.
...You love rainy weekends.
...After paddling a few winters, the Polar Bear Club doesn't seem so crazy to you.
...You get cranky when it's been a month or more since one of your favorite
rivers hit flood stage.
...You can't drive over a bridge without looking for water under it.
...You maneuver your vehicle on superhighways by 'eddying out' behind trucks
and leaning into turns.
...A dress shirt and tie no longer bother you because both are more
comfortable than a dry suit neck gasket.
...You carry your favorite river guidebook, which is tattered and beer
stained, with you everywhere you go.
...You perk up whenever you hear someone say, "golly!" or "cheat!"
...The only time you ever go to a swimming pool is for roll practice.
...The recirculation created by turning the water faucet on full blast as
you're washing dishes fascinates you.
...During the week, your boat never leaves your car-top rack.
...You "pour over" streamflow readings the way a stockbroker scans the markets
every day.
...You practically salivate at the sound of rainfall ... and will do a ring
around of all local weather stations during flood season.
...There's no room on your speed-dial for anything but gauge readings and the
numbers of people with nicknames like Psycho.
...You paid more for a roof-rack for the boat than you spent for anniversary
presents (combined).
...You tie down the boat better than you seatbelt in the kids.
..."Waterproof" means "a little damp" or "might-float."
...Your friends or relatives are shocked when you answer the phone at home on
a weekend.
...You can't drive over a bridge without looking for water under it.
...The smell of old polypro doesn't bother you.
...Your wife says you love your boat and your boat'n buddies more than her,
and she sounds just like your first wife...and your second.
...Driving 800 miles for a weekend on the river doesn't seem strange to you.
...Window shade means more than keeping the sun out.
...You choose a new car based on whether or not your rack system will fit it.
...You co-workers (and non-boating friends, family and your spouse) will not
ride in your vehicle between April and September (or whatever your boating
season is) because of the ode de polypro.
...The sight of a waterfall gives you the uncontrollable urge to urinate in a
nearby bush- while you search out the line.
...Your boat is worth more than your car.
...Even in the dead of winter, you never actually lose the PFD tan lines.
...You build your new house as close as possible to the flood plain.
...Your dog loves to roll in your pile of paddling clothes.
...You're all dressed up and don't notice that you're being rained on.
...You measure major purchases relative to the cost of a new boat ... ('Hmmm,
that new computer will cost me about 2 1/2 kayak units')
...You move to the Midwest temporarily and whine about missing your kayak,
more than you whine about missing your boyfriend or girlfriend.
...You're the one with the Bright Sunny Smile on the Cold Rainy Day.
...Every once in a while you touch your paddle, just to touch it.
...Every once in a while you let go of your paddle, just to eat or something.
...When your non boating friends visit your home or your car they ask "Do you
have dogs?"
...The idea of a 15k mile per year car lease seems ridiculous.
...You have a bathing suit that's wet from March to October.
...Your Mom has stopped saying "be careful this weekend".
...You've never setup a tent when it's light out.
...You have friends that you don't recognize without their helmet, pfd,
paddling jacket, and boat ensemble.
...You can ID make and model on a car topped canoe or kayak at a quarter mile.
..."blowing a ferry" in casual conversation don't give you pause.
...You always have sinus congestion on Monday morning.
...You leave your glasses strap on at night.
...All career, personal and financial decisions are judged by the criteria of
"How will this increase my paddling time?"
...You visit Niagara Falls and think "This may be runnable."
...You build a 2 car garage addition and you still can't park your car inside.
...You bug out on your wife and kids to go paddling for the weekend because
you are SURE your priorities are right.
...You deliberately watch the whole commercial just to see the kayak on the car.
...If you live in a town with a river running through it, you give street
directions with descriptions like "upstream of the ..." or "two blocks down on
river left ..."
...You find yourself humming Weather Channel tunes.
...It takes longer and longer to get your "land legs" back. Solid ground
"feels funny."
...You feel all mushy inside when your boyfriend or girlfriend gives you a
drytop for Christmas.
...You can't look at water in a gutter without imagining tiny runs and
miniature waves and holes.
...After a car wreck, the first thing you check for is damage to your boat.

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Old canoeists never die---they just smell that way.



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PostPosted: January 19th, 2005, 8:12 pm 
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Great list; I can think of one more:
When looking at houses for purchase storage area for paddle gear is more important than the number of bathrooms.


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PostPosted: January 19th, 2005, 8:13 pm 
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Joined: May 20th, 2002, 7:00 pm
Posts: 488
Location: Forest, Ontario Canada
SWIFT wrote:
stereotyping of 'snowmobilers', or 'sledders' as they prefer, was kind of tongue in cheek. but i have to admit to harbering some to them. we are currently having a problem with them on our property, we allowed them use for many years, but because we walk on the same trail year round with our dogs we have experienced more aggressive driving and an increase in the lack of respect for us as pedestrians/skiiers, and the property it self with oil cans and stuff left or tossed behind. so we closed it. and they still use it. demonstrating a total lack of respect. i think i will soon barracade it. so it's frustrating. so it conjures up a negative stereotype for me. one that i know they all can't be the same. so that's when i thought what kind of impression do we as paddlers have, specifically canoers?


Not changing the subject, but just so you know , as a local snowmobile club member / trail reporter, this is our biggest problem, its jerks like this that make us all look bad, we deal with land owners everyday in a respectful way and all it takes is some jerks to ruin years of goodwill and get a property closed for ever, very sorry your having this problem, the few hard working volenteers that put much time in to build relationships in a community also hate to see it ruined, please call your local club if you have not and they should go out of thier way to help you, I would hope, If not best of luck and sorry for the poor representatives of our sport.

Now back to the subject

Todd
Warwick snowmobile club


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: January 19th, 2005, 11:39 pm 
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Joined: January 31st, 2003, 7:00 pm
Posts: 841
Location: Bay Village, Ohio
wotrock wrote:
There are only 2 ways to really see this country. Float plane or canoe! Which, for most all of us, boils down to one choice...canoe! The natives got it right. It's the only way to go. :)


I take a float so I CAN canoe--it's a long paddle across Lake Erie! But you are right, the best way to see your country is on the water or on the trail. I stay on the relatively frigid south shore of Lake Erie all winter so I CAN vacation North in summer. Been to Florida and the Carolinas many times, no comparison with the enjoyment up North.

Steve


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PostPosted: January 20th, 2005, 3:43 pm 
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Joined: August 25th, 2002, 7:00 pm
Posts: 2129
I am an escapist, closet drunk who prefers to drink in the woods, who likes to hang out with a few tree huggers.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: January 20th, 2005, 3:59 pm 
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Joined: August 8th, 2003, 9:18 am
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Location: KW
I am all those except the Tilley Hatter .....but I am a kayaker.

Does that disqualify me?

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http://www.friendsoftemagami.org/

http://misabiadventurecompany.ca/


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 Post subject: canoists??
PostPosted: January 20th, 2005, 6:16 pm 
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Joined: August 12th, 2004, 8:15 pm
Posts: 20
Location: unknown
Most of the folks we canoe with are friends whom we have known for many years. I quit taking a chance on newbies a long time ago: after picking up tabs here and there, with nary a thank you.

I don't consider myself a cheapskate, and the people I know are not that way either. Most of them are generous to a fault, hold up their end on a trip, and share graciously.

We do go equipped, and leave very few dollars with local businesses.......So what!!?? If I want to go motel camping and grocery shopping I will. Tried it. Sucks!!

I would imagine there are cheapskate trailer trekkers, car campers, hotel stayers, on and on. We don't hold the patent.

Say to yourself.........I AM NOT A CHEAPSKATE. I AM GENEROUS. I JUST LIKE TO CANOE!!

Take care: Ramblnrek :D


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