2007 was a fun year, but also a challenging one. This next year, I have some rather lofty plans and ideas. Some of them may not come to fruition, but I want to be committed to staying active in my outdoor pursuits none-the-less. As you already know (if you've kept up with my blog), I have an increasingly energetic, newborn son. He is an unmeasurable blessing upon our family and my priorities will be continually focused on...teaching him to paddle, of course! But, seriously, my time for these "outdoor pursuits" I speak of will be more limited than I might have preferred. I would, however, for the benefit of my friends and faithful readers, like to set forth a few goals for the new year:
*Post more pictures of me and my fellow Penguins kayaking- There are several reasons that I have not posted many "kayak pictures" so far. (1) I don't have a waterproof camera yet (and my wife would murder me, stuff my lifeless body into my kayak, and set me adrift on the nearest body of water if I ruined our only digital camera). (2) I don't usually like having my picture taken (that is, unless I'm being paid large sums of money). (3) That's all the excuses I've got, but they're pretty good, right?
*Post more multi-Day trip reports- What really got me interested in kayaking!
*Develop a standard format for Gear Reviews- This should make it a little easier to find the information you're looking for amidst my ramblings.
*Post contact info- I'd really like to meet all of you in person, but in the mean time I want to provide a way for you to get in touch with me. I'll have a dedicated e-mail address on my blog soon, and you can always call me at the Redding store if you so desire.
*Assemble a comprehensive assortment of resources- Links, tutorials, gear lists, techniques and maybe even a few guest articles if I can swing it.
These are just a few things that I've come up with so far. As I slowly regain some of my sanity, I hope to offer even more. This blog is about helping all of you have fun, and I never want to lose sight of that goal.
See you on the water!
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2 comments:
Jesse-
Hi. My name is Matt and I will be moving to Redding this spring. I have always wanted to try kayaking and so I was googling around for kayak sites and found penguin paddlers and then your blog. Your blog caught my eye because I love camping! Anyway, what advice would you give to someone who's interested in kayaking, but knows nothing about it?
I am diabetic and need to start some regular exercise for my health... truly, to extend my life. I love the water, I love sailing and I think I might really enjoy kayaking.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and I look forward to your response.
Matt
mattythestranger.wordpress.com
Hey Matt,
Glad to here you're coming to our neck of the woods! To answer your question: the best advice I can give is to come visit us here at the shop when you get the chance. We would like nothing more than to help you get involved in the local paddling community and start the learning process. Believe it or not, one of the primary reasons this shop sprang up was to supply the growing Penguin Paddlers club with boats and equipment. We are now over 500 members and still growing (especially with our new store that recently opened in Rocklin). The Penguin Paddlers group is what keeps us going, personally and professionally. We have several members that are diabetic as well, and and will openly declare that kayaking really did save their lives. Considering their current abilities, I'd say it made them into superheros! My background is camping, backpacking, and fly fishing. It wasn't until relatively recently that I discovered I could combine these activities with kayaking. So far, it has been a blast, and I'm realizing that the possibilities are endless. I look forward to meeting you, and feel free to call me at the shop 530-244-3355.
Regards, Jesse Smith
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