"Vacation" Time

Bob Putnam · #1 (**permalink**) 07-14-2003, 04:03 AM

I will be away between July 15th and the 22nd or 23rd.

Doing my usual Open Canoe Nationals vacation. 4 days of driving, 4 days of racing. I worked about 315 days last year. I hope this helps my current extreme burnout.

JWheaton · #2 (**permalink**) 07-14-2003, 07:44 AM

Bob,

There are plenty of people burned out on waiting for their cars. Stop paddling about in the guppy streams and weld some frames together.

Where are the canoeists nationals held? You should advertise to get the fan base going. I'm sure that someone here could figure out a way to get at least a small block hidden in one of those boats to help you out.

Jamie

Bob Putnam · #3 (**permalink**) 07-14-2003, 08:12 AM

Jamie,

They're in Wausau, Wisconsin.

The picture is from the '91 Wausau Nats where I managed to get my picture in the paper by having a great grimace. Only finished third in class that year though.

I'm afraid the way I've been paddling lately, you'd have to hide a Toyota in my competitors' boats to change the outcome. Since I paddle in Master's class, it gets more difficult every year, since I get older but the minimum age stays the same.

R U YELLA · #4 (**permalink**) 07-14-2003, 08:49 AM

I am glad that you are going on vacation. You should take more days off! Before you go could you put a bug in Peter's ear about what # I'll get?

Catch ya later
Ed

NeedAntiVenom · #5 (**permalink**) 07-14-2003, 08:59 AM

Bob,

Knock yourself out! Er, no, I mean have fun.

You'd think they would make shoes taste better...

Regards,
Jim

Jim Holden · #6 (**permalink**) 07-14-2003, 12:31 PM

Bob:

Boy, don't we look much younger in that picture...

but then I didn't have any grey hair 12 years ago either.

Jim

Turk · #7 (**permalink**) 07-14-2003, 02:36 PM

I don't like the looks of the flares on that canoe.
Me also thinks, two oars better than one.

TURK

65cobra427 · #8 (**permalink**) 07-14-2003, 03:49 PM

Bob,

Racing #323 must be tame compared to canoeing!!! Gotta be a real rush... ENJOY...

o'spotter

JWheaton · #9 (**permalink**) 07-15-2003, 08:03 AM

Is it just me or does that water in the picutre look like it is coming from a sewer treatment plant flood?

I'd be paddling fast if it was.

pavulon · #10 (**permalink**) 07-16-2003, 07:09 PM

Water here is high in Iron. Looks a little thick but actually support trout and Muskies rather nicely!! I'd like to get over to see Bob (only 50 minutes away) but am unsure if I'll make it. Wausau is actually a nice town as is the majority of northern WI (especially near Lake Superior) if anyone wants to take a vacation.
Scott

Traveller · #11 (**permalink**) 07-22-2003, 11:25 AM

Que the "dueling bangos"..........

Jim Holden · #12 (**permalink**) 07-22-2003, 12:17 PM

Actually, I'm given to understand that Bob plays his (virtual) "twanger" frequently...

J

Bob Putnam · #13 (**permalink**) 07-23-2003, 04:30 AM

Whew! The drive back was interesting - I tried to get fuel in eastern Ohio and found that half the county was electricity-challenged because of the thunderstorms/tornadoes. A local said that it might be two days before power came back on!

Backtracked west with my fuel gage way below empty, but fortunately found a small station well off the highway.

Good race course, but the combination of several excellent paddlers becoming eligible for Masters (40+) and my increasing maturity pushed me out of the medals for the first time in 5 years. It looks like the old adage "Age and treachery will beat youth and idealism." no longer holds.

Gotta change that.

Chaplin · #14 (**permalink**) 07-23-2003, 05:01 PM

Hey Bob -
Welcome back.
Any pics from your recent adventure that you can post. Although it may be hard to top that action shot from yesteryear.

Bob Putnam · #15 (**permalink**) 07-24-2003, 04:12 AM

Chaplin,

I took a lot of video - of other people. (I make CDs for the "club" of racers.) I may have to buy(!) a video of myself...

Chaplin · #16 (**permalink**) 07-24-2003, 08:54 AM

Bob-
Maybe if you had paddled with two hands instead of using one hand for holding the video camera, you would have been in medal contention. Next year I suggest paddling with both hands.

Jim Holden · #17 (**permalink**) 07-24-2003, 10:42 AM

...and Bob apparently encountered White Water on the long drive home.

J

Bob Putnam · #18 (**permalink**) 07-24-2003, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim Holden

...and Bob apparently encountered White Water on the long drive home.

J

Yeah... About 500 miles of following (well - actually passing) trucks in the rain.

"Can you see anything?"

"Nope. Can you?"

Ikestaa · #19 (**permalink**) 07-24-2003, 08:10 PM

Wow Bob, you are a very brave man. We've rafted the Pacuare twice in Costa Rica (two times too many). Something about floating through class 4 rapids while not in a raft just doesn't set right with me.

Bob Putnam · #20 (**permalink**) 07-25-2003, 03:59 AM

Ike,

Over the years my adreniline-producing activities have pretty much faded away. While the picture above might impress some, canoe racing is about precision, speed and endurance, not bravery. (Not unlike road-racing...) The slalom course requires a 3-4 minute run through downstream and upstream gates, keeping the boat within inches of an "ideal" line, avoiding hitting the poles. All this in moderate whitewater.

The slalom process matches my lifestyle/philosophy a lot better than scaring myself. I do that enough at work.