Welcome to the Dark Side

[Owl]

A buddy of mine is a staunch open boater who I've been after for some time to try kayaking. He'd always give me the same response about canoeing being a more primal and pure experience, the greater skill required, "half the paddle; twice the paddler", etc. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that he'd clandestinely arranged to acquire a used Super EZ!

Nonetheless, I offered my services to help him get acquainted with his new craft and we ventured out to the lake today for some basic paddling and roll instruction. Although he did pretty good for a rank beginner, I suspect that it was a bit harder than he'd anticipated.

If I can convert even one heathen open-boater to a more enlightened form of paddling I'll feel that my life on this planet will not have been in vain. Check him out below:

[Shawn Reed]

Well Brad, you wasted no time!
I appreciate you sucking my bag as I couldn't reach. It made me so much more comfortable.


Oh that reads funny. Happy feet dirty minded people. To my fellow open boaters, this is just a reason to make the Mulberry fun again not a true conversion.

[Owl]

...just a reason to make the Mulberry fun again not a true conversion.

No explanation necessary; it's okay to be "bi".

[rski]

I am...shocked, dismayed, flabbergasted, stunned to learn that Shawn Reed has become the stuff that eventually settles to the bottom of the pond. BLAAAH!! On the other hand, I'm interested in the ME if you're liquidating. I feel so alone...

[Shawn Reed]

This is purely an assessment of the yak lifestyle..... you have to try it to be able to critique it. So far I feel like I am in a shoe. Getting out of this thing in distress (failed roll) is a procedure unlike a canoe. I'm sure Brad was too busy laughing to realize we hadn't practiced a wet exit and as I saw my life flash and started to inhale water he finally rolled me over. I suggested we try a wet exit next! . I don't think he quit grinning the entire time we were on the lake. I suggested we put his camera in the truck but he won the tug of war (I had another location I wanted to deposit it but he was helping me after all). I'm sure there are more pics, at embarrassing times, to come.

[rski]

Barf.

You're one of "them" now. I'l avoid you like the plague when I'm on the creek in my Mohawk Probe 12. You know that's an open boat... makes you nauseous, doesn't it??

[Owl]

Real men wear skirts...

[Owl]

... I feel so alone...

I've got an extra boat that you'd look real purty in Robert if you'd like to try it out.

Like I always say “once you 'yak, you never go back”.

[rski]

Shawn in a skirt...HAHAHA!!! That's funny, funny looking too. I won't succumb Brad. Not till I've had my fun w/ Shawn.

[davidbob]

OMG - I fear Shawn has started down the slippery slope leading to despair and moral bankruptcy; much like the process that occurs when that first unplanned whiff of secondary reefer smoke inevitably leads to heroin addiction. Maybe kenny can start a new career as a deprogrammer specializing in open boaters who have lost their way (and maybe their minds). Since deprogramming involves things like violent kidnapping and coercion, it should bear some resemblance to typical RBF shuttle arrangements.

[Sasquatch]

Shawn
Good for you. At least your getting on the water. Go for it brotha That being said, your dead to me now