I'm sure others have experienced the disappointment that comes with not being able to paddle for an extended time because of an injury, illness, or other extenuating circumstance. Well, that will be me this year.
Late last summer and early fall, I fell ill and skipped several planned trips, but I thought that over the winter, I'd be able to heal up and get ready for this spring and summer. Sadly, that won't happen now, and I'm looking at missing an entire year of paddling. At best, I'm hoping to make a couple of fall trips though that might be misguided hope. My paddling life isn't over, not by a long shot; I'm just on an indefinite and rather miserable hiatus, compounded by the despondency of a lost year of paddling.
If you've been in a similar situation, I guess my question is how did you salve that never-ending yearning to be on the water. Currently, I'm evaluating all of my tripping gear, completing minor repairs, making lists of paddling needs and wants, putting together some new shelves to hold some additional acquisitions, and watching way too many videos of other people paddling. Add to that I'm putting a dent in several books on paddling topics that I've been meaning to read.
Any other suggestions?
Late last summer and early fall, I fell ill and skipped several planned trips, but I thought that over the winter, I'd be able to heal up and get ready for this spring and summer. Sadly, that won't happen now, and I'm looking at missing an entire year of paddling. At best, I'm hoping to make a couple of fall trips though that might be misguided hope. My paddling life isn't over, not by a long shot; I'm just on an indefinite and rather miserable hiatus, compounded by the despondency of a lost year of paddling.
If you've been in a similar situation, I guess my question is how did you salve that never-ending yearning to be on the water. Currently, I'm evaluating all of my tripping gear, completing minor repairs, making lists of paddling needs and wants, putting together some new shelves to hold some additional acquisitions, and watching way too many videos of other people paddling. Add to that I'm putting a dent in several books on paddling topics that I've been meaning to read.
Any other suggestions?