: The sad news is that because of the St Thomas trip (Malcolm), I
: probably won't be paddling to Hudson Bay.

My good friend, the only thing sad about this trip you'll be taking is the feeling you'll have in the pit of your stomach on three seperate occaisions..

1. As you head to the airport to go home.

2. As you look out the window of the jet across the snow covered ground of home as it lines up on the runway.

3. Lastly, when you get that first whack in the face of that rude cold air.

Coming up from the tropics back to the cold North can be brutal on a number of levels depending on your make up. And then theres all that crystal clear turquise and jade green water where you can see waaayyyyyyyy down - kayaking over that ... LOL - its going to hurt coming home buddy. Better have some Guinness stocked in the fridge when you finally make it home. That and a hankey.

I'm personally tossed between wanting to live down in Florida [My wife just wont hear of it] and the beauty of the temperate ocean. The seashores of Cape Cod, Rhode Island to a small degree, South Shore of Long Island and such really provides for a beauty all its own that I wouldnt want to leave. No its not eye candy like the tropics but you get these days when the water is remarkably clear and the richness in it greens and blues of it all is just fantastic. Add to that the snow-white foam that can come off windy wavelets and such and its really holding its own. So alas, I stay here. But dang it Rob - you go paddle around St. John, your going to feel it when its time to pack it in and come back.

That said, I will be looking forward to some serious trip reports!!!

Pete