Inspiration While Kayaking

Luke Ludwig — Thu, 03 May 2007 19:23:00 -0500

One Thursday afternoon in early May, I decided to leave work early at 3:30 and go kayaking. Adios manager Chris. After a boring hour commute home to lovely Woodbury, Minnesota, I tossed my kayak on top of my truck, drove to nearby St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park, launched, and was on the water by 5:00. My kayak is a yellow 17 foot long Current Designs Caribou and is designed for "seas" as it is a sea kayak. I paddled across the wide St. Croix river to the Wisconsin side and headed downriver along the shore. Out for exercise, I was planning to paddle about 8 miles in a moderately strenuous manner. The planned 4-mile turn around point is where the St. Croix joins with the Mississippi.

I soon got in a rhythm and began thinking about, what else -> backpacking. If you were to just meet me and ask what I do I would say "I backpack, paddle, and write code" [1]. Certainly you were expecting an answer more like, "I work as a Simulation Engineer at BAE Systems in Fridley. We make the biggest guns in the world, aka howitzers, for the army." Backpacking, paddling kayaks and canoes, and writing code are my three main... passions or hobbies? If I just call them passions then I have to make the standard disclaimer about my wife Becca being my first passion. How about passion-hobbies.

So I was thinking about backpacking. Specifically the 2 week, solo, 240 mile trip I was planning for late summer in the Cascades. I don't just backpack, I backpack light. Similar to not being a traditional backpacker, I am not a conventional programmer. I am an agile programmer. Both lightweight backpacking and agile programming are movements in their respective worlds that have been expanding in popularity in the last 5 years or so. While expanding, agile programmers and lightweight backpackers are certainly still minorities. My inspiration, while out kayaking, is that the guts behind each of the movements are incredibly similar. What was I to do about it? Write of course. There are lots of websites about backpacking and even more about programming, but hopefully I will have the first ever website on both backpacking and programming. Does this make sense? I don't know. But I will be sharing similarities between the two and how ideas from both of them can be brought into everyday life. Maybe I'll be able to convince a few programmers to take up lightweight backpacking. Somehow I doubt I'll be able to convince any backpackers to take up programming!

I turned around shortly before reaching the junction with the Mississippi and headed back up river and into the wind. I concentrated on using my torso instead of just my arms to propel my body and kayak through the water. The river being straight here, I spotted on the distant horizon what I thought was the take out. As I neared it I realized I was mistaken and was only half-way back. Since I was paddling hard this was a bit disheartening. No matter. A short time later I was observing a bald eagle being harried by a smaller bird a few hundred feet overhead. While under attack, the bald eagle suddently dropped its feet, opened its large talons and dove down to the water. I was expecting a big splash in the water, but wow, this baldy barely got its toe-nails wet. Its prize was a small sunfish, wiggling in the eagles death grip.

As I neared the real take out I noticed a big fishing boat towing an even larger fishing boat back to the public launch. As a kayaker this makes me smile. Simplicity is one of the primary properties underlying lightweight backpacking, agile programming, and kayaking. Kayaking is one of the simplest ways to enjoy being on the water. There is no outboard motor to fail and leave you stranded. You travel via your own power. I need to remember to always bring my tow rope with me. If I had, and the other fishing boat wasn't around, I literally would have towed this boat, family and all, back to the launch[2]. This would have brought an even bigger smile to my face.

[1] This concept of answering "What do you do?" by describing what I'm passionate about instead of what I do for a job deserves a reference, since I saw it on a short film last week about a guy who skis (he works as a waiter in case you are wondering) while watching the 2007 Banff Film Festival at Midwest Mountaineering's Spring Outdoor Adventure Expo. Not much of a reference since I can't remember the guys name.

[2] Skeptical about a kayaker towing a boat? Don't be. It has certainly happened before. I'm not saying it wouldn't be a lot of work, but it is more doable than it sounds. Once you get momentum going I imagine it would only be strenuous work (as opposed to completely exhausting).

"Inspiration While Kayaking" by Luke

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:36:10 -0500

You can contact me via email: luke At lukeludwig com

"Inspiration While Kayaking" by Sam

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:10:27 -0500

Hey Luke, I am attempting to contact you and don't know how. I need to ask you some personal questions if you know how to install and slice our custom graphic design into the Substruct. Or do you know of someone? We have a basic design to slice and I have just downloaded the Substruct and have no idea what I'm doing. I do have experience with installing WordPress and the G2 Image Gallery. I noticed you are using the G2 as well in your photo section on your web site. Please contact me if you can. Thank you for your kind support. :-) Sam B.

"Inspiration While Kayaking" by Jake

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:48:09 -0600

nice dude! I almost feel like I was there with you. I would like to do something like this website for all the inspirational moments I have. perhaps you could help me get started. later -Jake

"Inspiration While Kayaking" by John

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 19:52:15 -0500

Enjoyed your piece on paddling and backpacking. I've thru-hiked the AT and my wife and I paddled the Mississippi in 2005, so both of those activities are near to my heart. Simplicity - I hear you. I strive for this everyday, and sometimes even achieve a little of it. Take care, -John http://sourcetosea.net

Mad Marmot: Inspiration While Kayaking

Inspiration While Kayaking

"Inspiration While Kayaking" by Luke

"Inspiration While Kayaking" by Sam

"Inspiration While Kayaking" by Jake

"Inspiration While Kayaking" by John