Other Hobbies?

[Freestone]

I love water, in all forms, both frozen (snowshoeing and mostly xc skiing these days) and especially unfrozen. I love being on the water and prefer rivers over lakes. I also love to camp, hike and backpack but unsurprisingly, there is usually water at the destination! I started paddling a solo canoe at about 10 yrs old and was whitewater canoeing by 15, running up to Class IV in an OC2. When I moved to the WA right out of college, I raft guided for a few years. Now that I am retired, I am putting my many and varied watercraft to more use. I also love to travel and have been to 28 countries and plan to visit many more when the pandemic calms down a bit. I have an open-ended ticket to NZ next winter and plan on bringing a packraft to use ifor both fishing and running rivers.

Here’s a picture of me in 1979 that was published in the newspaper and in Ken Miller’s book “Paddling Southern New England”:


Photo credit: Ken Weber

In 2002, I rafted the Grand Canyon - in a walking cast! My doctor told me I could cut off the plaster cast at the put-in but I only made it to the Provo before I cut it off because the plaster cast couldn’t get wet and I wanted to fish.



This year after I retired, I packrafted the Green River (UT) through the Gates of Lodore and rafted and IK’d the Middle Fork of the Salmon. Both were amazing trips and I was lucky enough to get a MF Salmon permit to do it again this year! I’m not sure if I will take my cataraft or packraft yet as I will turn the corner and do the Main also. I also have a Smith River permit and will join friends on other permits as time allows. I am so looking forward to the summer! There will be lots of fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding and camping too!

MF Salmon last summer:


Paddleboarding right after I retired last summer:


Kayaking near Birch Bay last summer:


And, hopefully there will be lots more fishing with my adopted big brother, Ive, again this summer!



Oh, I also like to cook, read, garden and a bunch of other normal boring stuff too.

 

[Dr. Magill]

Shes finishing her freshman year at Kennewick high, shes been playing every year since like 5th grade and has the goods to hang on varsity no question.

She is definitely something else.

Wow
Kennewick was in the 3A final
What is her skill set?

 

[Pink Nighty]

Wow
Kennewick was in the 3A final
What is her skill set?

Center and long snapper.

 

[Dr. Magill]

Tell her good luck

 

[iveofione]

View attachment 10944

And, hopefully there will be lots more fishing with my adopted big brother, Ive, again this summer!

View attachment 10945

I can't imagine what I have done to deserve such a charming and multi-faceted little sister as Freestone or a beautiful and supportive granddaughter as my beloved Alina. Just an embarrassment of riches for an old man! I love my girls and am a lucky, lucky man!

 

[mooseknuckles]

Had to walk away from it after hip replacement that included the cautionary to 'keep it mellow'...as if

They act like mellow is some setting on a dial, I wish! Gave away more boards then days on snow this year. Had hip surgery in early Jan (FAI, 2 anchors in the labrum and femoral head resurfacing). Left hip was scheduled for next week but has been postponed and I am headed back in next Weds to repair the damage all that was ripped out in an accident night 1 post surgery. Everyone at PT likes to tell me how amazing life is post replacement, sounds dreamy.

There was an old time surfer, one of the earliest, in Santa Cruz called Stan Ross. Just a hella fine guy, starrted surfing when he came home from the war in WW2. Had known him for decades, ran into him at Steamer Lane shortly before he died in his mid 80's, sitting at a bench overlooking the Lane, walker parked next to him, staring intently at the waves.
'Whatcha doing, Stan?'
"Surfing, and I just got a good one."

Stan showed me the way, and I'm right behind him.

Amen! Two artificial discs in my spine at c 5/6 & 6/7 (ACDA), 6 poly anchors to fix a circumferential tear in my right shoulder, 5 in my left (bankart repairs) and bilateral ulnar transpositions in the elbows to name a few will keep me high on the bank.

I played OL until I decided I wanted to walk when I was older.

The smartest athletes on the field according to a previous head coach of mine. Absolute genius move on your part!


I too have been fortunate enough to coach a few of my kids teams over the years. I have tremendous respect, appreciation and gratitude for all who donate their time to educate and share their passions with the youth. Thanks again to all of you educators, coaches and mentors here!

 

[SurfnFish]

. Everyone at PT likes to tell me how amazing life is post replacement, sounds dreamy.

it will make a huge difference...wish the rest of me worked so well...lol

 

[Dr. Magill]

They act like mellow is some setting on a dial, I wish! Gave away more boards then days on snow this year. Had hip surgery in early Jan (FAI, 2 anchors in the labrum and femoral head resurfacing). Left hip was scheduled for next week but has been postponed and I am headed back in next Weds to repair the damage all that was ripped out in an accident night 1 post surgery. Everyone at PT likes to tell me how amazing life is post replacement, sounds dreamy.



Amen! Two artificial discs in my spine at c 5/6 & 6/7 (ACDA), 6 poly anchors to fix a circumferential tear in my right shoulder, 5 in my left (bankart repairs) and bilateral ulnar transpositions in the elbows to name a few will keep me high on the bank.



The smartest athletes on the field according to a previous head coach of mine. Absolute genius move on your part!


I too have been fortunate enough to coach a few of my kids teams over the years. I have tremendous respect, appreciation and gratitude for all who donate their time to educate and share their passions with the youth. Thanks again to all of you educators, coaches and mentors here!

Holy shit bro
That’s some work
And I thought I had it bad

 

[Dave G]

SAF is a brand of yeast that is very highly regarded. It is a product of Mexico. I buy it in 1# packs, put a little in a sealed bottle in the fridge and freeze the rest. It is called SAF INSTANT.

All weight measurements are made on a digital scale, the only way you can get accurate flour measurements it seems due to the moisture content of the flour and how the flour is scooped out of the bin.

Bread doesn't stick to Norpro pans. I don't grease them, instead spray a tiny bit of oil on a paper towel and rub the entire interior of the pan leaving no visible trace of the oil. Bread falls right out every time.

I use loaf pans because the shape of the loaf is better for toast, sandwiches, it fits the toaster better and in general is a more useful shape than the flat oval loaves.

I have used a poolish and biga on many occasions but years of experience has taught me that my standard recipe is just about as good with a lot less effort. To enhance flavor you can ferment the dough more slowly by placing it in the refrigerator overnight and baking the next day after it comes to room temperature.

This late in life I have done all of the trick baking and artsy-fartsy experiments that I want to and pretty much have bread baking on cruise control. What is difficult is making a loaf that is just a little better than average. Taking bread to my granddaughter and her family pulls out my best efforts and extra care.

Thanks! I can't wait to try this!

 

[Whitewater]

Spent most of my growing up and adult years on water of some type. Lead a few canoe trips for vy low money as an undergrad. Raft guided WW and FF in a couple national parks and forests for 27 yrs until old age / L. back damage caught up. Floated WW on the Grand, Green, Salmon, with a bunch of old retired guides and partners when we could get the permits.

Raise a garden, play in a couple bluegrass/roots/CW bands mostly for free, usually assisted living and memory care places. Shoot sporting clays. Sold the last of many canoes last year. Gotta fix that. Working on remembering my Spanish and German grammar and vocab with Duo Lingo.
And so it goes.

 

[Coach Potter]

O-line
Where the games are won or lost.
What offense do you guys run?

We are a 10/11 and 20 personell spread RPO team. We carry 3-4 runs schemes, spend most of our time in the 2 zones schemes and tag motions RPO’s to make it look like a lot more than it really is. We have a huge staff...31 coaches in total…6 OL coaches, 2 at all three levels. Our HC is a self proclaimed “collector of OL coaches”. Our kids get a ton of attention/ reps with all those coaches. That allows us to play a lot more guys than most schools. We will typically play 45-50 kids on a Friday night.

 

[Coach Potter]

Snowboard my second love since the 80's...Tahoe Basin the main playground,..snowboarding with the kids so much fun...wife and I quit our management jobs at 50 and took a year off, surf trips to the tropics, flyfished throughout the NW, spent the winter chasing pow wherever it landed...Whitewater and Red Mountain were hella fun that year. Had to walk away from it after hip replacement that included the cautionary to 'keep it mellow'...as if

I had my hip replaced at 43….turned 47 yesterday...best thing I ever did.

 

[Jim in Anacortes]

Interesting thread. I've enjoyed countless hobbies during my life... Fishing, stained glass, jewelry making, martial arts, gold mining, rock hounding, rock climbing, knife throwing , archery, pistol shooting, skeet shooting, reloading, archeology, paleontology etc.. And some profitable hobbies such as, harvest diving and commercial photography. Those are just a few. But whatever "hobby" I have taken up, it often has consumed my entire life focus. I've photographed movie stars. I've found some of the oldest archeological artifacts in the Western Hemisphere. I've made killer opal rings, and I've tied some kick ass gurglers that kill on Pass Lake. I am not happy unless I am learning. Right now I am learning how to throw a rope, for no other reason than I want to know how to do it. I have a left handed twist calf rope that is a blast to play with.... In short... life itself is just a hobby for me.

 

[mooseknuckles]

There was an old time surfer, one of the earliest, in Santa Cruz called Stan Ross. Just a hella fine guy, starrted surfing when he came home from the war in WW2. Had known him for decades, ran into him at Steamer Lane shortly before he died in his mid 80's, sitting at a bench overlooking the Lane, walker parked next to him, staring intently at the waves.
'Whatcha doing, Stan?'
"Surfing, and I just got a good one."

Stan showed me the way, and I'm right behind him.

First time back in a long time and from the benches, I caught a few good ones. Highlight of the E/W bench tour was watching our children each catch their first wave and sharing all the feelings and obsession that develop from it. Like clockwork, Cliff Dr delivers!

 

[Bagman]

Cowels beach, I first surfed that beach in 1962, I had my first experience being in the water with a whale there that year as well. Believe it or not I have also surfed that beach at well overhead. my son caught his first wave there as well when he was 12 years old, I was 49 when that took place. I have so many great memories of that beach. I’ve surfed with people that were my age now but at 75 I feel ive had my last wave, and it’s time to turn it over to the young. I had hoped to surf with my grandson but he does not care for the ocean. I believe the first two pic are from the east side of town, walking from the Hook to 38th, which is where I surfed my last wave right out in front of Jacks house. I still call Pleasure Point my home, even thou I have not been to my beach house for over 5 years, but my son still lives in my house on the Point.

 

[SurfnFish]

Old Man's lineup in front of Jack's house... longboard heaven for the elders

Cowell's in 62' as well...right across from the beach Otto's surf shop with his full size monkey on the chain out front in daytime, at night his security system, prowling around inside..

Pedro/Linda Mar my usual grom years lineup...at 72 still get out to the coast regularly for a few waves. Last run down to HMB sessioned with my son (ripper) and granddaughter, big grins.

For those that read The Surfers Journal, have a piece coming out in two issues on the life of Fred Wardy, shaper to artist....hella interesting life, his wife supplied some great media for the piece.

 

[mooseknuckles]

I almost didn’t even recognize the place. Polished handrails & yoga decks, I can’t imagine what access must have been like in ‘62 from Cliff Dr down for you legends @Bagman & @SurfnFish

...I believe the first two pic are from the east side of town, walking from the Hook to 38th, which is where I surfed my last wave right out in front of Jacks house. I still call Pleasure Point my home, even thou I have not been to my beach house for over 5 years, but my son still lives in my house on the Point.

First and last shot were both from the west side.


Second you nailed and the 3rd shot was from this bench.


The bench at the end of the street.

 

[John Svahn]

That’s Indicator correct? (First pic)

 

[Bagman]

I almost didn’t even recognize the place. Polished handrails & yoga decks, I can’t imagine what access must have been like in ‘62 from Cliff Dr down for you legends @Bagman & @SurfnFish



First and last shot were both from the west side.
View attachment 30723

Second you nailed and the 3rd shot was from this bench.
View attachment 30721

The bench at the end of the street.
View attachment 30724

the first pic is of the Lane, back in the winter of 63/64 a big swell hit the Lane the biggest I have ever surfed. I dropped into a 20+ foot wave at second reef, back then there was no stairs at Cowells and there was a bath just down from where the stairs are now. My surfing buddies were not ready to try a wave as big as this swell was. When I dropped into the wave I could see it was lined up just perfect and I made it through Indicators into Cowells, and set down on my board and headed towards the bath rooms where surfers had cut stairs into the cliff. my surfing buddies drove my woodie from the Lane to the bathrooms at Cowells, and picked me up. Not only my biggest wave but my longest ride as well. January no wetsuit no leash. The day before was so big even Golden had to paddle out from Cowells in his canoe, just to make it outside. Back then that rock in the cove was as high as the cliff. No pics just the memories of a old man, but Im still in contact with the two buddies that drove around and picked me up that day. Oh ya the last pic is called midtown.

 

[Mukman]

At the risk of derailing this surfing thread () my wife and I have developed a problematic hobby of wine collecting. Retirement has supercharged our efforts. In many ways, it’s like fly fishing: you can spend an awful lot of money chasing high end stuff, you get to travel to some beautiful places to fulfill your hobby, and the more you acquire you have to find a place to store it all. I just have to do a much much better job of consuming it at a greater pace than acquisition rate. I’m up to it. Any other winos?