Well said!
More and more of my friends are buying Hullavators and using carts to get to the water. Others have aged out due to worsening health issues and some have died.
No one lives forever.
Many younger people are going to SUPs and rec boats rather than canoes or kayaks. Canoes are rare around the Chesapeake Bay.
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Donât do it! I turned 80 last month but decided years ago that I wasnât going to get old.
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According to Ray Kurzweil we will merge with AI - the singularity - in 2045 and have multiple bodies in virtual reality. In so doing, avoid getting old.
For me, not interested. âIt is our mortality that defines usâ said Captain Picard and I couldnât agree more. I embrace my eldership even if I do fuss sometimes at the decline of fine motor skills, one of the most annoying things.
Behind the paddle, I always use commonsense about my abilities. Knowing what you can do and what you shouldnât do is a valuable life skill that keeps you out of trouble in many situations.
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There is a possibility that I may have ALS. More testing has to be done.
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Iâm sorry. I hope the tests are negative
.
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Prayers your way God bless 
Iâm so sorry youâre having to deal with all the uncertainty, and I also hope your tests are negative for ALS. I can only imagine how much youâre missing kayaking. My thoughts are with you, Andy.
Thanks all for the heartfelt thoughts. This has been going on since December. Not knowing what is causing this is tough on my psyche. This Monday I will be getting a blood test. This should give me an idea what is afflicting me. Its been tough not being able to paddle, my balance is off as well along with this limp.
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Blood test turned out ok, multiple vials taken from me. MEI next Tuesday. They want to see all of my backbone.
Currently the thought is I have a Motor neuron disease . I am hoping itâs something elseâŚ
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Iâm hoping and praying for you.
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Iâm sitting here at 76, I havenât paddled since covid when I pulled my boats out for needed repairs, I was born with a congenital heart defect and have had 2 surgeries to help me keep going. I started paddling over 30 years ago on a whim and loved it and ran a group for about 8 years . My favorite paddle is a 17-12 mile round trip on the Connecticut river. whatever my doctors tell me I shouldnât do I do anyway. I hope to get out on the water if the temperature drops below 80 soon. I am going out screaming and kicking and laughing at everone that told me I should take it easy because I was too old.
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Prayers
I will be tested for ALS.
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Hi String, I have replaced Tylenol with Advil also, as I have 2 spinal vertebral fractures and it seems to help with pain better than Tylenol. I am old and have osteoporosis. Still kayaking however!
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Good for you 576945! I am 86 with osteoporosis and spine fracture, and cannot lift my kayak anymore, but with carrying help from friends, once my boat is in the water I can still get in and out. Kayaking is my Bliss (favorite thing) and I cannot bear to give it up as long as I can still do it.
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Keep going Hatchet - I am 85 and still kayaking!
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Thatâs encouraging Ivyabby. I had to put not getting old on hold since I finally got a diagnosis of deteriorating disc and pinched nerves in my neck to explain loss of grip, tingling in hands, weakness in the knees and random electric like shocks in arms, legs and shoulders. C4/5 disc replaced August 26th. Dr. said I will be completely normal and back to anything I want to do in three months. Never having been normal I would consider the experience a complete success, but he also said I would be able to play the piano after the operation. I always wanted to play the piano but so far no luck. I think I will get clamp-on shoulder pads for the canoe.
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Disjointed Thoughts of a Bent-Shaft Hit-Or-Miss (âSwitch!â) Paddler
Grace has gone and left the room.
Sheâs panned me in her sweep of broom.
Sheâs left me in my fit to rage.
Bin long in sin dusts in all age.
But I have a plan:
Putting Old on hold?
The many best-laid plan,
may align its time in yours,
and Time herds mice, cats and man.
Then cats ersatz bring pain.
Theyâll share not two through nine.
'Mongst manic mice and men,
we crisscross separate out-of-lines.
So what is the plan? How am I to Dylan with it?
Come gather yee cats,
and take up the oar!
Your boat squats these waters,
to move itâs a chore.
The waves are a risinâ,
point the bow or broach shore,
where your hull is no longer draininâ.
So ya best start to paddlinâ or yâll sink neath a stone,
for Old Age, itâs come a pain-innnnn!
And thatâs all I got to say about that.
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Hello 2293: Nice letter. I too am now elderly (85), and have found that storing a walking stick in my kayak is helpful when getting out of my boat after a long sit. I start by exiting in water that is about knee deep so I donât have to lift myself up as high as if doing this on land. I place the walking stick on the side of the boat I exit, and it helps me keep my balance as I slowly (! very slowly) stand up and walk to the shore.
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