String,
good wishes for you and your recovery.
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Iām not aging gracefully.
Iām still a āhot messāā¦lol
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I am about to leave the hospital with 2 stents .
Probably self delusion but I feel more oxygenated. I know itās in the upper 70s and mostly sunny outside. Iāll be sitting by the pond shortly watching the frogs.
Paddling in a week!
Thanks for the support!
To be continued in a few months when the aortic valve gets replaced.
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I had 3 stents put in a year ago. Two after a heart attack and the third two months later for quality of an active life. I never understood how much the blockages were holding me back until I had them cleared. Good luck sting and a speedy recovery!
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Thank you!
Welcome home, string!
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Aging gracefully? Iām 65 and just discovered kayaking. My seasoned fellow kayak-mates were impressed with my debut. I kept up with each and every one of them and was no worse for the wear post-kayaking trip. Iāve just begun!
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Iām 67 and had my aortic valve replaced a couple years ago.
Last Saturday I rode nearly 50 hilly miles with a cycling club, but Iām way slower than I used to be.
Anyone that says age doesnāt matter must be from another planet.
I like doing multiday river trips and backpacks, but Iām a little concerned about being far from help, if I should have an issue. Iām also a little worried about how my heart would react to my body being dumped into cold water. But Iām going to keep paddling as long as I can.
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There is nothing graceful about it at all.
Keep going out there no matter what.
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ā¦are in for a surprise.
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I was getting ready for bed last night with a good wipedown , no shower allowed. I sort of remembered the nurses doing some trimming around my upper legs that morning.
I had a small bikini trim which was a surprise. Now I know where they go looking when they need to get into the femoral artery.
Not exactly on your leg. I was glad they used my wrist and another artery.
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Happy paddling. Friends whoāve gotten stents noticed a big difference. Enjoy the pond.
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A lighter paddle may help, but if not, there are adaptations out there that can help āseasonedā paddlers who might have shoulder problems or arthritis. Angle Oar makes a paddle holder that supports the weight of the paddle by mounting to the kayak. They have a paddle that angles down on each side also. www.angleoar.com
Not going there yet. Just went from kayak shop to my dock 4 minutes less 41 minutes than ten years ago in the same boat. Good night no wind and minimal current. Already did five miles before the attempt. Three months 69. I finished faster towards the end doing 5+ miles per hour in my Extreme. I feel fortunate I dodged a bullet few years ago but not literally. Hope youāre doing better String. God bless.
Happy with 5.9 mph hammering it at the end as usual.
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I posted here 12/20 as a 2 time cancer survivor.
Iām now posting as a 3 time cancer survivor.
As I said earlier, Iām going out kicking ass and taking names, there aināt going to be nothin graceful about it.
Anyone want to join me this weekend
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Congratulations. Hoping that three times gets it done.
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I was going to comment because I thought I had something to say. But after reading the thread, I realize 59 isnāt that old, and I have nothing to say.
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Every stroke is a joy to me. Just pulling myself forward near as hard as I can. My friends canāt cut their own grass with a propelled mower. I almost got a ticket in the 5 mph zone last night. 
. My goal is to have my heart burst doing something I love than looking at a hospital ceiling. I always like to push the envelop on sport bikes, offshore boats racing, and tracking my car.
Every time I go out I say Iāll paddle easy. It just never seems to happen 99% of the time when alone. My partner canāt paddle this year. I dropped from group paddles they average 2.5 mph or less. Slow death even 3 8 could endure. Everyone takes 1 hour after launch time to be in water. Then they all straggle and talk. Talk on the phone or in a restaurant after the paddle. ,They get so spread out itās rediculous. Partners inlaws were here for weeks, and her hand has a tumor under her nail surgery Friday. Doctors jerked around with it for weeks. She told them what it was. She had it at nine years old. Exact same spot but they said no itās a wart. She said I donāt believe in coincidences. Hand surgeon looked and said tumor. Has to come out or it will go to the bone and be harder to remove. Insane 50 years later it forms again.
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Go dog, go.
Paddle-on_Lads, nice post to think about. Nothing graceful about it. One common thread is the will to overcome. When I take a hiatus from any activity, my focus on it doesnt end as I consolidate thoughts. I donāt regret the activities that some say probably accelerated my physical deterioration. Those memories drive me to achieve, but I realize that age does matter. I adapted my paddle stroke to get around my shortcomings. Not sure if Iāll get back to my old form. I resumed this July and my first trip was 1.9 mph. I felt broken. After five trips, I eventually finished 20 miles but it took 7 hours 20 min. 12 trips later I still have at least one mph to get within my previous range. I guess it doesnāt matter if I get there, but I keep trying. I find it easier to get lost in a zone where distances pass by and I can block out distractions.
PaddleDog52, nice tracks. Its good to hear the fire and see the determination. We have a similar approach. It doesnāt matter if I do 8 miles or 27. My end run is all out. Thatās a nice run. If you break any personal goals, Iād be interested in seeing the tracks.
My nephew had a stroke at 45. He lost 60 lbs and tried a little rec boat. He gave it up within 2 months and now he running side by side with me in the same size kayak. Hope I continue to evolve so I can hang with him. Do or die.
Davebart, good to hear from you again. Where you been paddling. My brother wanted a second hand and I got roped into fishing rock fishing for the first time, so havenāt been in my kayak. Caught a 39 inch fish. First cast. He knows the fishing grounds. Itās nothing compared to paddling the same water in a 14 ft kayak.