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Date Posted: 08:05:25 03/29/10 Mon
Author: Donna Ray '51
Subject: Kayaking with Charlen

Charlene, how are you doing with your kayaking? I don't do Facebook, so am not keeping day-to-day with you.

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Replies:

[> Re: Kayaking with Charlene Beaty Swankie -- Charlene, 14:53:06 04/30/10 Fri

Hi Donna. I have been wintering in the southwest with friends and will be resuming my kayaking soon. In May and June I volunteer for the National Marine Sanctuary in the Monterey Bay. Then I will leave for the northwest to see my new grandson, Will, born 4/2/10. I have kayaked eight states so far and have 42 more to go. After seeing Will, I will head out across the northern states, kayaking each as I go, and then arrive in the northeast for the fall colors and then down the eastcoast to FL to visit my sister. Thanks for asking. Anyone interested can follow my blog:
http://swankiewheels.blogspot.com/2009/07/my-50-state-kayaking-and-camping.html


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[> Kayaking with Charlene -- Charlene Beaty '62, 10:05:42 05/23/10 Sun

Hi Donna,

Well, my plans to volunteer for the Sanctuary this year have been scrubbed... due to shoulder surgery next week. Doctor tells me it will be at least four months before I can resume my kayaking. Even so, as soon as the doctors release me to get back on the road, I'll be heading to WA state (I'm in Monterey, CA right now) to visit with my grandson (born 4/2/2010) and then heading across the northern states... and will hopefully be able to start kayaking somewhere along the way. Hope to be in New England for fall colors and then work my want down the East Coast, kayaking each state as I go... and getting to FL for the holidays. Will visit my sister, Judy Beaty '61, there for the winter... and then head across the southern states... and not sure what after that. You could follow my blog is you like - http://swankiewheels.blogspot.com/ .


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[> Re: Kayaking with Charlen -- Donna Ray '51, 10:44:14 05/31/10 Mon

Hi Charlene,

Thanks for update. I do neither blogs or facebook - can't (don't want to) handle them, but love keeping up with you if e-mail is not too much for you.

Sorry your sanctuary volunteering got scrubbed but hope surgery was a success and you are healing just fine. What would you have been doing there?

I know you are eager to be up and running (paddling) very soon.

I expect you think Will is pretty neat don't you? How many grandchildren do you have?

I'm in England visiting with my daughter and family. What a lovely country. She lives in a small village.

Good luck.

Donna


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[> [> Re: Kayaking with Charlen -- Warren Byerly, 20:28:04 05/31/10 Mon

Hey Charlene, what you are doing is great! Getting away, getting back into shape, and having fun is what life should be about. I lost my wife 4 years ago and bought a 22 year old motorhome and am trying to camp in all of Indiana's State Parks. I know, not near as ambitious as Kayaking the 50 but what the hey it's fun and a campfire everynight. Good luck with the surgery.....


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[> [> [> Re: Kayaking with Charlene -- Charlene Beaty Bailey Swankie '62, 18:22:25 06/16/10 Wed

Hi Donna and Warren,
I just came from a follow-up with my shoulder surgeon and he gave me the all clear to continue my jouney. I will not be able for maybe another month or two, but I can drive. Tomorrow 6/17/10 I see my eye surgeon for follow-up about the catarac I had removed. I'm confident that he will also "release." I will then head north through CA, OR and to WA to meet my new grandchild... and then across the northern states and am hoping by the time I get to WYO I will be able to resume kayaking. I'll have to take it easy for a couple paddles to build my strength back up. Hope to headout by the coming weekend.
Thanks for asking.
Donna... clicking on the blog link... all you have to do is scroll down to read and view the photos of my journey. It's pretty easy, really.


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[> [> [> [> Re: Kayaking with Charlene -- Warren Byerly '56, 18:38:50 06/16/10 Wed

Good luck on your trip and all the doctor visits. I think you will have an exciting time. I am heading for a short trip to Patoka Lake, here in Southern Indiana, for a camping trip. Again, all the best....


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[> [> [> [> [> Kayaking with Charlene - the trip resumes -- Charlene, 12:50:30 06/19/10 Sat

Left Monterey, CA today to resume my kayaking adventure. All doctors gave me the o.k., but I have to take it easy with the shoulder for about a couple of months. It feels almost normal to me now... and I"m happy to be back on the road. I'm looking forward to getting to WA state and seeing my grandson Will for the first time... born April 2, 2010. Then across the northern states, hoping by the time I get to WYO I will be kayaking again. I welcome you to follow my blog and hope maybe I can meet some of you along the way.
http://swankiewheels.blogspot.com/


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[> [> [> [> [> [> Kayaking with Charlene - 14 states now kayaked -- Charlene '62, 07:03:49 09/25/10 Sat

Hi Donna and Warren,

Thanks for all your good wishes. Things are healing fine. I was in IN last week visiting a classmate and am now headed toward Buffalo, NY to kayak with a friend. My shoulder is usually good, but once in awhile I catch it a certain way and I'm reminded I had serious surgery on it. Donna, as a volunteer for the Monterey National Marine Sanctuary I paddle out into the Monterey Bay and visit with other kayakers and interpret and protect the wildlife there. We records the number of visitors and the level of disturbance to the wildlife. Otters, seals, sea lions, etc. It's really neat and I'm eager to get back to it next year. I learned to kayak there and love the place. Hope to finish a bunch more states before then though. Heading toward Maine now and then down the eastern coast.


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Kayaking with Charlene - 14 states now kayaked -- Charlene, 07:57:18 09/25/10 Sat

See recent photos here:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30835641&l=51db3dfbe3&id=1573053507


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[> Re: Kayaking with Charlen -- Donna Ray '51, 05:34:45 06/18/10 Fri

Charlene,

"Perseverance" - per Webster: steadfast pursuit of an undertaking or airm. You persevere.

Good luck with all the outcomes of doctor's visits.

Donna


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[> [> Re: Kayaking with Charlen -- Warren Byerly '56, 19:28:50 09/26/10 Sun

Also, I wish you good luck at the doctor's. Hope the Kayaking in the North happens before the cold weather sets in. Here is Southern Indiana the weather has really changed from the 90's to the 70's. Perfect weather for camping and sitting around the campfire at night. I plan to take off next weeks for Missouri. All the best to you.


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[> [> [> Tech Campout -- Warren Byerly '56, 16:21:21 09/28/10 Tue

Would anyone be interested in meeting at one of the Indiana State Parks for a Tech Alumni Campout? This time of year is slow for the parks so we probably would have no trouble finding a park with enough space. We could pick a park that has a lodge so those without a camper could still join in. What do you say?


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[> [> [> [> Re: Tech Campout -- Charlene, 16:17:11 09/30/10 Thu

Count me in, especially if there is water and I can kayak. Any other kayakers here?


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[> [> [> [> [> Florida Gathering. -- Charlene (Kayaking America), 07:21:04 11/27/10 Sat

I just finished kayaking FL with my family... it was the 29th state I have kayaked. Resting now for a couple months before kayaking the rest of the S.E. Anyone in FL was to get together???


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[> Re: Kayaking with Charlen -- Donna Ray '51, 10:59:29 06/29/11 Wed

Charlene, long time since I've seen anything about your trip. Are you about finished or have you finished?

Donna


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[> [> Re: Kayaking with Charlene Beaty Swankie -- Charlene Beaty Swankie, 06:13:05 10/23/11 Sun

I have continued my kayaking and as of Oct. 2011 I have kayaked in 40 states. Now camping in Arizona for the winter and taking jewelry making classes. Will resume in the spring to kayak the remaining of the lower 48 states... KS, MO, OK, AR, TX, LA, MS, AL. I have been blogging about my adventures at:

http://swankiewheels.blogspot.com/
Thanks for your interest.
Charlene


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[> [> [> Re: Kayaking with Charlene Beaty Swankie -- Donna Ray '51, 06:43:09 11/08/11 Tue

Thanks for the info Charlene. What a life you are leading - so interesting and fun!


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[> [> [> [> Re: Kayaking with Charlene Beaty Swankie - 10 states left to kayak. -- Charlene Beaty Bailey Swankie (Live life to the fullest!), 09:38:36 07/11/12 Wed

Life is great. This summer I am working as a host for two campgrounds in Colorado. When the camping season is over I'll be heading to the South Central states to finish kayaking the last eight of the lower 48 states: AL, KS, MO, AR, MO, MI, LA and TX. Will also be visiting north central FL and kayaking there... again. Winter 2012-13 calls for me to return to AZ for more lapidary and silversmithing classes. Hope you are all having a great retirement as well. Glad the 50th Class reunion for 1962 class turned out successful.


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[> [> [> [> [> Re: Kayaking with Charlene Beaty Swankie - 10 states left to kayak. -- Warren Byerly, '56, 15:26:01 07/15/12 Sun

Go for it! I admire you and what you are doing.


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[> [> [> [> [> Re: Kayaking with Charlene Beaty Swankie - 10 states left to kayak. -- Fred, 19:25:15 07/15/12 Sun

What campgrounds ? Hope they are not close to a burn area. I hope you explain why they can't have open fires. Hope you find enough water to kayak because of the small snow pack this past winter.


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[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Kayaking with Charlene Beaty Swankie - 10 states left to kayak. -- Charlene, 06:52:47 08/07/12 Tue

Fred,

I don't kayak whitewater so the snow pack is not an issue. And yes, I do explain the fire bans to people but for now it has been lifted in the White Water National Forest, and in fact July 2012 had record rain and August is expecting the same. From July 4 to Aug 4 it only "did NOT rain" ONE day. A little tiresome. I am safe. Thank you.


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Kayaking with Charlene Beaty Swankie - 10 states left to kayak. -- Donna Ray '51, 10:46:27 08/28/12 Tue

Charlene - you are a wonder woman! Good luck on the rest of your trip.

Where in Virginia do you kayak?


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Kayaking with Charlene Beaty Swankie - finished the lower 48 states as of Oct 2012. -- Charlene Beaty Swankie, 16:10:48 01/24/13 Thu

I worked as a campground host in Colorado all last summer until a forest fire caused me to evacuate. I then hit the road to kayak the last 8 of the lower 48 states. I am feeling fit as a fiddle and life couldn't be any better. I am now trying to line up work in Alaska for the 2013 tourist season... and will kayak as much as possible while I am there. Alaska will be my 49th state. For my 70th birthday in May 2014, I plan to kayak my 50th state, our 50th U.S. state in Hawaii... and friends and family are planning to come with me and either paddle or watch. Joy joy.


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[> Re: Kayaking with Charlen -- Donna Ray, 13:40:49 02/28/13 Thu

Charlene, did you get job in Alaska? Where are you now?


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