For much of his life, John Stofflet didn't pursue his dream of owning a kayak. His doubting side told him he was too busy, not fit enough, not able to figure out how to safely transport a kayak on his roof, not "outdoorsy enough" to pull it all off. Then, about 10 years ago during a life transition, and while constantly dealing with the daily stress of working as a tv news anchor, Stofflet decided it was time to do what he had always dreamed of-start exploring our beautiful area at the pace of the paddle. He soon discovered the calming pace of a paddle helped him prepare and deal with the often frantic pace of the tv newsroom. Time spent in the seat of his sea kayak prepared me to handle the seat at the news anchor desk through political campaign seasons, the pandemic, and more. Now retired, Stofflet kayaks more than 1,000 miles a year: (1,200 miles in 2024 alone), exploring Wisconsin's lakes and rivers and a Great Lake. He's forever grateful that he stopped doubting and started paddling. In his presentation, Stofflet will share photos and stories from his "Pace of the Paddle" tv news series, highlighting unique Wisconsin waterways we all drive by and over, but rarely take the time to see from the seat of our kayak, canoe, or SUP.