The one thing I left out was that it is going to Mexico. I don't know what you know about the Mexican postal service but the outfitters in Baja said they wouldn't mail it. I was suprised. What ya think?

: I think You could very easily mail or Yeuck!, UPS it. If you mail it, make
: avery light foam and doorskin packaging. The length alone would keep
: anything else from being stacked on top of it. It would have to be set
: aside or stood up to carry. "Oh people of little faith." Check
: with Postal and UPS regs. for size and weight. I know you won't have any
: problem with weight and I have personally hauled longer items around in my
: LLV. ( That's Postalese for Long Life Vehicle ) One of the packaging
: outfits could show you or do a long box with bubble-wrap and thin ply, but
: you could do it yourself easily enough. Even if you got some cardboard and
: doubled it, and wrapped the paddle in bubble-wrap or foam you would be
: alright. I'd be more afraid of the airlined losing it that the Post office
: or UPS breaking it.
: Call the Post office of your destination and give them the situation and if
: you don't have an address to mail to ask if they will take it General
: Delivery to that office. You can use Priority or Express, but, if
: Priority, don't expect 2 days, but ask how long to between the two cities.
: It's on their computers. Since both Priority and Express go by weight, you
: won't have such a big bill there. Just depends on your packaging costs.
: Check it out and don't always take someone elses "opinion."
: Their Aunt Matilda probably lost a letter in 1945 and has never let it
: go... They need closure.

: If you are afraid they still might break it, add Insurance. Give it a
: reallistic value, for materials and LABOR and a fair wage. If it gets
: broken or damaged in any way, they will reimburse you. Make sure you use
: NUMBERED INSURED which is the little blue stickered one that means over
: $50. They have to be signed for and it adds accountability for the item.
: Or, you can Register it, which will cost you a couple of extra bucks and
: it will be kept away from the other mail and sent seperately and signed
: for at every stop, by whomever is handling it until it gets to you at your
: destination.

: I'm sure that UPS offers similar deals. Just check us out yourself with a
: phonecall or go in and talk to someone at the window, or their supervisor
: and get the whole skinnie before you wash your hands of us. Tsk! Tsk!....
: Non-Believers...... What are we to do???

: Rehd