[Paddlewise] Mishaps and Safety

I've copied the following directly from my logbook.
-----------------------------
Log Entry for 2/22/97

Place:  South River at US 701 access [North Carolina]

Boat: Prijon Taifun

Conditions:  Air temperature in the upper 60s to low 70s.  River flooded,
very high but clear.

Put in a 9:55 a.m. and took out at 2:05 p.m.  Went upstream , under the
Hell Town bridge, and continued upstream past the bridge until noon.  Had
to work my way around numerous downed trees that blocked the main channel.
On the way downstream, between the two bridges, was on river left when I
reached a fallen tree and attempted to bypass it on the left.  Once out of
the channel, I could not get back to it.  I had to work my way through a
maze of trees, brambles, etc., using signs of current to get my direction.
Eventually came out in a slough that runs into the river well downstream
from the point at which I left the channel.
---------------------
I later wrote up this incident as a short story that will be published in
our campus literary magazine this summer.  However, a couple of notes.
First, I was thoroughly familiar with that section of the South River under
normal conditions.  I went back exactly a month later and had no problems
at all.  Second, per usual, I was paddling alone.  Third, a short log entry
cannot begin to describe the worry and hassle of getting lost in a swamp.
When you paddle through a greenbrier tangle instead of going under, over,
or around it, you know you're in trouble.  Finally, we've had lots of El
Nino related rain  and I usually paddle rivers during the winter months.  I
haven't been back to the South River this year--too much water.

Bob

--------------------------------------------------
Robert C. Perkins, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Research and Planning
Methodist College, Fayetteville, NC 28311
910-630-7037     rperkins_at_methodist.edu


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