[Paddlewise] outdoors_at_biddeford.com: Re: Crossings in Fog

 
At 07:51 AM 4/12/98 -0400, "John Winters" wrote:
>
>In the past I have preached about avoiding accidents (frequently a
>euphemism for stupidity or ignorance) as opposed to learning how to
>extricate yourself from them after they happen. This fog thing is a good
>example.

Bill answered with these thoughts: 
In the past I've agreed with John on most paddling matters.  Not this
one,
though.  If you paddle a coast that can often have fog, you'd better know
how to navigate in it. 
			Bill Ridlon
			Southern Maine Sea Kayaking Network

I would like to add my first fog experience to these thoughts. 

We  were up in the Deer Isle area. The long weekend was forecast to be
beautiful. I was still a new paddler and had complete confidence  in
Bill's ability to get us from one island to another. Even in light fog,
the islands were so close together, we could see where we were going. 

BUT, as we were paddling along ( and I have since learned this is not
unusual in this area) a thick bank of fog started to eat up the islands
in the direction we were headed. It was a bit scarey to see how thick and
all encompassing it was. I kept on paddling, hoping we would reach "our"
island before the fog did. Well, we almost did. We were at the last
island before Steve's  . Bill said, "It's just over there. We should be
able to see it before we loose sight of this one. You watch the island
behind, and I will paddle out in front until I see Steve's. Keep an eye
on my boat as well." 

Not knowing how close the two islands were, all I could imagine was
looking back to see the first island disappear into the fog and turn back
around to see Bill's boat also gone in the fog. 

Of course,  he knew just what he was doing. We were at our destination in
about 2 minutes. In the next hour when the fog lifted I could see the 2
islands were so close it would have been impossible to miss Steve's. 

There was a couple on Steve's when we arrived. They were waiting out the
fog, had no overnight equipment, no extra food and no compass. This was
an interesting comparison to our "stuff". Even if we had been fogged  in
for the weekend, we had tent, blankets, extra food and clothes. AND a
compass and chart. 

Four years later the fog does not worry me. We have navigated through
some pretty thick stuff. We try to avoid it but it doesn't always work
out that way. I like knowing we are prepared for, as well as respectful
of, this facet of nature.

Debra
Southern Maine Sea Kayaking Network

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