[Paddlewise] Two quick observations

First one:

A month or two ago we all had lots to say about knives. I said I carried a 3" one
handed lock blade to avoid the rambo effect. We I went paddling in salt water
for the memorial day weekend and discovered that after three days in and out
of the salt water my high quality knife was stiff to open. Not from corrosion but
from a build-up of salt.  If I had needed it in an emergency (esp cold water) I
may have been in trouble.

I'm going to order a river shorty from Gerber.

Second more serious one:

Some if not all of us paddle alone some times. This is the reason for the next
story.

The husband of a women I work with just lost her husband. He was fishing in
what we call a pull-over. It's a small pond formed when the water drops. It
traps and concentrates the fish in these marshy areas. He was fishing alone
in a small flat bottom boat with only a paddle. They found his boat and two
days later his body. Most likely he drowned after having a heart attach. This
was a young man 30's with no prior heart problems. I'm not drawing
conclusions on what he could have done better. I'm posting this because it
makes me sad that this happened to someone I know well and that it could be
me as I frequently paddle and mountain bike alone. I always thought that
doing these things alone was safe as long as I knew my limits. ie no open
water alone and no stupid risks on the bike. In fact I was proud of my self
sufficiency. I won't stop these activities. This just makes me see them
differently. I think I be less proud. It won't make me safer just a better person.

Jim
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