[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.

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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