[Paddlewise] Solo paddling . . .

	I've been re-assessing my inclination to paddle solo. 

	Even when paddling through the harbor in downtown Portland, Oregon --the
Willamette is maybe 150 yards wide here with zillions of people on the
shore-- there's not a lot of people paying attention to you out on the
water. Short of shooting a signal flare over the head of a bystander, it's
pretty hard to get help. 
	
	In the commercial areas of the river where the docks are lined with
freighters there's REALLY no one paying attention to the kayak in the
water. Out on the Columbia River where it's easy to get entirely away from
populated shores you're entirely on your own. 

	So what happens if you have a heart attack? Or capsize and get knocked
unconscious by the boat or paddle? Or lashed to god only knows while under
water? Or the big fear I have . . . capsizing on an under water snag and
getting pinned under water by the snag. 

	The dangerous elements in my inclination to paddle solo are that I like to
paddle in remote areas and on open water. The more open the water and
remote the area the less chance I have of getting help from someone else.
Of late this awareness of the risk in solo paddling has been putting a
damper on my outings. . . 

	Geo./Svenn 

______________________________
George Bergeron, Secretary '99
Oswego Heritage Council
www.europa.com/~heritage/
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