RE: [Paddlewise] Group Paddling

Hi Bob,

Your story puts me in mind of a situation I was involved with several years ago.   It was our local club paddle and the weather was good.   The trip was being organized and lead by a friend and I was just tagging along as a member of the group.    The result was I didn't pay any attention to some of the new paddlers that showed up.   We then headed off for a 2 km crossing to D'Arcy Island.   Just to put people in the picture this crossing is situated at the near the top of Haro Strait and very open to changing weather patterns.    We were about halfway across and the water was a little choppy but nothing to really worry about.    Unfortunately the group was also starting to splinter up into several smaller groups.   This is when I noticed this one paddler, he was paddling furiously between groups and heading out off on his own and wasn't wearing a PFD.   I was thinking at the time I should mention something when he comes closer to us.     Eventually this guy finally did come over to our group.     I mentioned to him that the further you get from other paddlers the longer it takes for you to be rescued if something were to happen.    I then asked why he didn't have his PFD on.   He said he didn't need it.    I then mentioned to him, "You didn't notice that everyone else has one on".   It is a club prerequisite that everyone wear their PFD.    I then asked him where his PFD was, he said, "In my back deck".    As he  came closer I noticed something else.     He didn't have a spray deck on either.    I then asked him where his spray deck was and he motioned that it was in the same place as his PFD.

As we continued talking I asked him if he wasn't nervous paddling out here without a PFD or  spray deck and just having a t-shirt and cotton shorts.     He wasn't at all nervous.   I guess ignorance is bliss.   I then asked him how long has he been kayaking.     His reply was, "How long  have we been on the water?"     I then mentioned to him that I was sure nervous because it would probably be some dummy like me who would be put in jeopardy trying to save some a....hole like him.      

He didn't reply but continued paddling for a while.    Later I motioned to some other paddlers that we should join up in a small cove by D'Arcy Island and let the others catch up, which we did.   Then  as I turned around to speak to this guy I noticed he was several hundred metres away going in  another  direction.     No one else saw him again that day or since.

Later that day I spoke to the trip leader about the situation and he had mentioned that the guy just showed up at the last minute so no one was able to speak to him about the trip.     Because of this incident our club has made it a policy to check all new paddlers  before they go out.

As for  me I quickly gained a reputation of scaring away new members.

Kirby 


-----Original Message-----
From:	Bob Denton [SMTP:BDenton_at_aquagulf.com]
Sent:	Monday, March 15, 1999 7:17 AM
To:	HTERVORT_at_aol.com; stevens_at_islandnet.com; PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subject:	RE: [Paddlewise] Group Paddling


How about a psychological profile from each prospective paddler (AND
CAMPER)!  Last weekend we were camped out on a key in the Gulf, looking at
the Milky Way and putting up with one drunk/stoned paddler who wanted to
play Charades!?  

I learned a few things...Have a wing shelter, comfortable chairs, a kitchen
"table", a bug suit and know who's going on the trip!

This paddler headed out solo the next morning, to the great relief of the
rest of the group!

cya

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