On Wed, 12 May 1999 03:44:11 -0700 Dave Kruger <dkruger_at_pacifier.com> writes: <<snip>> >>The debate so far has overlooked something: a huge fraction of sea >kayak >paddlers (at least in my part of the world) **never** paddle in >conditions >we would call "rough." Right on, Dave ....down south here, too ! I don't have room in my boat for a foot pump with hoses and pedals ....I would rather carry another quart of "Home-made Habanero Salsa". That stuff does double duty as cold weather gear also. The Hand Pump ....it came with the boat. Used it once when I left the cockpit cover off and a heavy rain shower almost crushed my VW bus with a water-laden kayak topside ! I do carry a spare paddle, but have yet to use it for its intentions ...usually it becomes another tarp pole or a couple tent guy supports. I carry an inflatable AND a solid paddlefloat. The solid float usually becomes my "lounge chair" for swim breaks while I hold a beverage in one hand and chips in the other hand. Being that coordinated you would think that a PaddleFloat Re-entry would be easy for me, however most attempts result in uncontrollable laughter from me and the standby boat. Laughing usually involves sucking up some water, so we usually abandon the exercise and retire to the shade of shore ! Sometimes, I even learn something. I can onside roll, but not very reliable ...I can paddlefloat reentry, but not very reliable. What IS RELIABLE is my safety sense ...My margin of safety is LARGE ! No make that **LARGE**, left over from some WW time years ago. I am out here now to paddle, to enjoy, and to "feel right with the world". My idea of excitement is "looking for that last lime when there is still some Cuervo left" !! I try to avoid rough conditions, or at least co-exist with them rather than try to conquer them. If the weather threatens, most of the time I make for shore and break out the First Aid Kit. And down there past the tape, gauze, burn cream, plasti-skin, etc is a deck of "really waterproof playing cards" and a sack of "double six dominoes" ....now if I could only find that lime !! Laissez le bon temp ruler' ......Peyton (Louisiana) ...a "mature" paddler of 51 years who hopes to be a Sea Kayaker when he grows up ! ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:32:59 PDT