Re: [Paddlewise] When in Rome do as the Romans do?

David Seng wrote:
> 
> It's a pretty common sight here in SE Alaska to see folks dressed for
> paddling in cotton Carhart jeans, a fleece pullover top and the ubiquitous
> SE footwear called Xtra-Tufs (16 inch brown rubber boots).  Pretty scary to
> tell the truth - even in summer an unprotected person can quickly succumb to
> hypothermia in these waters.  OTOH - most of the paddlers aren't (I hate to
> use the word cause I do it for fun) "serious" paddlers and tend to only go
> out in calm conditions for short paddles.
>   If you visit the Juneau area you'll recognize me on the water very easily,
> I think I have the only Kokatat GoreTex drysuit in town and I wear it almost
> religiously.
>

Just wondering, how many of you real serious paddlers spend time out on 
the water with your drysuit unzipped, or heaven forbid, pulled down 
around your waist??

Come on, be honest.

I don't know what I would call me, but I have never paddled with a dry or 
wet suit and I paddle mostly alone, all year long, at night, but NEVER 
when I think I might die. I have paddled with a pair of shorts and 
t-shirt on when the water was WAY too cold to be in, but the air temp was 
just perfect(love those NM winter days!).
I do paddle a folbot and do take extra care to hopefully not end up in 
the drink. I wonder if wearing a dry suit would give me reason to think I 
was "bullet proof"???

I tend to think too many are gear heads and wonder if they would be on 
the water at all if it wasn't for the trick gear...?

I have a friend that is always saying, "lets practice wet exits or 
getting back in". I always say, "lets practice not turning over and 
not getting wet". Sounds like a phoney statement, but it has been my 
religion for many a year.

Paddle safe.

James, flame away. maybe it'll burn off this unseasonable humity

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