Regarding experiences with sea sickness: I reckon I've been in some fairly rough seas over the last few decades whilst kayaking, and have never been sea sick. However, in the context of a trip, I have learned something about proactive treatment. My friend and I were taking the Uchuck III out of Gold River. The boat was bound for Kyoquot on Vancouver Island's west coast. We had requested a "wet launching" at or near Rugged Point. As the boat traversed Rolling Roadstead (a well-named exit outlet of Esperanza Inlet) and turned west up the open Pacific, the swell was running higher than expected. The skipper indicated to us that there was no way he would launch us in those seas. My buddy and I had discussed taking Gravol prior to entering the open Pacific, but we had got too excited sightseeing from the boat as we passed Tatchu Point, a nasty spot we would have to round on the kayak trip back down. While examining the point, *that* sensation started in our stomachs. It got worse. We ignored it. The sun was putrid hot. The swell grew. We lay on the deck, trying not to heave as the boat threaded its way past Kapoose Creek. I told my bud I was going to get the Gravol buried in the hatch. He said it was too late to take and not to worry, we would be off-loading soon in the protected waters of Kyoquot. To make a long story short, the skipper unexpectedly came over the loudspeaker, announcing to the "two kayakers" that he would attempt to wet launch us in front of Union Island in five minutes. "Oh no, not now!" We scrambled, yanking out wet suits (doing a strip show for the tourists), etc, repacking, stowing day gear, etc, etc. I was dizzy and ready to pass out, panicking with the clock ticking. I was sweating buckets with the wetsuit on. The kayaks weighed a ton. My friend and I managed to launch finally, one after the other. But the palette I was on was bashed against the side of the ship's hull numerous times, and I wondered if I'd be the first in history to do an "Inuit Air Roll", landing cat-like on the water (while barfing the previous evenings ample Chinese food and cheap beer). Well, we both finally knew why the locals call the Uchuck III the "Upchuck", and we both vowed to take medication preemptively next time. (I felt ill for 48 more hours). BC'in Ya Doug lloyd *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sun Sep 12 1999 - 08:54:28 PDT
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