After my post about a short nearshore paddle during one of Southern Vancouver Island's worst storms in four decades, I did get one back channel criticism, mainly about having my family there, and secondly, about the seamanship (or lack thereof) and the bad example I was. I just wanted to say that while there was real danger that day, I did have things under control. I could have left out some of the details (like the family part), but I always tell everything exactly the way it went down (even if brutally honest from time to time, or seemingly self-damning, or just plain amusing). I send this follow-up to the list, as others may have felt some anger at my post. Please understand that you don't get "visuals" with PW, so you don't know what the beach looked like, the direction of the waves, you don't know what the "lay of the land" was, and you certainly have not see me in action (nor do any of us get the "whole picture" when someone makes a post on any given subject where an element of imagination might be employed. That's why radio advertising is so effective, as it gets your creative mental juices flowing. Words can have the same effect. But what you imagine may not be correct. I'm not ashamed of anything I've ever put on PW. I've expressed concern about people emulating actions portrayed, but the consensus was that I didn't need disclaimers. People also don't realize how specialized rough water paddling is, and the requisite experience and tough training needed to invest into such activity, including native talent with respect to swimming abilities, abilities to swim underwater to escape wild seas above if necessary (and the judgment to know when to take off your PFD for this), acute awareness of how your body responds to various elements of danger such as cold immersion, saltwater choking, stability of your joints, strength of reserves, ability to deal with stress and cope with unexpected problems, determination levels, instantaneous reflexes, etc. I'm not justifying what I do -- don't need to, as I'll keep on doing it and scaling back as age and physical limitations demand, or other enjoyment venues are found or developed. In the case of the perfect BC storm, I did have other options available in terms of escape, which would not have been apparent if you didn't know the area and the lighthouse located out on a long reach of land that catches wet-exited paddlers. As far as family, its all worked out for the most part. Sea kayaking will always have an element of danger, even for calm water seekers. BTW, I'm taking my wife paddling with me for my "summer trip" this year, as opposed to going to the Queen Charlotte's with my bad back. I also posted a trip report the other day (The Perfect Norm) partially out of response to the criticism. I rarely post my log book reports on PW of the various trips I do -- short or otherwise, let alone one such as the other day that involved 'stories and bedtime', but I was obviously feeling pressured. Sorry to take up bandwidth. BC'in Ya from BC's wild shores (and calm ones) Doug Lloyd *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Thanks for the long over-due post Doug! Awesome... Foolish but awesome. Joe - whose idea of excitement is to play in 3 foot waves and 30 knot winds on the lake. (Doug sees worse stuff in his bath tub) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Joe Brzoza wrote: > Thanks for the long over-due post Doug! Awesome... Foolish but awesome. Joe, et al: I wasn't going to post my "Perfect Storm" paddle on PW, for obvious reasons, but the movie kind of got me going. Lest people think I'm a complete idiot, that type of outing was a rare one indeed for me (because of the log situation and the almost impossible ability to maneuver with the paddle in the high gusts). Normally, a lee shore beach can be a very safe place, even in the biggest storms if the fetch is short enough to prevent dumping surf, and the individual is adept at dealing with along shore currents, etc., and is a strong swimmer. I feel completely at home in that kind of stuff, and would like to buy the appropriate craft for it, but can't justify the expenditure of a Tsunami Ranger wash-deck kayak at this time in my life - I'd rather by some family style kayals, these days. It's kind of interesting and funny, how a serious paddler can look back over his or her life and gauge their changes in attitude, maturity levels, acceptable target-risk values and levels of fitness by zeroing in on various memorable outings or trips. I know I can see distinct changes over the last twenty plus years, with pivotal changes occurring about every five years or so. Here is an excerpt from an upcoming Wavelength article due out in August -- it's where "I'm at" in my life these days: "Another important health consideration is the intrinsic need within most individuals for what might be called 'deep play'. Deep play happens at a variety of levels within the various outdoor pursuits, where one challenges personal skill levels through acceptable risks. Sea kayaking opens our minds up to the sensations, fun, and re-creation of continuity in our lives through rediscovery of wild nature. Unlike risk-taking activities that reduce to a simple 'adrenaline rush' (like bungy-jumping), the state of well being produced during a wilderness adventure paddle is more than a mere transitory euphoria, lasting long after returning home. These kinds of affirmations are amongst the high notes in the celebratory chorus of life." "For me, paddling exposed coastline, negotiating large ocean surf, navigating difficult tidal passages, and developing the boat handling/rescue skills required to safely engage difficult weather conditions, satisfy an innate need for my particular version of deep play. In the context of wilderness, this helps me find a sense of person and place. Most deep play that transpires in a capricious environment like the ocean gives high regard to three-dimensional cognitive abilities along with the humility to recognize personal and technical limits. To safely enjoy deep play, the individual must be closely attuned to the environment having great respect toward it -- realizing recklessness is the worst kind of risk-taking. Unfortunately, very deep play is often labeled as overly macho -- merely a male disposition of the boy-man, when it is really exclusive of gender." Well, take care. Safe paddling. Thanks for allowing me to indulge myself. And hey, you should have seen the seas that day, what an awesome planet we live on - don't forget it! BC'in Ya Doug Lloyd *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
--- Doug Lloyd <dlloyd_at_telus.net> wrote: -snip- > "For me, paddling exposed coastline, negotiating large ocean surf, > navigating difficult tidal passages, and developing the boat > handling/rescue skills required to safely engage difficult weather > conditions, satisfy an innate need for my particular version of deep > play. In the context of wilderness, this helps me find a sense of > person and place. Most deep play that transpires in a capricious > environment like the ocean gives high regard to three-dimensional > cognitive abilities along with the humility to recognize personal and > technical limits. To safely enjoy deep play, the individual must be > closely attuned to the environment having great respect toward it -- > realizing recklessness is the worst kind of risk-taking. > Unfortunately, very deep play is often labeled as overly macho -- > merely a male disposition of the boy-man, when it is really exclusive > of gender." > > Well, take care. Safe paddling. Thanks for allowing me to indulge > myself. And > hey, you should have seen the seas that day, what an awesome planet > we live on > - don't forget it! > > BC'in Ya > Doug Lloyd > Thank you Doug - for both the BC Perfect Storm post and this one! You're quite right that Deep Play is exclusive of gender. I too, find my spirit soaring when interacting with the sea - in all it's manifestations (within my personal range of reason of course - which is fairly wide, according to some). It really has little to do with adrenaline (though adredaline does play a part in such *play*). For me, it is really all about my spiritual connection with the sea - and the love, respect, and awe that it inspires in me. This truly is an awesome water planet! And qajaq is truly an awesome and magical craft - affording us a very special intimacy with the deep blue life force of this planet. We paddlers are fortunate souls. Melissa Get Yahoo! Mail – Free email you can access from anywhere! http://mail.yahoo.com/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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