[Paddlewise] Fwd: Safety and "Canoe & Kayak" Magazine

I said :
<snip> <<Then there are reports on PW of seals
leaping on the decks of kayaks. This indicates to me they are examining
us for our weaknesses. I've had crabs crawl right up on my deck, too --
and you know what they did to Davey Jones. I just say, "Hey little
critter, I just paddle on weekends", and the little pinchers just jump
back in the water.>>

I meant to write of course: "hey little critter, I paddle more than just
on weekends" which would have been logically consistent with my humorous
notion that the whole realm of nature was going after weekend paddlers.
Er, not that I suppose this matters to anyone!

And Jackie said of my closing comment:
<snipage of major kayaking carnage and mayhem>

> So you see, my good man, there is a lot more danger out there than
first
> meets the eye.

>>>And what about the danger that *does* first meet the eye?  You
know....
you can get an eye poked out with all those skinny sticks being waved
around all over the place.<<<

This is actually no lie. While I've personally been assaulted by my
paddle, both in surf, overfalls and an ender in a whirlpool once (I
should post that incident, some day), the worst problem I've had with my
paddle is helping novices on outings when the wind comes up. All that
side-by-side interaction and side-slip manovuveing on blustery days,
leaves one paddle prone to the gusts of wind associated with those sort
of days. On more than one occasion, I've bashed a paddler in the head or
face, and even gashed one guy once. Fortunately, he was a fellow
past-life rugby player, so he just grunted. The worst one was a first
time paddler i was rafting up with who nneded help with his paddle
jacket. After my paddle blew over in his direction and knocked into his
ear, he said to me, "And your an expert, eh?" Very embarassing and
humbling.

And Dan said:

<Long rambling Saftey Exposes deleted>

<<<Doug,
Are you taking to many pain killers!  8-)
Thanks for the morning laugh!
Hope your back heals soon....>>>

Way toooooo many pain killers! Won't be kayaking for another month they
say. I may go completely bonkers. Actually, my rant was inspired by one
of the many Codeine nightmares attendant with that medication. I dreamt
I was cleaning my kayak in the yard, when I noticed a clam shell stuck
to the hull. I bashed it off, whereupon it grew to the size of a
football. I ran in to get my wife, when it followed me in, and grew to
the size of a horse, where it laid a huge turd on my new living room
carpet. My wife and I tried knocking it out the patio door with a couple
of brooms, whereupon it lunged for my two little girls, and ate them up
before growing to fill the entire kitchen. I woke up screaming. Codeine
-- who needs to buy horror videos, eh?

On a serious note, does anyone on this list have information on the
possible damage kayakers and kayaks pose to interdidal life, both in the
splash zone and below (at low tide). I'm working on an article on
seal-landings, and would like some information or someone to point me
that way. Thanks in advance.

Also, for an excellent article on safety, danger, etc, Dan Lewis of
Tofino has a good article in the Aug?Sept issue of Wavelength Magazine.
You can download it from:

<http://www.wavelengthmagazine.com/downloadpdf.html>

I also have a piece on spirituality and kayaking, just to show you I
have a sensitive side, too! Okay, I'll leave you guys alone now.

Later list...

Doug Lloyd





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