An interesting and fun-to-read trip report! Thanks! I do have a question for you and other Paddlewisers... in a "group paddle" how do you deal with the "dawdlers', especially if it affects the safety of the group as a whole? Obviously in a wilderness situation you do not "abandon" the stragglers, but Wayne was describing a one-day trip. (So.. what do you do about those who straggle by their own choice, especially if they straggle on land shopping,sightseeing, or pubbing?). With the approaching bad weather described in Wayne's report, it sounded as if waiting for them (the dawdlers) might have endangered the group as a whole. And in a group as large as mentioned, it is unlikely that everyone knows each other well enough to feel constrained by bonds of friendship and loyalty to friends to wait for "strangers" . (that's awkwardly phrased, but I hope you know what I mean). One of MY biggest "reluctances" in going paddling with groups is my distrust of "group leadership" (if the leader is not a trusted friend).And my feeling of irritated inertia wait ing on other people, to get going, as conditions change. This is in all probability due to a lack of social skills on my part, and an excess of egotism thrown in as well. BUT..in groups of 12-18 people as described in this trip report, what is your "comfy " level in waiting for others? I think the use of radio communication between the trip leaders really helped in making decisions for such a large group. But, if canoeing on a large river, separated physically and visually from others , what is your responsibility to the group as a whole? (----- Original Message ----- From: "Wayne Smith" <wsmith16_at_snet.net> To: "Paddlewise" <paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net> Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2000 8:18 PM Subject: [Paddlewise] Trip Report: One day, three states A group of paddlers from the Rhode Island Canoe & Kayak Association and the Connecticut Sea Kayakers set out on Saturday, Sept 9th to paddle from Connecticut to New York to Rhode Island and back to Connecticut. <HUGE SNIP> I got about halfway across when Ray called me on the radio, and told me he couldn't account for two of our group. But, he knew who they were, and they had been advised of the situation. The two in question are notorious dawdlers, and he told them to either get going or be left behind. They eventually caught up with Ray just as I had finished making sure everyone else was on shore. We all made it in safe, and the rain hit just as we were finishing loading up to go home. No lightning, just rain. Whew! The total mileage was 10.6 nautical miles, through three states beginning and ending in Stonington, CT. A good day of paddling. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded 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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