Re: [Paddlewise] Thunderstorm

<<I'd leave the "Liar's" thunderstorm to guys like Rev Bob :-)>>

Phooey on Doug. I think it is a great tale. Keep up the good work.

<<I'd suggest a little extra meteorological reading rather that
writing, including literature and videos on things like cloud
identification, fronts, etc>>
The big problem with this is that in so much of the area the storms just come 
up in localized area. There is a chance of thunder storms just about every 
day, it seems. I have to admit the first time I got caught I knew full well a 
cell was headed right at us. I THOUGHT I could get off the water quickly and 
into a protected area.
    Well, Joan didn't plan well enough. I didn't take into account that the 
river we were on is in a deep gully so we couldn't see the clouds move in. 
The thunder, by the time it reached us, was just about on top of us. Added to 
that was that the river is totally lined on the side we were on with an 
assortment of sea walls. Most of the docks were too high to reach up to to 
pull myself out of my boat onto. Finally we found a place and ran up the 
stairs to the carport of a house where we huddled in the plastic lawn chairs 
until it passed.
    I wasn't all that scared, being rather fatalistic about such things but 
Mardi was terrified to the gibbering point. I was more concerned with not 
letting the boat go when I got out because it wasn't my boat. The cockpit was 
too small for me to get my knees up to push out of the boat with my feet so I 
needed either a handhold or someone to help me. Mardi kept yelling at me to 
get out of the boat. I'd say I need your help to get out. She'd run over, 
hear thunder or see lightening, forget she was helping me and run away again, 
only to turn and yell at me to get out. This went on for about 3 rounds, 
until I finally got mad enough to get through to her that he was loosing it 
and to get me the hell out of the water! A bit of Keystone Cops but her fear 
did get to me and I have to admit to being more than unhappy in that 
situation.
    Lightening is like airplanes, you have no control. What is going to 
happen is going to happen. I have read all of this and still am not clear 
just what to do if I am stuck in the boat by the shore. Do I get near trees 
or not? Do I stay out in the clear or not? I think I'd be more comfortable if 
I really knew what to do.
    One day we went on a picnic and a storm blew in. I went to get the car 
and when I got back Mom and my sister were under a tree making an attempt to 
stay dry. The picked up things and ran to get in the car. Just after they 
moved from under the tree this bolt of lightening struck exactly where they 
ahd been. I didn't tell them that but the strike was enough to shake them up.
    I've heard movement will draw lightening so paddling or running may be 
counter productive. I think I'm going to have to work on getting my Netscape 
to run and check those links Jackie and others posted.
    Thanks for all the stories. I'm glad everyone survived, especially Niels 
<G>.

Joan
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