In my email box today were messages by Matt and Doug. I could not help noticing that in both were the words "tether" (Matt about "did you have you paddle float tethered") and "tied-down" (Doug referring to lots of things floating away). This is all a gentile reminder to tether everything that is important to you when kayaking; if you bothered to have it along, why not assure that it stays with you and your kayak. That means your pump, your paddle float, your paddle, your chart, your compass, your gear bags, your extra flotation (it should be strapped in, in order not to float out in a capsize), sunglasses and glasses (croakies, fresh ones, that assure your eyewear will still on if you capsize), pee bottle, VHF radio, flares bag, hat, etc. I know that means a lot of cord or webbing straps, all of which are potential entanglement. So also have an easily deployed knife (also tethered) to cut yourself loose in case of that. The knife preferably should be one without a point and without any honed edges, just large serrations, so you won't cut yourself and, if you drop it, can retrieve by grabbing on any spot even the blade. I would even tether my cat if I had one and if I took it paddling, which actually reminds me of a story. Quite a few years ago I was paddling on the Hudson along our beautiful Palisades on the other side of the river from northern Manhattan. I stopped on a beach to wait for the current to turn in my favor. Out on the river, I spotted a canoe that was taking advantage of the first swing of the tide. The lone paddler saw me and pulled in. As his bow hit the beach, he reached behind him and untied something. Then he lifted what was on the other end, a cat. The cat seemed most unhappy and figidey. He could not seem to find a comfortable spot for himself as he walked around the rocks on the beach; I thought he was just trying to find a private place to relieve himself as cats often do. Then I took a closer look at the cat. I said to the man (who turned out to be an old timer from the Yonkers Canoe Club that had sent canoe racers to the Olympics and national events in the first half of the last century including him) "Your cat is wet!" He replied "Yes, I know. I was paddling along when suddenly I was aware that the cat was no longer in the canoe and saw that its tether led overboard. I yanked him back." I call this my "trolling a cat" story. :-) ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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