[Paddlewise] Jet Skiers

In no way do I wish my story to imply a lesser seriousness to the
assault story underway, but I wanted to share another perspective on jes
skiers.

My basic feeling is that jes skiers are the "mosquitos" of the open
water and wish I could just "swat" them away.

But, my favorite encounter with a jet ski was in the Susquehanna River,
just below Holtwood Dam, where I came upon a jet skiing couple in the
water, because they had carelessley smashed a rock.  The guy was trying
to push his ski in from about 100-150 yds. off-shore, not an easy task
His girlfriend was swimming along.  To make a long story short, I towed
him in with my kayak - one of my two most rewarding kayaking moments
(the other was when I passed a VERY fancy bass boat in a no-wake speed
stream in Maine).  Somehow, these moments are even more rewarding than
seeing that elusive eagle in Maryland or winning a race!

The moral of the story is, rather than go packing heat, consider your
fellow human being, whether the mosquito or the fellow kayaker, with
respect.  When we can hold the "upper hand" we can be in the right.
Perhaps, we can even defuse an a**hole bent on our peril without putting
him at peril.  Therein would be my challenge to the kayaking community.

Regards,
Ellis


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