There hasn't been much to report from the BC Coast Guard blotter this winter, probably due to the calm seas over 2000/2001. I monitor the pre-recorded media report line twice a day (ambulance chasing for safety articles, you know 8-) ). However, something interesting happened this weekend. A fellow left the beach here in Victoria for a nice day paddle. He went off shore a fair way, did a circuitous route, then returned to his launch site. Upon returning, he noticed a large amount of activity generating out to sea from whence he came. A number of Whale Watching boats were involved in some type of rescue, apparently trying to secure a lone swimmer or something aboard. Further inquiries to other bystanders in the know yielded the answer that the boaters were rescuing a dog found dog paddling out at sea. The paddler simply figured the poor mutt must have fallen off someone's cruiser earlier in the day. Dogs have been found adrift before in our local waters. Upon returning home, the paddler couldn't find any trace of his own canine friend. Could it be? He frantically phoned all the Whale Watching operators, until he found the one who had retrieved the wet, cold pup. And yeap, it was his. Apparently, the dog had followed him to the beach (he lives nearby), then followed behind him out to sea until overcome by currents and fatigue. The paddler had no idea the dog had escaped and followed him, let alone out to sea. One lucky pooch I'd say. And one loyal pooch, too! Doug *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Some years ago I was one of the instructors teaching a kayak class on a lake in Massachusetts. Each of us instructors led a group of students about 100 feet away from the beach and then had the students gather around us while we discussed the strokes and braces we would practice. I left my best friend Joe, a German shepherd, on the beach, telling him to stay put. He was very good about staying put when told. As the students gathered around me, to our astonishment Joe suddenly appeared, charging through the circle. Apparently he was content as long as he could see me, but as soon as the surrounding students blocked me from his view, he decided he had to swim out and check that I was ok. I led him back to the beach, then came back to the students but made sure they always left a gap through which Joe had a direct view of me from the beach. The rest of the session went fine. Joe could see that I was ok, not being attacked or anything. His atavistic protective instincts satisfied, he stayed happily on the beach, keeping a watchful eye on me, for the rest of the session He died at 14 and a half, after giving me the happiest years of my life. ----- Original Message ----- From: Doug Lloyd <dlloyd_at_telus.net> <snip> Upon returning home, the paddler couldn't find any trace of his own > canine friend. Could it be? He frantically phoned all the Whale Watching > operators, until he found the one who had retrieved the wet, cold pup. > And yeap, it was his. > > Apparently, the dog had followed him to the beach (he lives nearby), > then followed behind him out to <snip> *************************************************************************** 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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