[Paddlewise] Columbia River Bar Rescue

I got to Astoria, Oregon,  and the weather was aweful. A huge SW swell
was running, with gale force winds. Dave Kruger was totally
uncooperative giving me assistance with tide/current information about
the CR Bar (he didn't want to be an "accessory"). I got sucked out by
huge tidal currents, and was then pulled bodily from my kayak by a
mid-bar breaker. I even had my wet suite booties torn off by the
breaking seas.

Fortunately, the Coast Guard were out training and were able to recover
the kayak as well as me, though I never actually called for assistance.
They muttered something about finally having to rescue a real dummy. I
tried to tell them it wasn't all my fault, and that in particular, I
couldn't fight the current due to paddle slippage and being thrown off
balance with my low aspect ratio blades. The skipper, who's name was
Niels, was very gracious and said he understood completely, adding that
he had heard of similar problems from a host of other wise paddlers.

In jest,
Doug



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