Re: [Paddlewise] Safety Wonk

From: ralph diaz <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2002 16:04:10 -0500
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nick Reiter" <reiter_at_fodderty.u-net.com>
> turns about doing a wet exit, re-enter with his help, and then paddle
> straight to shore. I was wearing warm fleece and pertex clothing, but no
> wetsuit or drysuit.
> I duly did my wet exit, no problem, and with help managed a quick
> re-entry. Then I paddled to shore. By the time I was out of my kayak on
> dry land, I was shivering uncontrollably and my hands were nearly
> useless. Getting my car unlocked and dry clothes on was only just
> manageable without help.

My first time in a kayak was while getting lessons from Chuck Sutherland who
contributes to Paddlewise.  It was a lake 35 miles from NYC in
mid-September.  I was wearing polypro tops and bottoms covered by a nylon
jacket and pants while we did wet-exits etc. in the morning.  By the time we
broke for lunch I was quite blue.  Chuck looked at me and reached into the
pile of stuff in the back of his van to pull out a ratty looking neoprene
farmer john wet suit.  "Could you use this, Ralph?"  At that point I would
have traded my first born for that thing!  Again this was not the North Sea
as your experience nor NYC harbor in January among ice floes but rather a
lake just the last swimmers had departed after Labor Day.  Needless to say
that the next week I went with my wife to nearby Campmor to buy wet suits.

ralph diaz
--
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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."
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Received on Sat Jan 26 2002 - 13:01:41 PST

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