RE:[Paddlewise] How to stay alive (was: Newby)

Subject: 
          Re: [Paddlewise] newby
      Date: 
          Fri, 08 Mar 2002 13:25:47 -0800
     From: 
          Niels Blaauw <niels.blaauw_at_wanadoo.nl>
       To: 
          Bill Lee <Bill_Lee_at_INTU.NET>
 References: 
          1




Bill Lee wrote:
> 
> Well I am ready to throw myself on the mercy of this court. <<snip>> How about a
few hints and suggestions to keep me from drowning the first day.

Hi Bill,

Welcome to the fantastic world of paddling! A man is never too old to
pick up a hobby. I hope I will still be paddling when I reach 61. The
paddling in itself will not be the problem, but I hope I will still be
in shape to lift a kayak onto the roof of a car.

I live in Holland, where we have no regulations for paddling, so I can't
help you on that one, but I can give you some advice on how to stay
alive:

- Don't take the accident reports on this site too serious. Of course
they are serious accicents, and we all try to learn from them, but if
you compare the incredible number of paddlers with the number of
accidents, paddling is a safe sport.
- DON'T EVER read messages by Doug Lloyd. The man is too good a writer
and might actually convince you to buy a new boat, tons of safety
equipment, and to go paddling in storm conditions.
- Don't learn to roll. Before I learned to roll I spent 20 years
paddling, in stable boats without any safety equipment or even a PFD.
When I remember the times I paddled the big Dutch rivers, with my feet
on the deck, a paddle in one hand used as a rudder and a cigarette in
the other hand, my eyes fill with tears. These trips were so joyful,
with so much relaxation and so little worry... When you learn to roll
you'll have to buy the most tippy boat you can find, paddle the worst
conditions this world will offer you, and never ever stay dry in your
boat any more. I never capsized before I learned to roll. I'm serious, I
NEVER capsized. But now, every time I get back to the car I am sopping
wet, shivering, waterplants hanging from my hair, mud in my ears, not a
dry hand left to light a cigarette...

On a more serious note: Look at all those innocent fools who rent a boat
for a day without ever having paddled. Look at the fun they have, the
dangers they don't even see, and how they all get back alive after a day
of fun. If you paddle regularly, in remote areas or in not-perfect
conditions, it might be good to know your limits and stay within them,
to carry some safety equipment and dry clothes, but otherwise: Just
enjoy.

Niels (who ALWAYS wears his PFD now)
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