Re: [Paddlewise] Safety in Recreational Kayaks

From: Niels Blaauw <niels.blaauw_at_wanadoo.nl>
Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 11:05:18 -0700
Doug Lloyd wrote:

> And of course, I assume you always wear some kind of clothing. Seeing a
> wrinlked, white-clammy/damp-skinned, gray body-haired, sunken-chested
> European man in the raw can certainly be a real danger to your paddling
> companions on a long crossing where they are already prone to vomiting.
> You didn't mention clothing in your post, so I was a bit concerned,
> knowing you European types.

Reminds me of a situation at our club, some years ago. Some new members
asked if they could paddle a club-trip naked. Our chairman never missed
a beat and replied: "Sure, as long as you wear your PFD and sprayskirt".
The issue never came up again.

By the way: The typical European you describe is only found in Britain.
I think of myself as the Nordic type: 2 meters tall, built like a statue
by Michel Angelo. Blond of course, with a tanned face and hands. The
rest of my body is brown, not from the sun, but from the Dutch rivers
that can develop your photos for you. The American Coast Guard would be
proud to have my dead body on board their vessel. They would probably
stuff me and keep me hanging in the mast to show off.

The bad news for them: I don't paddle without clothes. The good news: I
usually wear a tight-fitting, home made, fuzzy rubber cat suit that I
sometimes use in public dance performances. A major problem during my
kayak instruction sessions is that female students fall desperately in
love with me. It is always a great shock for them when I approach them,
smiling kindly, start rearranging their clothes, and then, without
warning, don't take their clothes OFF but put a PFD ON and zip it up.

I hope that helps to ease your concerns.

Sorry to hear about the monitor. You got some serious bummers these
days! I really miss your trip reports on Paddlewise, but I guess you
miss the actual trips even more. All the best,

Niels.

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Received on Sat Apr 20 2002 - 03:13:24 PDT

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