Sure has been busy around the old echo the last few days -- PFDs are always a hot topic. But then, so are jet skis, and many other things. Without going into boring history, I'm less a fan of jetskis than most, and PFDs play a peripheral part of the story. But, I heard a story earlier this week that I thought I'd pass along, although it's only marginally on topic, if for no more reason than to lighten up things a bit. A lot of people feel about snowmobile riders the way I feel about jet ski riders -- i.e., they shouldn't be allowed to breed. It seems this farmer called the local conservation officer to complain about some snowmobilers tearing up the back 40. When the CO arrived, he found that things had cooled off and the farmer didn't want to press charges -- as it turned out, with good reason. The snowmobilers thought it would be fun to jump this neat birm behind the barn, and hit it flying -- right into a 10-foot deep manure pond. Guess they should have been wearing PFDs and immersion gear instead of snowmobile suits, but they got out all right. The snowmobiles, however, are still there. Case closed. Wonder what they told their insurance company? In a post earlier today the subject of rolling to cool off came up. On my usual paddling place, I don't do it, partly because I have a roll that is chancy at best, but mostly because whenever I think about doing something in the water, I think about the 450,000 gallons of liquid cow manure some bozo farmer dumped into the stream feeding the lake a couple years ago. Boy, have we had algae problems since! The boat always needs a washdown after I get back from a trip out there. Rolling and rescue practice takes place elsewhere. Ah, the perils of an inland kayaker! -- Wes --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wes Boyd's Kayak Place http://www2.dmci.net/wesboyd/kayak.htm Kayaks for Big Guys (And Gals) | Trip Reports | Places To Go | Boats & Gear --------------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Apr 24 2002 - 04:18:29 PDT
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