The wind was blowing at 30 mph and the bay looked pretty nasty so I decided to try a more protected paddle on the Nueces River (Corpus Christi, Tx). It is typical Texas coastal river, narrow and slow moving, with just enough trees along the bank to stop most of the wind. I had been out about 2 hrs and was on my way back when a small group of domestic ducks and I decided to take the same narrow path around a downed tree. As I approached the ducks I heard firecrackers going off. I did not pay much attention because I found myself running over the ducks who then took to the air in great splashes of water. I was sure I was going to have ducks on the deck. As the spray and feathers cleared I rounded the bend and heard the firecrackers again. Suddenly in front of me each pop of a firecracker was accompanied by a plop in the water or by a puff of dust coming off the bank. Those were not firecrackers!!! I yelled loudly "Coming through" and backpaddled to a stop. The "firecrackers" stopped and I heard "OK come on". As I passed the next tree I could see the man up on the upper deck of his house holding the rifle. "Its new. I just had to try it out." he added as I passed on by. So much for a "protected" paddle. Anyway this made me think of a couple of questions: 1. Should I get a kevlar PFD to go with my kevlar kayak, kevlar helmet, and kevlar spray skirt? 2. For Greg, Jed and other rolling experts: What is the Greenland term for "roll to avoid crazy guy with rifle" and how do you do that roll? 3. For Doug maker of storm-proof kayaks : What is the correct layup for handling light caliber ammunition? 4. For Matt, John, Nick and other designers: What is the optimum shape hull to deflect errant shots? Of course this may only be of local interest so feel free not to answer any of the above. By the way if any of the adrenaline junkies out there get tired of the La Push Winter Surf Frolic, paddling with the Tsunami Rangers, or seal launches off cliffs in the Hebrides come on down for the Texas version of extreme kayaking. We might even let you paddle with white blades during white-tail deer season. --- Mark Arnold --- mjamja_at_earthlink.net *************************************************************************** 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 Fri Jan 24 2003 - 08:32:03 PST
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