Lets talk about alligators for a while. They seem to be spreading in the southern states and are getting more aggressive. I have paddled in the Okefeenokee Swamp and have notice two type alligators. One which seem to be adapted to humans and the other type is shy of humans. I don't know which would be the most dangerous. But it is a little unsettling to send your 10 year old son to throw some trash in a dumpster at a state campground and have him come back big eyed and excited by an alligator. Not just a little bitty alligator...it was a 14-16 foot, full grown alligator. He lives in the camp site and begs for food. And people feed him! In the swamp, while fishing, some alligators would hang around for handouts. So I guess they learned like the bears that humans are easy. Walt Disney, bless his soul, has taught generations of us humans to humanize animals, so we see them as harmless, playful beings. But on any day any animal can turn on you. They are not human and do not think like we do. There is no way to predict how an animal will behave in any condition. Read up on animal trainers. There was a 12 year old killed in Flordia in the last two weeks. I don't have the details, but my wife said the alligator drug him into the water. It must have seen him as prey. Paddle like this is your last day, Ronnie *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Harley1941_at_aol.com wrote: > Lets talk about alligators for a while. When I lived and paddled in Florida people would often ask about alligators. I always thought the best reply to them was the one that one of my paddling buddies would use. It went something like this, "No, you don't have to worry about the gators... It's the snakes you have to worry about!" They usually stopped asking questions after that. Frank (Hey Dana, are you still out there?) *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I've been playing with Apple's new beta video/audio chat software and an iSight camera mike and I've decided it's fun but not much use to me. The only folks I'd be interested in chatting with are a few relatives and most of the people here on Paddlewise. If there's anyone who has the equipment and sofware for mac video conferencing, zap me an e-mail and I'll send you my AIM name. Back on topic, I did my 3rd paddle with the Tribalance at Monterey by MBK today. Man was it hot in the air. I found that I can climb out and back in at a moment's notice, it should be great for diving for halibut around there. It's practically impossible to tip this sucker over in flat conditions. As I submerge the ama the hollow cross beam submerges providing more floatation. I found that I could just barely submerge the ama by lifting myself out of the water, chinning myself on the side of the cockpit. Paddling while sitting on deck in back of the cockpit was quite comfortable. Should work a treat for my friend with the titanium hip joints and lack of hip bendability. Now to start working on the wifey who fears "damn tippy little boats" ..... Hope you're all enjoying the summer weather. Fair winds and happy bytes, Dave Flory -- Check out the marine mammals _at_ <http://homepage.mac.com/dflory/Menu5.html> Speak softly and study Aikido, then you won't need a big stick. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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