RE: [Paddlewise] Danger of using high vertical stroke

> [Original Message]
> From: sluf <kmkenney_at_cccomm.net>
> To: Paddlewise <Paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net>
> Date: 2/16/2004 8:11:11
> Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Danger of using high vertical stroke
>
> Mark,
>    You have got to be kidding me. Sorry, but I can't let this one pass.
> As a career naval officer, I can tell you that your high vertical stroke
> is no problem. 
. . .
> I suspect that the Coasties may have been jerking your chain a bit,
> polite or not.
>   Happy Paddling,
> Kevin
>

I was being tongue-in-check about having to change my paddling style. 
However, the Guardsmen did really make the comment about not raising the
paddles and actually repeated it twice during our short conversation.  We
were on our way away from the channel anyway so it was not a real issue. 
We did have a brief joking discussion with each other about how we should
be holding the paddle and wondered aloud about what he might have really
been trying to warn us of doing with the paddles.

I did encounter one of the military ships exiting at another time.   I
stopped what I thought was a pretty good  distance off the channel and was
waiting for it to pass.   The orange zodiac  rushed over with the machine
gun manned and told me and my paddling partner to move away.    They were
not particularly friendly, but not unreasonable either.  We just moved away
and that was it.
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