Peter O wrote; >One of the reasons I prefer sea kayaking to river kayaking is that rivers >here are just too degraded. In Australia as in much of the rest of the >world >our ground water is becoming brackish and many of our rivers are >contaminated. For example, not that its that important, but the Hawkebury >Classic 114km kayak race was nearly cancelled this year because of blue >green algae blooms. Interesting to note you can use brackish water and blue >green algae to make biodiesel very effectively. Wouldn't want to practice >rolling in or drinking from a stream containing such algae though, >apparently it can be quite toxic. Reminds me of my youth. I used to do a lot of sailboat racing. Each December I sailed in a "frostbite regatta" on the Potomac River iat Washingtom DC. As we sailed raw sewage would float past us. A strong incentive not to capsize. Once a competitor capsized in it. When they got ashore his wifewent home and never sailed again. This was in the late 1950's. I have heard that clean-up efforts have helped and that people can actually swim in parts of the river. Cheers John Winters *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
John wrote: - >I sailed in a "frostbite regatta" on the >Potomac River iat Washingtom DC. As we >sailed raw sewage would float past us. >A strong incentive not to capsize. G'Day, Prince Charles, from the UK, experienced much the same thing swimming at Bondi beach a couple of years ago, poor fellow. This year the drought seems to be tidying things up. Sydney Harbour hasn't looked so clean for a long time because pollution is staying in the surrounding creeks. Nevertheless, my bracing is exemplary when passing Blue Fish Point, the site of a defunct? sewage works near Manly in Sydney. Having read about Theodore Roosevelt and the Washington Canoe Club I've long hankered after paddling the Potomac in Washington and visiting the club afterwards as its supposed to be a magnificent building. Ballroom and all! Is it open to the public? Sadly I only seem to get to Washington in winter months when the kayak hire shop is closed. Presumably its considered unwise to paddle the Potomac in winter because of the cold. All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** 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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