RE: [Paddlewise] Ship jousting

I have had 2 similar experiences along the Intracoastal waterway.  In one I
moved over to channel edge to let a large barge go by.  I was paddling as
it went by when suddenly the water was gone from under the kayak and I was
grounded.  The kayak flipped over on edge with me leaning out toward the
channel.  I was amused until I looked back and saw the 3 ft wave coming at
me.  Laying on your side as a wave breaks over you is not be most enjoyable
position in kayaking. 

The other incident involved a huge hotel barge that takes tourists on tours
from New Orleans down to Brownsville, Tx along the Intracoastal.  As it
passed me I moved out as close to the channel edge as I could without being
sucked  up  against the side of the barge.  The channel in our area is
about 8 ft deep, but on one side (the one I was on) there is a 4ft deep
barge shelf cut where they can run barges aground out of the main channel. 
As I watched the water being sucked off the flats I was amazed to see a 300
ft long  3ft high waterfall as the barge shelf was sucked almost dry and
water was dropping down off the flats onto the once submerged shelf.  It
was all I could do to keep from being sucked into the barge since I could
not paddle away from the channel edge without running aground.  

Mark J. Arnold


> [Original Message]
> From: Jim Farrelly <JFarrelly5_at_comcast.net>
> To: paddlewise <PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net>
> Date: 7/24/2005 11:45:05
> Subject: [Paddlewise] Ship jousting
>
 The amount 
> of water being moved by the bulbous nose of each ship was amazing as was 
> the deep bass of their engines.The tide was exceptionally high and the 
> marsh in front of Fort Polaski where I waited was well flooded.  The 
> river/marsh line on the Georgia side is demarcated by a line of large 
> rocks placed about every five feet. I began to hear a very noticeable 
> sucking sound coming from behind me.  I turned to look and watched as 
> the water level in the marsh fell three feet in ten seconds!  The sudden 
> out surge of water was fascinating.  I
>
> Jim et al
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