[Paddlewise] An unexpected passing

It's hard to know when the end will come. But when you paddle out to temp
the ocean, you have to realize its overwhelming nature. Do what you can to
protect yourself, you need to realize a time may come when you'll find
yourself at the mercy of nature. When you're not content to enjoy the calm
breezy days; when you paddle out into wind and waves; when you linger in the
surf zone challenging the waves and find yourself up close and personal with
the rocks. When you suffer the repeated blows of rough surf landings and
spend too much time upside down or outside your kayak; when your kayak hull
shows the scars of where surf meets the earth and when you ignore it all and
continue to head out to sea, you must ponder a fate of harsh consequences
borne of temping an entity that rules the earth in ways man can never dream.

When the sea is your destiny the possibility of a salty death has a
permanent residence in your conceivable mind despite your diligence and
forethought. So when death comes at home without fanfare or dramatic cause;
when the perils of the sea are challenged and overcome only to find death in
the warm confines of a comfortable home, it is a bitter contradiction to the
struggle you so voluntarily undertake every time you shove off a rocky sand
beach.

After providing yeoman video of my last stormy paddle on a beautiful day,
documenting my rolling successes and failures, my Pentax Optio W10 passed
away at home of unknown causes at age 1 year 3 months. I find solace in the
record it has left me of it's short but eventful year at sea.

Mark Sanders
www.sandmarks.net
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