[Paddlewise] A First Time Experience

Almost none of us will have the chance to accomplish one of those record making firsts like "first to cross xxxx ", or "first to circumnavigate yyyy", or "first to paddle zzz miles in 24 hours".  The number of available "firsts" is much less than it used to be.  But it would not matter for me because even if you erased most of the ones already recorded, I would not be able to accomplish them anyway.

However there are firsts that all of us can share.  The first time in a kayak,  the first trip out in a new kayak, the first roll, the first "I need clean underwear and I am not ever doing that again" moment in your kayak,  and  the first hand roll. Ok I am probably not going to get to share that last one what those who have done it.

Of course there are also the firsts which are also lasts.   The first time with a Greenland paddle could be your last time with a Euro.   For many the first time with a Greenland Paddle is also the last time with a Greenland paddle.   Likewise for many the first time on a surf-ski is also the last time on a surf-ski.   Coincidentally the trial of a surf-ski often produces another first.  That is the first time one says "There is no way my butt fits into that seat" without having any feelings that you butt is larger than normal.   The first time in a nice touring kayak could be your last time in a rec kayak.   A not so happy first time you drop your camera overboard is the last time you don't tether a camera to you in some fashion.  The first time dolphins swim alongside your kayak within paddle reach is the last time you paddle that place without a prayer that it will happen again.

Today I had one of those first time experiences.   I made my first cell phone call from the kayak.   I am not sure if this was a good first or a bad first.  If it had been an emergency call for help I would have no doubt that it was a good thing.  But this was just a call to check on an expected paddler who had not shown up at the launch site for one of our club trips.  Normally this would have been done from the beach, but I had launched an hour earlier for some extra paddling time and did not want to go through and extra landing/launch cycle just to use the phone.  Sitting in the kayak with two Greenland paddles on the deck and a cell phone to my ear was a jarring juxtaposition of the old and the new.  Thank goodness I was not paddling a SOF kayak or I might have gone into some form of temporal vertigo.   

Is my karma tainted?  Are the kayaking gods now just waiting for the chance to give that phone a good dunking?  Are am I just finally joining the 21st century.  Heck, at least I did not use it to call in a pizza order for when we landed.

Mark J. Arnold
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