>> I go get my truck, and bring it back, unpacking and extracting as the >> rain picks up ... to see Larry bailing at least two gallons from his >> cockpit ... and then another gallon from his rear compartment. I ask >> him, "What's this?" (Actually, it was more like "WTF?!") >> "Oh, the rear hatch leaks a bit." >> "Yeah, it did the last time I paddled with you in heavy seas ... five >> years ago." >> "Well, I haven't gotten around to fixing it." >> Silence. >> [Note: I like these guys. They are friends of mine. We have good >> times in camp. I've done half a dozen easy flatwater cruises with >> them, >> and enjoyed those ventures. I've cajoled them about packing gear, >> practicing rescues, and paddling smart. But, I'm not getting >> anywhere. >> Some day, I think I'm going to read about them in the paper, and I >> hope >> it will be of a successful rescue ... and not a body extraction. I >> think this is the last time I will go anywhere near them on the >> water. >> Stick a fork in me -- I'm done.] Deja vu. Its the silence thing that I identify with most and that echoes frustratingly through my mind. Countless times I have done the silence thing. Only the names and locations are different. If the Southeast coast of the US where we paddle wasnt so much more benign than the PNW I think we would already have had deaths in my club. Every time I stick myself with a fork I find myself hooking up with the same people to paddle. A handful of these paddlers are amazing athletes but most are simply friendly people looking to try something different. Its better than paddling alone but I have learned to bring extra clothes and a tow rope for the fat 60 yr old who has never done an athletic thing in his/her life who shows up in a rec boat without airbags or bulkheads to day paddle a portion of the South Carolina coast. Some of the guys trade up and learn to low brace a little but (sigh) it can be a bit heavy on the mind at times. We really run a cooking club with an eating problem. I have to remember that and have learned not to be a nanny. It simply never works. Silence... Jim et al *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sat Nov 03 2007 - 09:58:41 PDT
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