Re: [Paddlewise] capsized

On Mon, Apr 14, 2008 at 7:41 PM, skimmer <skimmer_at_enter.net> wrote:

> Another paddler that believes he won't capsize, doesn't need to
> prepare for such an event, doesn't know anything about self-rescue
> or cold water--a day dream believer! Get a boat--buy the dream!
>

Here is the full link to the story:
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/april132008/usch_kayak-4-13-08.php

I don't think it's just paddlers who share this pollyanna-ish view of the
world. I believe it's most people and especially young men under 30. Whether
it's a new phenomenon or just a growth in outdoor activity isn't clear. I
have a friend who lives along a road that I loved to ride on my motorcycle
when I was 28. His daughter, a nurse, refers to "organ-donor Sunday" when,
on a nice day, hordes of sportbike riders from the Seattle area ride at
breakneck speeds along this twisty road. I had ridden fast along that road
but on a 250cc Yamaha not the 100hp machines they use today. And there was
no traffic on that road back then; now it's packed with cars, bicyclists
towing carts with kids, and hikers. Especially last weekend. As a culture,
we have simply lost the ability to discern danger. Television and movies
have convinced many of us that even the most incredibly stupid tricks are
survivable and if anyone says differently then... well, they're just out of
touch.

It's the theme-park attitude; nothing can happen and, if it does, someone
will rescue them. And the article bears it out. Someone did rescue him and
thereby perpetuated the myth that they can't get hurt.

I waited in the safe shoals of my grass island yesterday while a bozo in a
speedboat with a wakeboard tower drove around and around in circles in front
of the launch ramp at full speed. When he tired of it and zoomed off to
another part of the lake I crossed. But not without keeping my eyes peeled
for him - or someone like him.

As they like to say now, "It's all good".


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
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