Re: [Paddlewise] Being Run Down by Wildlife

likely you would have been fine regardless.   I had a couple hundred dolphin
heading right at a few of us (they turned from another course to check us
out).  They looked like a stampede of horses except splashing rather than a
dust cloud.   Many in close quarters passed within feet on either side of us
but not one hit any boat.   I wondered if they might hit us due to being
blocked by their fellow dolphin.   Anyway they seem to have very good sense
of their size, etc. along with echo location and eyes so I suspect if they
ever hit you they meant to.

On Tue, Jul 21, 2009 at 3:36 PM, Mike Euritt <mike.euritt_at_gmail.com> wrote:

> Last fall I was paddling in Trinidad Bay, coast of N California, as part of
> the paddle fest tours. We weren't really out in open water, hadn't even
> past
> the land mark I think they called mile rock when one of the other shouted
> "look at that!" Off near shore was splashing, I could see the white foam
> from the activity but not the cause. Someone with good distance vision said
> they were Risso's Dolphins. I made note of it and kept paddling since I
> couldn't see anything.
> I went off by myself, past the rock and out to one of the channel markers,
> turned and headed back in to rejoin the now very splintered group. Then I
> saw them, six of the creature heading straight at me. I was awestruck, man,
> this is better than Marine World. Then I realized they were having a great
> time, leaping out of the water, back in leap, and bearing down on me. I
> wondered if they were able to see me, I thought probably not and imagined
> what it would be like if one of them actually jumped over the kayak. Then I
> realized I had a pretty good chance of being hit as they did.
>
> I took the paddle and slapped the water, making a point to hit the boat
> with
> the shaft and made as much noise as possible. They changed their course and
> missed me, but they were close enough to see the whites of their eyes.
> Eventually my heart returned to normal.
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