Re: [Paddlewise] Seeing Red?

From: Jim <jimtibensky_at_fastmail.fm>
Date: Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:00:37 -0600
GW wrote:  Doesn't anyone paddle any more?




Some of us are lucky enough to paddle in places where boating is
possible even in the ice season.  I live near the Fox River in suburban
Chicago.  There are a number of dams that stir up the water enough to
give us open water no matter what the temperature.  I have arbitrarily
set ten below zero (F) as my minimum for paddling (wind chill or actual
temperature.)  I find colder than that to be too cumbersome with all the
ice that forms on the paddle and deck and lifejacket and face and - you
get the picture.

I'm more comfortable at zero than 35 above because the ice on my boat
and pogies insulates very well.  But at 35 nothing freezes and
evaporation still happens.  (The laws of nature can be annoying at
times.)

Winter paddling can be wonderful when the snow is falling.  If there is
no wind the reflection of the flakes in the water makes it look, at
least to this flake in the water, like the snow is 'falling' up from the
bottom of the river.

Apologies to those of you who have heard this before.  It's becoming my
traditional early winter email.

Jim Tibensky
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Received on Thu Dec 03 2009 - 07:16:48 PST

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