[Paddlewise] Comfort and the roll

G'day Doug' and all,


This is to explain how I was restrained from ripping my shorts off and
running naked down a crowded beach. 

I'd been having trouble with my roll. It worked but was lethargic, possibly
due to a lazy knee lift caused by too much cycling without toe clips.
Controversial I expect but hey it's a theory. 

Anyway Christmas in Oz is an ideal time to get out, get wet and regain
skills. I duly started to practise my roll, aspiring to Doug's council of
perfection and aiming to be as comfortable under water as above; in between
working at balanced braces and sculling in Dee's marvellous new Tahe
Greenlander. Anyway towards the end of the week we rounded Cape
Perpendicular and came back into Jervis Bay with a light on shore wind and
strong on shore swell. These conditions had brought in small clusters of the
most beautiful pelagic sea creatures you can imagine. We call them blue
bottles as they are coloured a deep translucent indigo with delicate
tendrils that can stretch metres. Spoiling this wonder was a massive
floating piece of polystyrene foam that we trapped and placed under the
bungees near my bow so I could take it to a well populated beach that had a
garbage bin.  

Having disposed of the offensive foam and preparing to leave the beach, my
right side nether regions started to feel strangely warm. As the pain went
from strange to uncomfortable I removed the spray skirt and there it was, a
distraught bluebottle sharing my seat! The pain intensified and spread,
almost like sitting on a stove top. Resisting the urge to rip off my pants
and run across the beach and into the sea, I paddled away fast to remove the
blue bottle and as many tendrils as possible at a discrete distance. Then
paddled away from the dishevelled monster so I could roll over, exit the
boat and cool my fiery backside. It was not to be. As I tilted the boat a
sensation like a branding iron along my thigh and buttocks caused me to
execute a fantastic knee lift and roll up, only to experience the pain
repeatedly making me tip over and roll again six times in rapid succession.
I have witnesses! 

Anyway Doug, can't say I managed to achieve your ideal, it was not
comfortable! But during the following days my roll improved no end, moving
from a dull Pawlatta to an elegant sweep. A week later the pain has almost
vanished and I'm left a wiser man, with strange memories, and a much better
roll. 


All the best Doug' and hope you recover well, PeterO

Paper in preparation 'neuromuscular enhancement of kayaker performance using
toxin derivatives harvested from Physalia physalis (Portuguese Man o'War
jelly fish)' :~)
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