So are we ready to give the SPOT personal GPS tracker the “Gadget of the Year” award yet? Well, they probably have Niels Vinther’s vote. I’m frankly quite amazed how many news stories have been appearing that share "SPOT" as the common denominator, and so far with happy endings.
I’m gonna be, got to be ready
When the chariot comes
(When the chariot, when the chariot comes)
Said I’m gonna be got to be ready
When the chariot comes
- b. Mcknight
Symposiums and big groups are lots of fun of course. In addition I really enjoy teaching private lessons. For the last couple years I’ve been doing more and more of this at my local lake. Of course with my busy summers it can be really hard to make the time. On the other hand, spending summer morning or sunny afternoon helping someone polish a roll or working with young couples who just want a new activity to do together is really a great experience.
As wrong as the map that led us to this
As blind as the bat that watched our first kiss
As tame as the moon you held in your hand
As wild as me, and as frigid as England
- cutting crew
After a few years of blogging about paddling It’s not like I’ve not talked about cold water safety before, however it’s probably a good time for a reminder. Here in the north we are starting to get those days where the air temperature is delightfully warm while the water is still frigid as an ex. Don’t be silly. The fact is if you fall in you’re going to be a sad little monkey. The best option this time of year is to wear a drysuit. Yeah, they do get a bit hot in those warm spring days, but you know the rule, dress for the swim. Drysuits are not as expensive as they once were so if you don’t have one, now is a great time to go shopping. Here in Wisconsin the water on even inland lakes can stay pretty chilly until about mid-June.
mini-berg!
Now I had like 20 different things to write about today, but every time I’d get halfway though I’d stop and think. . . “Nah, I’m not in the mood” and I’d move on. Stan Mac Kenzie brought up a good subject on how his club is debating if the club should show pictures of people by icebergs or not. Hmmm, the other side of that slippery slope is do you show pictures of people on tidal races? How about Tao dropping over a fall? How about paddling in fog? How about paddling without flairs and VHF plainly visible? How about paddling without sun screen? This whole concept that we don’t show pictures of people taking any sort of risk strikes me as just well, silly. Is there a risk in paddling near an iceberg? Damn straight, there is. How many people have actually been killed while paddling by an iceberg? Is the risk such that we dare not photograph it? Should we try to eliminate photographs of anything perceived to have risk? Where would you stop? No climbing pics? No NASCAR photos?
Pussycat, Pussycat
I’ve got flowers
And lots of hours
To spend with you.
So go and powder your cute little pussycat nose!
- tom jones
I certainly back any way we can help paddlers be safer. It’s something we talk about quite frequently actually. So when I got a funky little card for the North American Safe Boating Campaign I was certainly interested. But does this really save lives? I often wonder.
How many tragic stories start out with something like, “It was a beautiful, warm, sunny morning. . .”?
As coaches we teach students all the gear they need, and all the rescues they should know. Just in case. I wonder sometimes if by doing this we don’t spend enough time on the “just in case”. The truth we know is that all the gear in the world won’t save you from you. Flairs are worthless if they can’t be seen. VHF radios are paperweights if there is no one to hear. There is a stark reality to nature. Knowing this truth somewhere down in the pit of your stomach is essential to good judgment. I think sometimes we have to be careful when we teach safety, not to gloss over what we are being safe from.
Always tease tease tease
Siempre - coqetiando y enganyando
Youre happy when Im on my knees
Me arrodilla y estas feliz
One day is fine, next is black
Un dias bien el otro negro
So if you want me off your back
Al rededar en tu espalda
Well come on and let me know
Me tienes que desir
Should I stay or should I go?
Me debo ir o que darme
- clash
