gabby
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Post by gabby on Jul 14, 2020 21:28:25 GMT -8
Watch out! Gator's gonna getcha! A kayaker exploring a section of a North Carolina river found more than he expected when an alligator slammed into his boat.
Pete Joyce was paddling in a swampy section of the Waccamaw River on Sunday when the alligator charged at him. The impact tipped him over into the water, but he was able to grab onto some tree branches to avoid the boat being turned upside down.
Joyce, an experienced kayaker, was wearing a video camera on his chest, which caught the whole encounter.
www.cnn.com/2020/07/14/us/alligator-kayak-trnd/index.html |
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jul 15, 2020 3:02:07 GMT -8
It would've had some Not Safe For Work language had that been me. Since the behavior is so strange, I wonder what the gator was doing? Female protecting a nest?
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Post by graywolf on Jul 15, 2020 4:52:11 GMT -8
Wow. I would need to change my shorts after that.
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balzaccom
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Waiting for spring...
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Post by balzaccom on Jul 15, 2020 5:06:17 GMT -8
His rate of paddling speed is improved significantly by this event...😝
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Jul 15, 2020 5:32:14 GMT -8
<Breathing hard> Need ... BIGGER ... Boat!
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rebeccad
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Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 15, 2020 6:34:26 GMT -8
Is he mute? How the heck do you do that and not say a single word? I don’t cuss a lot, but I’m with Zeke—I’d be making a few comments, at least of the WTH variety. The critter really did just come out of nowhere. gabby —looks like he’s paddling fast back to get one! Or maybe to sell the kayak and move to North Dakota. |
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Jul 15, 2020 10:21:09 GMT -8
Heard of that (thankfully rare) occurance happening with sea kayaks and Great Whites ... again once in a blue moon. I’m at home in the mountains but no way I’ll ever feel comfortable in the water (in my best Star Trek original series via Bones ... Dammit, Jim,.. we have body hair, not gills)
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reuben
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Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
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Post by reuben on Jul 15, 2020 11:14:36 GMT -8
I've been in a variety of hairy situations. Some just iffy and disconcerting, some potentially deadly, like rockslides and tornados. I think that I'll keep alligators (and crocodiles) off of my list. We don't have them up here, although alligators are certainly in the parts of Louisiana I travel to. Wow. I would need to change my shorts after that. This. Is he mute? How the heck do you do that and not say a single word? I don’t cuss a lot, but I’m with Zeke—I’d be making a few comments, at least of the WTH variety. The critter really did just come out of nowhere. Too busy hyperventilating. Look at his left arm shake after he comes back up. Although he dropped his paddle it got stuck in the tree and so he was able to pick it back up. Wouldn't want to have to dogpaddle back home after an experience like that. Coulda used a paddle leash, or maybe he has a spare on board. |
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jul 15, 2020 11:18:44 GMT -8
Coulda used a paddle leash, or maybe he has a spare on board. I am constantly surprised at the lack of either of those 2 items. Plenty of paddlers must think they will never lose a paddle. |
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Jul 15, 2020 11:59:23 GMT -8
Anyone have opinions on storing a spare paddle? Under the rigging, or velcroed inside the cockpit? I'm in the first camp, but there are obvious pluses and minuses to each method. Of course, a PLB and/or radio are also good ideas, as are a whistle (definitely) and possibly a beacon (there are various options/opinions regarding beacons as well).
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jul 15, 2020 12:13:59 GMT -8
My spare paddle is stored in 2 sections under the aft rigging, where they are in easy reach. A PLB is either worn, or in the cockpit under my legs. Beacon and UHF radio are clipped to the rigging just in front of the cockpit. My paddle leash is on that same biner. My spare is stored like this pic, but I do not yet have the PVC tubes attached to the boat. that looks like a good storage system, so I might adopt it.   |
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reuben
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Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
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Post by reuben on Jul 15, 2020 12:45:38 GMT -8
I have a PLB and beacon attached to my jacket. Spare paddle under the rigging in front.
Are those pics of your kayak? It looks like some (static?) rigging/velcro has been added to hold down the PVC pipes to the static lines. Not sure why that's required other than as additional points of contact if the OEM rigging doesn't appear to provide enough, which could depend on the manufacturer.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jul 15, 2020 12:53:47 GMT -8
Not my boat. Pics from the net. I was thinking about the PVC sleeves as additional protection for the chines on the paddle end.
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