Kayak wisdom I've collected

On a recent creek trip the Lorax says:

Stay to the outside curve in the creek, it will always be deepest. And this appears true. Which reminded me I needed to return to writing down simple rules more experienced paddlers have told me. And I have come up with a few moments of wisdom myself.

My own bit of wisdom: In taking all these classes I've noticed every instructor will say 'this is right' or 'that is right.' But what I have learned is the only RIGHT is what's RIGHT FOR YOU.

Some other examples:

Pete said he always carries a warm jacket to put on during rest stops while paddling in cold weather. Of course I carry extra fleece but in this case I added a hard shell storm jacket to my kit. It packs into a dry bag easily, has a generous hood, and hand warmer pockets. It is a man's XXL and fits on over my drysuit and pfd.

Brian says: buy your neoprene gloves two sizes bigger than you would normally wear. Ah, that fixed the impossible struggle to get the gloves back on my wet hands.

Brian also says: slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. Try it, it is true!

and

Never, never, NEVER turn your back on the sea.

Nigel Foster says the Swedes who sailboat consider kayakers to be the cockroaches of the sea. While this is not a wise or pithy saying I think it might make a good bumper sticker. However, myself personally, I think jet skiers are the cockroaches of the sea. We sea kayakers move much too slowly to be roach-like.

Gulfstream Dennis said an instructor told him to adjust the skeg slider to "meet the wind." So skeg is up, slider is forward in a head wind. Skeg is down, slider is back in a tail wind.

Dale Williams says: Sometimes you just have to leave 'em where God flung 'em. It was used in context of a rescue scenario. When applied that way, one can understand it is part of "the most important person in the rescue you are performing is YOU." I have used Dale's phrase often, but usually for comedic effect.

Or, as the Lorax says: "if you ain't makin' it out alive, ain't nobody makin' it out alive." 

The Lorax said to me: There are old climbers, and there are bold climbers. But there are NO old bold climbers. Brian repeated this to me recently with kayakers substituted for climbers.

And since I am repeating mantras, Turner Wilson says: Treat your boat like a loved one. Take care of your boat first and your boat will take care of you. He and Cheri Perry are also responsible for: (whispered) Move the boat first, head out of the water last.

And then Dale says: Get high and stay high! I think this is an aviation industry quote but Dale was applying it to surfing sea kayaks. Indeed, get on the top of the wave and stay there. While it would also make a good bumper sticker I am thinking a whole different segment of the population would buy it.

I am certain I can return to this subject with more material later. :-)

Just ending this post with a photo from this week: testing out the new tow system from Northwater. I got a free ride for about a mile, woohoo!