KatieTheKat

So yesterday I went on a gorgeous paddle (kayaking) at the nanaimo river estuary under the setting sun and the full moon with the spawning salmon leaping out of the water all around us.

Then some er unexpected excitement when we hit some rapids coming back upstream - rapids that I tried once to paddle up but they were pretty strong and I got tired out waiting in the current for the person ahead of me. So I hopped out of my boat to go around them (with most of the group), hopped back in and was adjusting my spray skirt when I started to get sucked back into the current with the rapids becoming stronger with each minute. Trying to avoid getting swept back down and holding up the rest of the group, I grabbed for the shore, which was of course a fatal mistake - I flipped over and was swept down with the current holding onto my boat but trying to catch up with my paddle as it drifted ahead of me. Eventually I found a place I could get a footing and decided I should just stop there instead of chasing
who knows how far after my paddle in the river. Luckily our leader John managed to paddle after it and pick it up again.

It all would have been in good fun if only I hadn't earlier taken off my sandals in my boat and only loosely reattached them, similarly left my arm warmers swimming around in my boat and also had my sunglasses on my head - I am pretty annoyed at myself for letting all of these things get swept off by the current (and it was completely dark by this time so there was no hope of rescuing them). sigh. Anyhow, yes, out with a splash. Much excitement.
Of course the beer can I had pulled out of the river DID manage to stay in my boat, unlike the rest of my stuff.