Thread: The Swim

[ame="http://www.vimeo.com/10290133"]The Swim on Vimeo[/ame]

So went to brace and the paddle broke, didn't hand roll and went for a ride?

This is my first year paddling and Im just trying to figure it out. Looking back, what could have happened differently? How did you get back? Get your boat back?

What happened? Why didnt you rally and swim to the side? you could have flipped your boat over. stuffed the paddle inside and swam HARD.

Seems like a unnecessarily long swim....

Originally Posted by ACheateaux

So went to brace and the paddle broke, didn't hand roll and went for a ride?

This is my first year paddling and Im just trying to figure it out. Looking back, what could have happened differently? How did you get back? Get your boat back?

Don't go alone next time.

didnt watch the whole video, and it looks like a huge river with a strong current.

BUT

did you really bail on your boat in that?

Sucks man. What kind of paddle is that, so I don't ever use one?

So how did you get out of the middle of the river?

Wow. I bet that was a surprise. That's a big ole river to be in the middle of.

so what is the rest of the story. paddle gone obviously. did you get your boat?
glad you're ok as that's a long time to be swimming.

Curious - why the little island of trees? boat still upstream and thinking it might come by?

ScottyB posted a full story of the swim on the Monocacy Canoe Message Board:
http://www.monocacyboard.org/mboard/msg/9742.html
If you go up one page, there's a shit ton more discussion.

Then there's the ensuing flame wars over the video and paddling alone:
http://www.monocacyboard.org/mboard/msg/9796.html
http://www.monocacyboard.org/mboard/msg/9936.html

If you really have time to read all that shit, I'm sorry. The first link is a good synopsis of what happened. Essentially, broken paddle and subsequent swim on the Potomac river just past the confluence with the Shenandoah in Harper's Ferry. River was high---around 60K CFS. Apparently couldn't swim to shore through currents. Water in the 50's. Got a nice helicopter ride out of it. Ridiculous part is that his boat was recovered near Little Falls on the Potomac. That's a 54 mile trek down a river at flood stage, over Great Falls, over a low head dam, and then a recovery by kayakers that read the MCC message board.

The end.

Was that a Jimistik? RIP.

Glad you are OK, man.

Originally Posted by RootSkier

Was that a Jimistik? RIP.

Glad you are OK, man.

Unfortunately it was my prized Jimistyx, I did get the boat back after it traveled 54 miles to Little Falls in about 24 hours.

Jimi is hooking me up with a brand new paddle under warranty.