Chupacabra Canoe

A reflection by JStroke

Reflecting on my week on Friday night while having an evening smoke. The struggle with the post dinner snacking is intense and a mild cigar stems the tide. Not that I need to justify why I was having a cigar, just “setting the scene” so to speak. Sitting in the dark on the back patio on a September evening, I reviewed the week in my head.

One thing that has stuck all week… my annoyance of people using hazard lights in the middle of a traffic jam. So, here’s the scene… on my way to my office job… I run into the usual traffic back up where the traffic engineers take 5 lanes down to three lanes, a classic traffic jam. It’s not like being on the river.

Within this scenario each morning I witness vehicles that are employing the hazard lights whilst in the MIDDLE of the traffic jam. My issue is not with the cars using the hazards but still having them flashing while deep inside the buildup of cars and trucks is irksome. I understand that this person could have been at the back of the congestion initially and while at the rear, the hazard signals are appropriate. But this car has been immersed in the snails’ pace traffic for at least a mile, you can turn the lights off; don’t be a stooge!

What is the parallel of this scenario on a canoe making it down river? My 16.4’ Paluski Passage does not have hazard lights. The closest I have witnessed on the river would be Rockhound raising his paddle from the water just mere seconds before the front of his canoe barrels into a rock (hence his name“RockHound”). The “paddle-up” technique is not much of a warning to his stern man, but for the other canoes following in his wake, we know where that rock is.

This is where I reflect on the patience and fortitude of BeerCanoeist. He has taken the stern with RockHound for several trips. Milkman, Escargot, and Grumman Master have also taken turns. It’s a difficult task for BeerCanoeist because Rockhound has lost much of his hearing; communication is limited. Is it true that when losing a sense (such as sight or hearing) that the other senses are enhanced to compensate?  It does not appear sight is the compensating sense for Rockhound, he still can’t seem to see those rocks in enough time to avoid hitting them. His compensating sense may be his sense of taste. In food only… no one would claim his fashion sense is enhanced. Rockhound claims to be the best canoeist in existence, but I think he pouts in bow of the canoe.

So, in recap:

Turn the hazards off in the middle of traffic jam. It is not necessary.

I am grateful that Beer Canoeist takes the stern with Rockhound each year. He deserves a medal

That’s my reflection for the week.

Thanks for reading.

JStroke