40th birthday yesterday.

runningboar said:
If anyone wants to tell me what an idiot I am, go right ahead, I have been saying the same thing for 2 days.:(

PS, My sons new paddle is on the way as I speak, compliments of his old man.;) Chris
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Idiot? Don't be to hard on yourself. You learned a very valuable lesson. And it only cost $70.00. I call that blessed.
 
What happened has been on my mind solid, seeing your only child fighting for his life, literally, was one of the worst things that has ever happened to me. When I was trying to get to him I had to fight down the blind panic, and was constantly talking to myself to stay calm. I went in the water twice over my head to get to him and if I had of gotten hung up we both would have died.

Joe is fine and me and his mom have doted on him since, it was my birthday yet my wife baked him his favorite, a red velvet cake, and all I want to do is hug him everytime I see him. I always thought I was mister prepared but I didn't have a throw line, I didn't have a change of clothes and I really failed miserably in a lot of areas. My wife told me later that if I hadn't of gotten to him when I did she had already made her mind up to turn the canoe into the same jam and swamp it to give us something to hold onto, which would have been terrible because we would have all 3 been in frigid water.

I have talked with a bit of disdain on here about James Kim and lost hikers not having the sense to take proper precautions and gear and then I did the same damn thing. I will tell all of yall it was a VERY sobering experience. I am still a river rat and will continue paddling every spare minute but I will be a lot better prepared in the future, yall can bet on it. Chris
 
runningboar said:
What happened has been on my mind solid, seeing your only child fighting for his life, literally, was one of the worst things that has ever happened to me. When I was trying to get to him I had to fight down the blind panic, and was constantly talking to myself to stay calm. I went in the water twice over my head to get to him and if I had of gotten hung up we both would have died.

Joe is fine and me and his mom have doted on him since, it was my birthday yet my wife baked him his favorite, a red velvet cake, and all I want to do is hug him everytime I see him. I always thought I was mister prepared but I didn't have a throw line, I didn't have a change of clothes and I really failed miserably in a lot of areas. My wife told me later that if I hadn't of gotten to him when I did she had already made her mind up to turn the canoe into the same jam and swamp it to give us something to hold onto, which would have been terrible because we would have all 3 been in frigid water.

I have talked with a bit of disdain on here about James Kim and lost hikers not having the sense to take proper precautions and gear and then I did the same damn thing. I will tell all of yall it was a VERY sobering experience. I am still a river rat and will continue paddling every spare minute but I will be a lot better prepared in the future, yall can bet on it. Chris
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But, the lesson is good one, Chris, from what i hear from you,
the key is BE PREPARED!

If one other person reads this, and it makes them put an extra pair of boots in their truck, a PSK on their dirt bike, an FAK in their workshop, or anything of the like, then it has done some good!

Don't dwell on what "Couldda happened".

What happened is that you used your wits, and eveyone is OK.

Now we go forward, with a better understanding of WHY we discuss this stuff, and why continue to ask questions and beat ideas around.

At the end of the day, You done good. :thumbup:
 
runningboar said:
I have talked with a bit of disdain on here about James Kim and lost hikers not having the sense to take proper precautions and gear and then I did the same damn thing. I will tell all of yall it was a VERY sobering experience. I am still a river rat and will continue paddling every spare minute but I will be a lot better prepared in the future, yall can bet on it. Chris
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We've all done the same damn thing - been unprepared, survived and learned to be better prepared in the future. It would be nice if hearing the words "Be prepared" was all that is needed - but until you find yourself in that situation where you didn't take the time or resources to better prepare yourself, those words are just words for most of us, myself included.

I'm just glad everything worked out ok and everyone's safe. Happy birthday and best wishes to you and your family! :)
 
I never relized how close you were Chris when i posted my first post. i sure am happy to hear that all is well with you. I think you have done well cause you used the one thing you always have with you and that is your head. Trust life to throw you a curve ball when you least expect that.

sasha
 
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