Originally posted by irened
Anyway, not meaning to sound preachy... In the interests of keeping everyone safe and preserving our favorite spots I think it pays to be even more careful than we think we might need to be.
Thanks for raising this issue again, Steve. And thanks to everyone else's input.
Arn, I like the way you think- good to have concientious folks like you on the river
Although I'll be the first to shoot down the flashing lights idea, it IS good to express the idea like you said- to get creative "juices flowin".
But I say we need to uphold our end of the bargain (as kayakers who use public access points along highways and roads) by watching our own behavior. Period.
Here's Dr. Pizzle's* Perscription for safe, efficient use of access points that will piss off the least amount of locals: if you're in a hurry just read the bold type...
- when you roll into the parking zone, you already know there will be more vehicles arriving behind you. don't b
e sloppy.
Park your sh*t in a way that maximizes space for those who show up after you.
-since everyone who showed up before your tardy ass got outta bed because they read "Dr. Pizzles Perscription For safe Use Of Access Points" left you and your huge ass rig room to park, don't be sloppy. Park your sh*t so you don't block no one in.
-Minimize Dick Arouind Time. Dick Around Time: The ancient art of kayakers to cluster in one place, seemingly for hours on end like a nebulous cluster of blissy out, happy zombies, aimlessly occupied telling river lies or drinking beer, ect How bout the community takes it upon themselves as individuals adopting a LOAD/UNLOAD A.S.A.P. mentality.
-To support and reinforce the point above, STOP using Split to MEET other boaters! ok, you 21st century sophisticates: I appl;aud your technological wonders. So tell me why if you have all these modes of communication at your disposal you need to wait for peeps at split? Try to meet at the put in instead. Sure Split is a better Catch-All as folks drive up the highway, it's convenient ("there goes so and so"). But is it always necessary? Go up and get on the river- if you're putting on at Cable Drop, have your peeps meet you at the huge eddy at the Put -in. Me, I'd rather wait forever for people while I paddle around in the pool than wait and wait by the side of the road. Get on the river and wait there, and thereby get your priorities straight.
-ALWAYS put boats, paddles, and other gear down where it is out of the way. Never block roads, driveways, or parking spots by putting you boat down in the f**king way. When a local or an official comes driving along they should not have to pause while a bunch of you absent mindedly acknowledge that your boat is in the middle of the road. It makes us look hugely inconsiderate. If I was a local I'd want to shoot all that colorfall plastic with my gun, or run it over. fu*kin City Slickers!
On the Gauley I was driving through the parking lot and this slalom boat was in my path- I rolled down my window and told the girl to move that sh*t. I don't care if she and her dad manufacture one of the most popular lines of boats on the water today- move your boat out of the wway that sh*t ain't cool. Don't block people's moves.
- Look Both Ways before you cross the street.
The bottom line is: Manage your behavior before someone steps in and does it for you. Americans have become such winers about their freedoms and how they hate rules being imposed upon them, I being one of the worst offenders. That's why it is important that we manage our own behavior and avoid these issues from popping up. we need to manage our behavior as a collective by adhering to such basic concepts.
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