Page 43 - "Mississippi in the 1st Person" - Michael James Stone (Demo/Free)

Of course being a geek, I had approached Kayaking like I would computers and had
“practiced” things no one else would think of doing on a kayak.

I could float mine upside down and lay on it sunbathing. I had filled mine full of water and

paddled with it full kayak hot tubing, I dragged it over sand, mud, rocks, weeds even laded and
launched from Rock jetties.

Utah Lake had tried to kill my wife in a kayak in a Fall Storm and I had towed her. I had polled

some practice sessions, meaning stand in my kayak and use a pole to move me around. I prac-
ticed No paddle scenarios. I had dove in and out of the Boat. Learned how to inflate while out

in the middle of a lake.

I did stupid things no one would think of trying in order to teach myself what I thought I
“might need” going down a river that would take me months to do.

I treated this as “survival mode” from day 1 which meant depending on myself more than oth-

ers.

The other “part of” being a “geek” was I had more information than I actually could process. I
had maps of low water, maps of high water, books from previous people who had paddled.

Videos of sections of the River, Apps for the phone, Apps for the weather. I had over 200
“suggestions” from bloggers and I actually carried something to cover every suggestion made.

I had planned on being prepared because in Alaska if you don’t you’re dead.