Yesterday, while paddling on the Columbia River, I noticed a couple of young fellows on the beach preparing their rubber (actually vinyl) rafts for some kind of adventure. It was a windy day and at that particular time there was an uptick in the shipping traffic, so the river was not in the best of shape for what I perceived that I was about to see.

No, this is not going to be an account of a disaster, or a near miss. It is more about me learning to bite my tongue and still do my mother-hen act.

Anyway, as I suspected, these two young guys finally got their little rafts loaded and pushed off for places unknown; right out into the heavy outflowing tide which was all the faster, because of a strong downriver wind. This was obviously their first time out, because neither one had any clue about how to row their crafts with the oars that came with them. The oars must have cost all of $1.25 a pair; were way too short and bent as they pulled on them. However, they did manage to make it out into the shipping lane and at this point, I decided to tag along as a sort of escort--just in case something started to go real bad.

I was very restrained and made no comment about neither yute (a little cousin Vinny lingo) wearing a pfd. I did notice that one of them had one in the boat. I didn't see one in the other boat. By this time, I think it was obvious to both paddlers that they had gotten themselves into a bit of a pickle and there was no turning back. Someone besides me must have been watching over these two would-be adventurers, because at least they made it across the shipping lane before I noticed a freighter about to round the bend.

We were close enough to the island that I was pretty sure they would make it without further concern. Their plan was to spend the night on the island. How they expected to make it back across the river, I don't really know, but they did mention something about calling a friend who had a real boat. I bid them farewell and set about getting myself back to the Washington side through the slop.

As I said, this was about me doing what I thought was prudent without being obnoxious and authoritive. I hope the two paddlers come away with a good impression of kayakers. I sensed that both of them were grateful for the escort--such as it was.

Interesting story, Magooch. A couple of recent deaths here (canoes overturning--one went over a dam, the other caught in a snag on a canal), and unusually warm weather bringing out all sorts of folks in all sorts of craft on local waters (with still-cold water), has led to a lot of hand-wringing here. Saw a somewhat tubby gentleman wedged into the cockpit of his kayak along with his 2-3 year old. Coming into shore, he ran the bow up onto the beach, and the boat rolled over onto its side. Was quite a scene watching him trying to extricate himself & child from very tight fit in cockpit. No danger there, but if he had capsized offshore, it would have been a possibly deadly scenario. Yearly Coast Guard stats show that the overwhelming majority of fatalities are small-boat capsizes mostly due to boater ignorance and stupidity, and it will always be thus. My own "action" is to always present a serious, well-equipped apppearance on the water--PFD, wetsuit/drysuit in season, etc.--and to talk to others about joining a local canoe/dayak club. Anything remotely like lecturing (unless very carefully done, often results in hostility.

Obviously I agree with your approach, but in my case, I cannot advise anyone to join the local club. I have to admit that I don't know that much about it, but my limited knowledge and contact with them would steer me away from a recommendation. I have talked with a member, or two; one of them was their unofficial organizer. I asked if they ever have organized paddles in some of the locations that I consider to be prime spots. The anwer was that they tried it once and would never do it again, because of sometimes rough conditions.

I'm not too sure where these folks go, but they are missing the very best paddling if they only go where the water is always flat. I wouldn't feel right about referring a new paddler to such a stodgy group, which might influence a newbie into missing what I consider to be paddling at its finest--for this area.

On the other hand, I'm aware that there are some very experienced (adrenaline freaks) local paddlers who are way outside my comfort zone and I purposely resist linking up with them.