Robert H. Wilkinson
New member
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2011
- Messages
- 1,283
- Reaction score
- 0
- Vessel Name
- Romakeme IV
My son has become convinced that boating is too much excitement for the good of my health!!
Six years ago while shopping(for boat stuff) at a Bass Pro Store I ended up in the hospital with chest pains and shortness of breath. Turned out that I have problems with low blood pressure.
Three years ago while shopping(for boat stuff) at a Gander Mountain Store I again had another episode - same problem.
This year - the first 2 weeks of Sept. we were hoping to finish our Trent/Severn adventure. In 3 previous trips we have done from Port Severn to Lakefield with several side trips. That left from Lakefield back to Trenton - about 100 miles. Well if bad luck comes in 3's mine came in 4's. A week before our trip I got Poison Ivy which I react badly to. Labour day weekend I had a severe attack of gout. Delayed our trip until Friday - able to walk although still in much pain. Launched in Lakefield and enjoyed the first 70 miles although we did have rain and caught the tail end of a tornado which touched down near Lakefield. Made it to Campbellford where both my wife and I got food poisoning. Decided to stay there for 3 days and head back. Started back Thursday am - very windy - cleared locks 13 and 14. We were required to tie up to starboard in lock 14 which was the windward side. Wife got the stern line around the cable but was struggling just to hang on to it. Bow was now blown well away from the wall but did not want to engage forward to bring it in fearing I would pull the stern line out of her hands. With a fender and dock line on a cleat - there was not much "horn" left for her to wrap the loose end of the dock line around. Got my line(from the breast cleat) around the cable - but it was a struggle to bring the bow back into the wall. Decided I would invest in a longer dock line which I could run from the bow cleat back to the cockpit - giving me a better mechanical advantage than pulling from the breast cleat.
Made it through and were enjoying a leisurely 2 mile jaunt to locks 15, 16, and 17(Healey Falls flight locks). This was where I decided it would be a good place to have a heart attack!! Spent the next 5 days in Peterborough Hospital!! Boat spent the night unattended - and despite 4 fenders and 4 dock lines took a bit of a beating due to the wind. My son drove up to get the boat out of the water and the lockmaster was very helpful - going with him to show him the way to the nearest launch ramp. Helping him get the boat on the trailer and unload coolers, etc. from the boat to the truck. He did this after the lock closed - on his own time!! Certainly above the call of duty. My son had to return home on the Sat. at which time I did not realise I would be loosing my license for 30 days. Ended up having to get CAA to tow us and the boat home.
Well that's my story - what do you think? Is this boating thing too much excitement for me or is there another explanation??
Regards, Rob
Six years ago while shopping(for boat stuff) at a Bass Pro Store I ended up in the hospital with chest pains and shortness of breath. Turned out that I have problems with low blood pressure.
Three years ago while shopping(for boat stuff) at a Gander Mountain Store I again had another episode - same problem.
This year - the first 2 weeks of Sept. we were hoping to finish our Trent/Severn adventure. In 3 previous trips we have done from Port Severn to Lakefield with several side trips. That left from Lakefield back to Trenton - about 100 miles. Well if bad luck comes in 3's mine came in 4's. A week before our trip I got Poison Ivy which I react badly to. Labour day weekend I had a severe attack of gout. Delayed our trip until Friday - able to walk although still in much pain. Launched in Lakefield and enjoyed the first 70 miles although we did have rain and caught the tail end of a tornado which touched down near Lakefield. Made it to Campbellford where both my wife and I got food poisoning. Decided to stay there for 3 days and head back. Started back Thursday am - very windy - cleared locks 13 and 14. We were required to tie up to starboard in lock 14 which was the windward side. Wife got the stern line around the cable but was struggling just to hang on to it. Bow was now blown well away from the wall but did not want to engage forward to bring it in fearing I would pull the stern line out of her hands. With a fender and dock line on a cleat - there was not much "horn" left for her to wrap the loose end of the dock line around. Got my line(from the breast cleat) around the cable - but it was a struggle to bring the bow back into the wall. Decided I would invest in a longer dock line which I could run from the bow cleat back to the cockpit - giving me a better mechanical advantage than pulling from the breast cleat.
Made it through and were enjoying a leisurely 2 mile jaunt to locks 15, 16, and 17(Healey Falls flight locks). This was where I decided it would be a good place to have a heart attack!! Spent the next 5 days in Peterborough Hospital!! Boat spent the night unattended - and despite 4 fenders and 4 dock lines took a bit of a beating due to the wind. My son drove up to get the boat out of the water and the lockmaster was very helpful - going with him to show him the way to the nearest launch ramp. Helping him get the boat on the trailer and unload coolers, etc. from the boat to the truck. He did this after the lock closed - on his own time!! Certainly above the call of duty. My son had to return home on the Sat. at which time I did not realise I would be loosing my license for 30 days. Ended up having to get CAA to tow us and the boat home.
Well that's my story - what do you think? Is this boating thing too much excitement for me or is there another explanation??
Regards, Rob
