Today was over cast with a few sun breaks on the Oregon coast. My spouse has always had the impulse to go where we haven't gone before. Today was no exception.
As we used our kayak paddles to cross the bay in Newport, she spotted in front of her the first sea lion. Like a child with ice cream she giggled, pointed and continued on towards the pack laying out on the peer.
Just across from the coast guard station I felt the slack tide hit. In a few minutes I was struggling to paddle. To just keep from going out to sea. My wife hadn't noticed until I began yelling for her.
She realized the seriousness of our situation. She instructed me to paddle side ways. We were headed for the peer by Rogue brewery. We got close enough and she wanted to try to go under the peer and around the short jetty by the boats.
I went under the peer first. The force of the out going tide was tremendous. I told her to be careful we were in trouble. There were a few men and children above us crabbing.
As if we were in a time warp. As I paddled ever closer to shore I heard what sounded like a child screaming. I looked up to see a girl skipping down the peer. The men above were yelling at me. "Your partner is in the water."
I looked to see her kayak floating out to sea, my insides sunk. A great strength rose up as I paddled ever closer to her. Yelling, "I'm coming, don't you give up. Keep going towards the shore." She replied, "It's really cold." Her face was bright red, her hands were all ready bloody.
She was grabbing the boards that had barnacles, and she kept hanging on. I saw her face, she knew she was going to die. The men above tossed a rope in the water for her to hang onto. They called for help. I used my kayak to try to keep her from floating out to sea. The kayak was too small to be very useful.
A young man climbed down and pulled her up. He gave instructions and she followed them. I placed my paddle under her legs. Together we held her in place, while we waited for rescue. Time faded, she was tired, bruised and bloody.
As if Hades had risen from the grave to sweep my eternal love away. I burned with the knowledge we aren't kids any more. I felt useless at that moment. As my wife clung to a young man whom I want to say thank you to. I told everyone as the scene played out, thank you.
Newport's finest Fire rescue arrived. They through another rope with a big loop just to help keep her in place until the Coast guard could arrive. With in minutes, that seemed like an eternity she was plucked from the water. I paddled as fast as I could to the shore. I waded in the sand that sunk with each step nearly a foot. Pulling the only kayak left. The sea had stolen the other.
I climbed over the rocks and drug that kayak to the top. A young couple came to my rescue. Here was another young soft spoken man whom I wish to give my thanks to. Names were never exchanged. But a hearty thank you was given to all I met.
Newport's finest fire department crew of two men came over and informed me the other kayak was on the other jetty. We rode over to collect it. As we did a pickup truck grabbed it and drove away. We all thought they were stealing it. To our pleasant surprise they took it to the coast guard station.
Finally reunited, my spouse who was exhausted and cold. The love we share, the hugs and kisses waited until we showered and took care of the wounds. She finally let go. Tears fell and we hugged. Scared, tired and alive.
When people tell us to get the free tide tables and read them they aren't kidding. Our lives could have significantly changed in a few minutes. The tides are dangerous. We have learned to respect mother nature the hard way. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED US TODAY.
Today we were shown there are many good folks out there. Living quietly all around. Sometimes it takes a disaster to see all the goodness around us.
As we used our kayak paddles to cross the bay in Newport, she spotted in front of her the first sea lion. Like a child with ice cream she giggled, pointed and continued on towards the pack laying out on the peer.
Just across from the coast guard station I felt the slack tide hit. In a few minutes I was struggling to paddle. To just keep from going out to sea. My wife hadn't noticed until I began yelling for her.
She realized the seriousness of our situation. She instructed me to paddle side ways. We were headed for the peer by Rogue brewery. We got close enough and she wanted to try to go under the peer and around the short jetty by the boats.
I went under the peer first. The force of the out going tide was tremendous. I told her to be careful we were in trouble. There were a few men and children above us crabbing.
As if we were in a time warp. As I paddled ever closer to shore I heard what sounded like a child screaming. I looked up to see a girl skipping down the peer. The men above were yelling at me. "Your partner is in the water."
I looked to see her kayak floating out to sea, my insides sunk. A great strength rose up as I paddled ever closer to her. Yelling, "I'm coming, don't you give up. Keep going towards the shore." She replied, "It's really cold." Her face was bright red, her hands were all ready bloody.
She was grabbing the boards that had barnacles, and she kept hanging on. I saw her face, she knew she was going to die. The men above tossed a rope in the water for her to hang onto. They called for help. I used my kayak to try to keep her from floating out to sea. The kayak was too small to be very useful.
A young man climbed down and pulled her up. He gave instructions and she followed them. I placed my paddle under her legs. Together we held her in place, while we waited for rescue. Time faded, she was tired, bruised and bloody.
As if Hades had risen from the grave to sweep my eternal love away. I burned with the knowledge we aren't kids any more. I felt useless at that moment. As my wife clung to a young man whom I want to say thank you to. I told everyone as the scene played out, thank you.
Newport's finest Fire rescue arrived. They through another rope with a big loop just to help keep her in place until the Coast guard could arrive. With in minutes, that seemed like an eternity she was plucked from the water. I paddled as fast as I could to the shore. I waded in the sand that sunk with each step nearly a foot. Pulling the only kayak left. The sea had stolen the other.
I climbed over the rocks and drug that kayak to the top. A young couple came to my rescue. Here was another young soft spoken man whom I wish to give my thanks to. Names were never exchanged. But a hearty thank you was given to all I met.
Newport's finest fire department crew of two men came over and informed me the other kayak was on the other jetty. We rode over to collect it. As we did a pickup truck grabbed it and drove away. We all thought they were stealing it. To our pleasant surprise they took it to the coast guard station.
Finally reunited, my spouse who was exhausted and cold. The love we share, the hugs and kisses waited until we showered and took care of the wounds. She finally let go. Tears fell and we hugged. Scared, tired and alive.
When people tell us to get the free tide tables and read them they aren't kidding. Our lives could have significantly changed in a few minutes. The tides are dangerous. We have learned to respect mother nature the hard way. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED US TODAY.
Today we were shown there are many good folks out there. Living quietly all around. Sometimes it takes a disaster to see all the goodness around us.
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