Catastrophic thinking...

It is true that I attempted Kayaking on the Chetco river on a very sunny day without sun screen and got 2nd degree burns all over my shins and thighs. It is also true that my feet then swelled up like big puffy water balloons and I had to wear Washington State Cougar slippers to work for three weeks.

It is true that I attempted to use the "Donut of Doom" flotation device at the recommendation of the outdoor market 10 miles up the Chetco-the same market that rented the ridiculous thing to me. It is true that in a river with very little current and a counter-breeze, you will actually go backwards in a big round floaty thing while your friends happily kayak down the river.

It is true that if you hit white water and flip your kayak, it is a SWELLidea to first check under the overturned vessel for the missing keys PRIOR to attempting to search the riverbed in swiftly moving water...as swiftly moving water will rapidly fill your shorts and transport you unwillingly (and upside-down) down the river.

It is true that if you feel that one of your flotation devices is cursed (such as our "Donut of Doom") you probably should exclude that particular device from your truck bed as you attempt to secure the other water crafts in the truck bed for transport to the outdorr market boat rental location. Failure to do this may lead to a kayak shooting from your truck bed in topedo fashion and landing sideways across two lanes on a busy highway. The Donut of Doom will stay fastened securely in the truck.

But.....

It could have been worse.