John Kitsco

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We all do some foolhardy things in our young years. Well, I was about nineteen
and had caught the Greyhound Bus to the west coast to visit my friend Dan, who
just moved out there and started a job. We knew each other for a few years and
got along well. It was the time of life young men noticed young ladies and did
a lot of different things. So Dan and myself decided that we would check out the
local park and try to strike up a conversation with a girl or two and then
maybe rent a boat and head out on the ocean. Well, we were not overly lucky
at the park and decided the next best thing was our planned ocean trip. Neither
of us knew much about boats but felt just a little knowledge was enough. So
we headed for the Marina and rented a sailboat, telling the manager that we
were really quite experienced and would only go out a little ways and come back.
It was a sunny day, the ocean looked beautiful and here we were, two young men
off somewhere...but where? And indeed, we were lost before long trying to
recall all the things you did and did not do in these circumstances. Well, the
waves got bigger and meaner and we were likely about 50 miles offshore when
flashing lights appeared and soon we were being towed back by the coast guard.
Back at the marina we tried our best to explain that we knew a little not a lot
about doing these things and after a severe scolding....left the marina like a
couple of scared rabbits...

Years later, I thought about this incident at a time when (now married) I
again arrived at Mill Bay and rented a motorboat for our family (wife and
two very young children). Our plan and destination was Salt Spring Island.
But soon the waves and conditions were not so pleasant and my wife pleaded
with me to return - which we did. Only to go out later in the evening and do
some salmon fishing very close to shore. 

The saying goes, once bit, twice shy...but in this case I did not seem to learn
my lesson easily. It was more a matter of  perhaps taking a chance, having
some excitement and maybe just not comprehending the dangers. And I guess
quite simply, in both instances we were lucky.

Life is always going to present us with an opportunity to test our skills, but
before doing so, important to know and understand the possibility of risk and
danger and prepare accordingly. Maybe that is something we achieve more
as we age and see so many friends and associates leaving this earth well before
their time because of a small mistake that leads to a major disaster. And again,
as they say, Most accidents are preventable.

So before you decide to live dangerously....check your map, your equipment
and most of all the reasons for doing what you may be about to do. Only then
it just might be safe to proceed. Or it might not....