Monday, July 6, 2015

Needle in a Haystack

Like most boaters I've lost a thing or two overboard and had to reluctantly come to terms with accepting the loss and moving on.  Early this morning I found myself in that position once again.
 
After launching from the Bedford Boat Launch at Route 225, perfect conditions were enjoyed as I blissfully paddled down the Concord River.

It was when this squadron of ducks pulled out in front of me that things began to go south...

Seeing them on my camera's screen was only possible after removing my magnetic clip-on sunglasses and briefly placing them on my pant leg (within my boat's cockpit)....and then forgetting about them.
 
I paddled further downriver passing under Route 3 to the remnants of the old Middlesex Turnpike bridge location before turning about and heading back upriver.  Before once again passing under the Route 3 overpass I snapped this photo...
...and realized that my clip-on sunglasses were not attached to my glasses.  Checking all my pockets and the boat's cockpit turned up nada, and I began to hear an inner voice telling me "the sunglasses are gone...accept the $150+ loss and move on...salvage what you can of this beautiful day despite the loss as finding them would be like finding a needle in a haystack".

Another inner voice wondered if clip-on glasses would have floated or sank and asked "where have you been since snapping the duck photo?"  So, I began re-tracing my paddle strokes back to the Middlesex Turnpike, then to a couple of spots where I'd briefly exited the boat.  This process eventually brought me back to the duck family who were now enjoying some beach time...
That's when I saw the fish nest in the shallows and remembered having seen one just like it upon exiting my boat earlier.  Two slow passes were made with eyes anxiously scanning the bottom, never expecting they'd be there.  On the second pass I saw the outline of the glasses laying on the bottom in about 5" of water and upon retrieving them my spirits went from the depths of despair to utopia.

From now on these will be relegated to shore duty only...
To be honest I never dreamed I'd actually find them.  Must have been my lucky day!

Some rounded-up trash got lucky too...
...and was deposited in the Big Belly receptacles back at the boat launch.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

seems a good time to buy a lottery ticket. your luck's running well. I did that with a pair of reading glasses once. wore them on top of my head when not using. took my shirt off over my head at one rest stop and they went flying somewhere. even went back to look, but never found them.

Al said...

Hi Ron, Yeah, usually once something takes the plunge it's gone. Perhaps I will get a lottery ticket before my luck runs out.

PenobscotPaddles said...

Wow, what is that a fourteen mile journey? And you found sunglasses you'd lost on the bottom? Impressive!

Al said...

Hi PenobscotPaddles, It was an eight mile paddle and I'd paddled about a half mile from where I'd removed the glasses. Only danger now is the next time I drop something into the abyss I'll probably stay out all night convinced I'll find it, when more than likely I won't.

Brett said...

I try to always remember to put my magnetic clip-on sunglasses in my pocket, not on my lap, which I will do in a hurry, when I'm out on the water in my kayak. When I'm fishing and things get hectic I'm even more likely to forget.

I hate losing things so much I probably would have done what you did. Last winter I was x-country skiing at night and lost my head lamp by pulling my hat off and forgetting it was on the hat (the lamp was off). Didn't realize it until I got home. I went back at first light and retraced my steps and found it!

BTW, you've inspired me to always try to bring back some trash whenever I paddle the local rivers and lakes. Every piece helps!

Al said...

Hello Brett, Glad to hear you had similar good fortune by retracing your steps. Especially with snow involved.
Agree with you regarding trash "every piece helps" and honored for having played any part in inspiring you. Thanks