Oh for the love of,,,,,

Dio went and did it.    Thanks goes out to Bossman, Son of Bossman, Mike in FLA, and one other that wishes anonymity,,,,

I bought my Drysuit.

Shipping from Chineee,,, and not top of the line, but for the type of water fun I do, this unit has good reviews,,,,

And it didn’t cost me a Grand or more to get.

These have been getting people on water that normally have to make other accommadations (like layered wetsuits and still freeze your cojones off) or forgoe paddling altogether,

and it didn’t cost me a Grand or more to get,,,,

Granted NOT in my front feet just yet,,, I only ordered it today, and I used the CrdCard so that IF things go sour in the transaction, I have some legal recourse, BUT, the money that is spent was bonus, donated, and gifted, so I did not break my finances.

If it works well, and I find that I am getting more paddle time in during not so friendly months, LATER, I will figure out how to finance one of those high dollar suits with lifetime warranties,,,, (honestly though, I feel that the hype around Gore-tex is just that, HYPE,,, Sweated a few times in my drytop which is a goretex make,,,, When the ‘burped’ top starts to inflate from moisture and heat, I think its safe to say ‘it ain’t breathing’ as advertised.) The whole point of these things is to keep you dry and that is what keeps you warm (as long as you dress accordingly underneath it,,, I has that stuff.) I found that wetsuits are good, but there is a ticking clock attached to them, even in GOOD conditions. I didn’t go full hypothermic, but I was a jittery teeth chattering mess, and the water was 70 degrees. Three hours with little activity (spotter in a pool for rolling classes) and my core had dropped to near danger levels. 20 minutes in a warm shower helped immensely, wetsuit and all. With that history of my suits in mind, I calculate VERY CAREFULLY when I will or won’t go on water now. Hopefully that will change a bit with the new drysuiit. (there is a rule of thumb called the hundred degrees rule. If the water and air temperature add up to less than 100 degrees(Faranheit) start dressing heavy. I modify that rule to 120, because I have been in a situaton where the 100 degree mark was ‘right there’ and I felt I was in danger still, despite being dressed for it. Least to say, I didn’t stay out long that day, and it felt warmer in the water than above. I was dressed for immersion, not exposure and the cold rain was rinsing through my wetsuit chilling me down FAST. (maybe the rain temps brought that number to well below the hundred number,,, Dunno for certain, but it was KOLD,,,,)

And I didn’t go out today as I had planned this AM,,,, temps are still below 40 outside right now and won’t get to that high 50’s mark until mid afternoon. Water temps are low 50’s high 40’s right now (higher near shore, colder out in open water) and

well,,, Thats what inspired me to go ahead and pull the trigger on this drysuit. I know my limits in gear and where the weather is sitting is borderline. If I were in a group, hell yes, lets go,,, I solo, most everytime,,, Has to mitigate the risk, and like flying; take offs are optional, landings are mandatory. I opt out of the take off so that I don’t have to worry about that landing (that could be the crash,,, where you still end up on the ground drowned.)

SOON,,, just have to wait on international shipping times,,, (note: fellow paddling bud bought one lastyear (two?) and had his before the predicted arrival, I’m hoping for similar but won’t be mad if it takes (a little) longer. BUT, I am ready to file for recourse if things start to seem shady,,,,)

SO, not paddling for Dio today, but I do have the ERG and that will suffice for now. mehbe t’morrah,,,,,,