Rescue on the High Seas!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

On Saturday, my husband, daughter, Fudge and Vern, and I set out for a day of adventure on our Pontoon boat.  We had no idea what was in store for us.  I never embellish on my blogs, so I want to be perfectly clear that in this story the high seas was really just a lake near our home, but Rescue on the Lake just doesn’t have the same pizzazz as Rescue on the High Seas. 

It was pretty cold on Saturday, but the dogs love to swim so we docked the boat for a bit and let them get in the water.  My husband and daughter actually got in the water, too, but I pretended told them that I was needed to help the dogs on the ramp and hold Fudge’s lead and all that was too complicated from the water.  At one point, my husband offered to switch places with me, but I assured him that I did not want to ruin his fun or brisk swim in the water.  We didn’t stay long and pretty soon we were back on the open water.

We hadn’t traveled far and I spotted something in the water.  Sure enough, there were two women in the middle of the lake next to their capsized canoe.  

Luckily, they had their life vests on because in some places the water can be 90 feet deep. Along side of them were three kayakers and a sailboat.  The women couldn’t get their canoe righted and the kayakers were trying to help.  We got as close to them as we felt safe.  Finally, the canoe was right side up, but the women could not get back in with or without the help of all the others.  One of the women was older, about F Parker’s age, and one woman was much, much younger, about my age. (I am checking to see if F reads every line of my blog)  I am not trying to pass judgment, but from a distance, I could tell that if I challenged either one of these women to a foot race, I would be the clear winner and to put that into perspective, if I walk a 12 minute mile, my all out run, on a good day, for one mile would be maybe 11 minutes, 45 seconds.  In other words, there was not a chance in hell that these women were going to ever get back in that canoe.

I finally yelled, “Would you like to use our ladder and get on our boat?” and everyone yelled back, “YES!”  It was a windy day and the water was very choppy, so navigating close enough to these women and avoiding plowing over top of them, because no one likes a rescuer that makes mincemeat out of the rescuee, took some doing on my husband’s part.  Every time we thought we were close enough, the older woman would drift further away and say, “why does this keep happening?” which led me to further believe she needed a refresher course in wind conditions and water movement before attempting to canoe again. By this time, one of the kayakers had taken control of the canoe, and the sailboat guy was dragging the extra kayak behind his boat. Meanwhile, Fudge and Vern were trying to figure out if these were giant geese or worse in the water and Vern was prepared to protect us from any attempt to take over our vessel. 

After many attempts, we finally got the women on board and both dogs did great with the ladies. I also would like to add that many times you never hear what the rescuers were saying amongst themselves as they were planning the best way to save somebody, but I can tell you that I said to my family, prior to the women boarding, “do you think we should take the robes off of the dogs before they see them?”

 

We offered to take them to shore, but they wanted to get back in the canoe.  For some reason, my husband listened to the older woman (must have reminded him of his sister) and kept driving to a spot that she pointed out where we could drop them off.  The only problem was the kayakers with the canoe had already stopped at a spot much farther back and were waiting for us.  This minor point did not seem to bother my husband or the woman and I felt like saying, “in order for these women to get back in the canoe, don’t you think they should be near the canoe?” or mention the fact that he was listening to a woman who we picked up in the middle of the lake, but finally he had a light bulb moment or else he heard me say, “where exactly are you going?” and turned the boat back around.  In short order, the women were reunited with their canoe, but I did say to my husband, “I am betting in 30 minutes, they are back in the water.”

 

Here is what we learned on Saturday.  There is a reason Newfoundland dogs do not wear robes and life jackets while on duty. 

If we had to send Fudge or Vern into those choppy waters to rescue those women, we would have first had to remove their robes and then put on their life jackets, thus losing valuable time.  In addition, I have been in the water with Fudge and Vern and found that they like to try and climb onto me, which I do not think is standard rescue technique and can, in fact, make the person in the water feel as if they will not be surviving their ordeal.  Furthermore, my husband learned if there is a choice between taking direction from his wife or a total stranger who keeps directing him away from her source of transportation, he should probably listen to the woman who he has lived with enough years to know can beat a dead horse to death when she feels he made a poor choice.

My daughter learned that even though no one was in any real danger, by the time her mother gets done telling this story, it will rival the story told round the table by Captain “Sully” Sullenberger about his “Miracle on the Hudson” landing. 

My husband summed it up best when he said, “we haven’t even had this boat for one month and we already have one rescue under our belt.” Not bad for a day’s work!

[Carol and Banjo]

So relieved this was not another Doodle Rescue.    If you're feeling self conscious about the robes - maybe you could applique a big red cross on each one and Vern and Fudge would have their dignity back.    It's not easy to navigate in choppy, windy waters up close to swimmers.   A line attached to anything that floats, even a life vest and tossed to the person in the water makes it easier and safer.   Whenever we're anchored and getting off the boat we keep a line with a vest or cushion attached tied to the boat.   It just gives us something extra to grab on to in deep water if anyone has a problem.    

Hilarious blog Laurie.....and seriously, did you really think you could catch F asleep at the wheel?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Laurie, I'm so glad that you have that pontoon boat.  It is turning into the source for some of your BEST blogs!  I'm thinking that this boat is not giving you the calm, relaxing outings you envisioned.....calamity adventure seems to follow you, DH and the Doodles.  I hope you've sent your story to the local news outlets.

[Dori & Rua]

Can never be anything but a great blog if the it is written by you!  That 5th picture looks familar.  Back in 2003, when I was crusing down the Loch Ness on a 42' cruise boat, I swear I saw something that looked that that.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

This was such a daring rescue but why oh why am I laughing so much?  It must be something you said about F !!!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

What an exciting day! I hope the women offered to publish a record of your heroic rescue and that you might get a medal as PONTOON-BOAT-LAKE-RESCUE-HEROES 2012.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

F, Now I have my answer....you do read my blogs all the way through :) LOL I thought maybe I would get a hokum, but realized it was too obvious! If it is any consolation, the dogs and I got rained on tonight on our walk. In fact, I had to cut it short because of thunder and lightning. It really is fun, but we could do without the rescues!

My mom always said you only tease the people you like. Or did she say if they tease you, they like you...who knows, she was always saying something :)

Karen, I had to use a catchy title to lure the readers in...LOL!! I told them they picked a bad day to canoe. I think they realized that after the fact :) The Doodles behaved admirably, except for a little barking!

Camilla and Lori, I think you are over estimating Fudge and Vern's abilities...LOL!!

Jennifer, Thank you!! If an eleven minute mile is fast, then I meant twenty minutes...LOL!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

How can I not read every line when a hidden barb may be lurking? You are very unkind to talk about sensitive topics when I am close to another BD : ) But I noticed you said one of the women was older, not old, and you did not say older than what. The implication was older than the other woman, who was about your age, and we all know you often lie about your age. If you were not part of a heroic rescue I would respond more forcefully. I will ask, "You go out on this boat for fun? " :)))) Mowing my lawn and getting rained on, twice in 2 weeks, is beginning to sound good. No robe, life vest, ramps or rescues. My neighbor told me I'm not allowed to mow on weekends anymore since I cause the storms : ) Everyone picks on me : (

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

OMD, Laurie, what an adventure! I was afraid from the title that one of the doodles might have been the rescuee, so I'm very relieved to hear that it was only two strange ladies (and I feel that the word "strange" is  amazingly appropriate in this case.) What I would really like to know is why these two woman thought it would be a good idea to go canoeing in the first place.

I hope your DH really did learn his lesson and will take direction from his lovely wife in the future, because then he will make it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the only husband who ever did. .

All's well that ends well, and as long as no doodles were harmed in the making of this movie blog, I say it's your story, tell it any way you want to. :)

[Camilla and Darwin]

What a daring brave rescue. I'm sure the dogs would have performed admirably if given the chance.... LOL

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

Oh, you just didn't give Fudge and Vern half a chance! I'm sure they would have performed heroically if you had set them loose.  

"Why does this keep happening?" LOL!!! Yes, water and wind currents are such a puzzle.