Wednesday, September 06, 2006

The ocean wilderness

If I weren't worried enough about the Ironman Florida 2.4-mile ocean swm, this part of a commentary on Steve Irwin's death reinforced some of my deepest fears:

"The oceans are a rougher and more difficult wilderness for humans to function in than any encountered by terrestrial or space explorers. The sea pummels us with an unbreathable and corrosive liquid medium; altered visual and acoustic characteristics; changing temperatures, depth and pressures; upwellings; tides; currents; sudden storms and giant waves. Drowning, not animals, accounts for the vast majority of ocean-related deaths, including about 200,000 in the giant Asian tsunami of December 2004 and many of the 1,800 people who died as a result of Hurricane Katrina."

10 comments:

Dr. Iron TriFeist :) said...
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Nancy Toby said...

LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Than in the POO?? I SURE AS SHIT HOPE SO!!

Flo said...

Not bouyant in poo!!! Who knew!!!
I swim in the ocean frequently and I must say I feel more vulnerable when alone. When there are other people I figure I only have to outswim 1 person :)

Nancy Toby said...

Awww, that really cracked me up! I have a vision of attempting to swim in my wetsuit in a lagoon filled with runoff from a pig farm.... I guess it probably would be worse than the ocean. Most likely. Especially if I weren't buoyant in it.

(Comment was deleted, but it said 'at least you're more buoyant than in the poo.')

Fe-lady said...

I don't think they will hold the race if there is any evidence of a hurricane or a tsunami approaching...if so, catch that wave and ride it in baby! :-)

:) said...

I am NOT swimming in poo...no matter what you guys say!

:)

21st Century Mom said...

Isn't swimming in poo supposed to be really good for your skin? Oh wait - that's mud.

The ocean has a lot of scary bits to it but with all that company you'll have you'll be fine.

Mark said...

yikes. i honestly cannot say more.

Iron Pol said...

Part of what Steve Irwin did was try to make people understand that dangerous creatures can be dealt with when approached properly.

Part of what Ironman triathletes do is show that the seemingly impossible task of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run can be accomplished, if approached properly.

And were we able to talk with Steve, I'm willing to bet he'd say, (think Australian accent) "Mate, the world's a dangerous place. But you can't run away and try to hide. We're a part of the world, and you have to take some chances. Crikey, how could you live any other way."

tri-mama said...

Lived that nightmare scenario in my dreams this week-I'm fairly certain there are no killer stingrays in the Panhandle though-but sharks and manatees are another matter.