[Rhodes22-list] Pucker factor, Maine style

[Robert Skinner]

Two made it, one didn't, last Saturday night.

Three dudes from Mass were enjoying a night-time snowmobile 
ride near the north end of Sebago Lake.  They had seen cars 
out on the ice a bit south of their position, and inferred 
that the lake was safely frozen.  No fear.

But they didn't know about the Songo River outlet.  It 
empties warm water into Sebago at the north end, and the 
ice at that point is always questionable.

They boogied on into the darkness, and ran out of ice.

Now, when you are on a snowmobile and find that you are on 
the water, here is only one way to survive.  Open the 
throttle, and ride straight until you are on something 
solid.  The alternative is to sink into 32 degree water.

One of the riders banked slowly to his left and got back 
to land after a bit less than a mile over water.  A second 
just held on straight and crossed almost three miles of 
open water before he hit land.  The third sank about 1/2 
mile off shore.

Many of us have had those moments when it was looking 
like it was all up, and have experienced that certain 
tightening of our butts.  With that in mind, consider 
the shattering moment when rider number 3 realized that he 
was not going to make it.  That poor guy couldn't have 
lasted more than a few minutes before his lights went 
out.

By the way, rider number 2 now appears to hold the 
record for "skimming" - riding a snowmobile over open 
water.  His 3-mile jaunt is apparently without precedent.
Before the winter is out, we will bury a few Darwin 
Award candidates who try to beat it.

I hope they are not my friends.
-- 
Robert Skinner               "Squirrel Haven"
9 Gateway Commons, Gorham, Maine   04038-1331
Home/Messages 207-839-8777, Cell 207-653-1752

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20070226/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_snowmobile_skimming;_ylt=A0WTcUWgc.RFeIMAwhv7Uc0F

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Newsroom/News_2006/News_2006_Q1/OHRV_Skimming_Death_013006.htm