And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Reminds me of the time 50 years ago when my friends and I hiked up to Lower Emerald Pool in Zion NP in the first week of June. It was hot and I was young and dumb and took off my shirt and shoes and jumped in. The water was probably melting the week before and very cold. I had a tremendous shock to the system and was able (barely) to swim across and climb out on the rocks. No lifeguard on duty, indeed.
You're fortunate (and tough). Cold shock can and often does kill people. In my area they post warnings about it, but still almost every year you hear of an incident. The air warms here well before the water does.
Right, if my muscles would have locked up, I would have been out of luck. As it was, they were laughing at my obvious distress when I got out. One big goose bump.
We were camping in the Adirondacks once and came upon a lake much like this one. There was an island in the middle so we decided to swim over. When we pulled ourselves out of the water we were covered in leeches.
Given that that water is probably mostly ice melt, I'll bet any swim there is bracing to say the least.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the time 50 years ago when my friends and I hiked up to Lower Emerald Pool in Zion NP in the first week of June. It was hot and I was young and dumb and took off my shirt and shoes and jumped in. The water was probably melting the week before and very cold. I had a tremendous shock to the system and was able (barely) to swim across and climb out on the rocks. No lifeguard on duty, indeed.
ReplyDeleteWell done, sir.
DeleteYou're fortunate (and tough). Cold shock can and often does kill people. In my area they post warnings about it, but still almost every year you hear of an incident. The air warms here well before the water does.
DeleteRight, if my muscles would have locked up, I would have been out of luck. As it was, they were laughing at my obvious distress when I got out. One big goose bump.
Deletei'm bettin she aint got no swimmin suit on. CANNONBALL.
ReplyDeleteWe were camping in the Adirondacks once and came upon a lake much like this one. There was an island in the middle so we decided to swim over. When we pulled ourselves out of the water we were covered in leeches.
ReplyDeleteThen there was the swim back.
Too cold!
ReplyDelete