Saturday, April 21, 2007

Cold water cold?

I am sitting here after a restless night with that most aggravating of maladies, the spring cold. After surviving the entire winter in excellent health here I sit with a stuffed up nose, scratchy throat, and low grade fever. This brings up the age old question: can you get a cold from being cold? My mother, grandmother, and all other female relatives certainly were convinced of that fact. They also were certain that if you went swimming in under an hour after you've eaten, that you would be afflicted by stomach cramps and drown immediately. When my Reed tuliq arrived last week I immediately took it out and rolled the boat in some nice, cold, non chlorinated fresh water. Was it cold? Hell yes. I was out last Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The water and the sky were clear, a fingernail moon sat in the western sky, and my forward stroke was slowly coming back. On a couple of the days it was so warm with the tuliq that I rolled every 5 minutes or so. The cycle of uncomfortably warm then cold repeated itself dozens of times, much to my satisfaction. When I mentioned Wednesday to my buddies that I felt a cold coming on they were unanimous. "Of course you're getting a cold Olson.....only a moron would repeatedly submerge himself in 45F water". While that may be true I don't think it can cause a cold. I've got a pretty good idea where the cold originated but I ain't pointing any fingers. So on a beautiful Saturday with forecast highs of 75F, a light breeze, and blue skies I'll be sitting here with Kleenex, orange juice, and zinc tablets watching playoff hockey and...........like hell I will, I'm going paddling!

5 comments:

Silbs said...

Actually, the cold can reduce your resistance to invaders (pathogens). Still, some one has to donate the virus. They can sneeze on you or just leave it on the telephone that you pick up.

Lord Hayden said...

The key is to have enough booze leaving your mouth with each breath that any pathogens are eliminated at once. I've not been sick in a dozen fortnights!

DaveO said...

Indeed My Lord. I've seen you implement this effective technique many times. Will you test your kayak skills in the Pacific whilst residing in Scwarzneggland? I also know that implementing your cold prevention technique is best done after the tent is set up. Personal experience.

Kristen said...

Ohmygosh, that brings back memories from my dad and grandparents! But we had to wait 20 minutes before we could get back in the water after a meal. And never sleep under an open window (or any window for that matter); and as a minimum wash your feet if you can't shower at night cos then your feet can breath; and a chill will bring a cold on. Thanks for the memories!

DaveO said...

I remember being warned not to eat snow as a kid because it was radioactive (Russian atmospheric tests). Starve a cold feed a fever....or was it the other way around? Don't touch the side of the tent or it will leak in that spot. So many admonitions, so little substance.