Dang Ron, I hope this does not happen every time you try to go paddling! Hard on the put in docks! Better luck next time!! :

Yesterday, I packed up my kayak and gear and headed to the Northwest Outdoor
: Center (NWOC-kayak store and rental center) on Lake Union in Seattle. My
: plan was to buy a new wet suit and sprayskirt, then try them out with a
: paddle across Lake Union, past the University of Washington, and into Lake
: Washington.

: The NWOC is located on a floating dock a under a two story office building
: that sits on large metal pilings above the lake. While I left the parking
: lot and headed down the stairs to the dock, two double kayaks left the
: rental area paddling out onto the lake. As I walked past the store out
: onto the dock to watch the kayakers, I heard a grinding sound like someone
: pulling a heavy load across the floor above. The dock wasn't moving, but
: the sound got louder, the support pilings for the building above started
: moving, and debrie from above fell down on the dock. When employees of
: NWOC started running out of the store it dawned on me what was happening
: and I sprinted across the dock up the stairs to terra firma. The parking
: lot, which sits on a fill, wasn't real firm, more like jello, but at least
: by this time it was slow dancing.

: As I stood in the parking lot, with both the ground and my knees shaking I
: looked out to see how the kayakers were doing. They were paddling away on
: a sunny calm lake seemingly unaware of what was going on. The NWOC didn't
: fare as well. An overhead water pipe broke and flooded the store. One
: emplyee I talked to didn't seem too concerned. While putting on a brand
: new pair of neoprene booties, he stated that he thought the merchandise
: should all be water proof.

: I decided to postpone my paddle and head home as my house is about 15 miles
: from rhe epicenter.

: Ron