Here's a couple my experiences that fall into the PLS (parking lot syndrome) category.

Ten years ago we were staying at the lodge in Olympic National Park during a horrendous rain storm. Coming in from the wet at the end of the day we ran for cover and did not lock up the boats. In the calm of first light I went out to check on things. Not to worry. There were two guys standing stock still staring fixedly at the boats while sipping their steaming mugs of coffee. Clearly things were under control and I backed away unnoticed in order to avoid the inevitable stream of questions.

The second is a case of the most amazing question I have yet received. Coming down to my car from the passenger deck on the ferry I found a guy looking intently at the boats. We exchanges pleasantries and then he asked, "but how did you make them look like wood?"

Ted

: Hello all,

: I went to dinner last night and still had the kayak on the racks.
: Someone saw the car and the boat and apparently went and told
: the bartender to come look, who apparently told another customer
: who told another... next thing I knew the entire place emptied
: out- chef, bartender, waitress, patrons and all- all of them
: asking questions and looking at the kayak and the car (my hotrod
: VW). As they all milled around the car I went in the restaurant
: just to see and sure enough there was not a single person there!

: I promise it's not ego- it's actually just cool to see people
: admiring something you built, and I love all the questions about
: the kayak, the Greenland paddles, the car and the wood surfboard
: and all the other stuff that resides atop my car. No matter how
: much of a rush I'm in I always try to give a little time to
: answer their questions. Living on an island that is a cruise
: ship destination I often get tourists taking pictures and asking
: questions, sometimes even as I am stopped at redlights. It does
: look funny because the kayak is about four feet longer than the
: VW. I have to be careful when making turns not to whack stuff
: with one end or the other of the kayak. One thing for sure, I
: never have to worry about anyone stealing my car. It would take
: about two seconds to find it.

: I only post it here because I know you guys get a lot of the same
: and you won't think I'm bragging, but rather just passing on a
: funny story! Feel free to post your funny story of the attention
: your wood kayak gets.