Here in western Canada, as elsewhere, boat launches are more entertaining than a zoo. You name it and you'll see it there, sooner or later. But one that we use is worse than all the others.
The thing that bugs me the most at this small lake in the national park that we like to go to is swimmers in the launch area. Signs (complete with a picture of a swimmer with an X drawn through it) are posted next to the launch dock indicating that no swimming is allowed. Yet, dozens of kids run up and down the dock and dive in and swim among the boats coming and going. The floating dock appears to be the main attraction. There is a marked off swimming area with a long, sandy beach less than one hundred yards away, but they refuse to use that area.
When we approach the dock, we sit on the horn and carefully try to dodge the kids. They just glare at us with a look that says, "what are you doing in our swimming area?" So far, no one has been hit by a boat or prop (at least not that we have heard of). But it may just be a matter of time until that happens.
The national park chooses not to enforce the no swimming in the boat launch area. We've complained, but it does no good. The reason appears to be that nearly all of the kids diving and swimming there come from a nearby community, a community to which normal rules don't apply, and no one wants to infringe on their rights to enjoyment of the lake. I have seen upset boaters go over and talk to the kids' parents, who usually are lounging on the grass not far from the boat launch. All the boaters get for their trouble is argument and abuse. One woman I talked to last summer about getting her kids out of the area accused me of discrimination.
When the kids and their parents leave, they don't bother cleaning up their garbage either. We often go along later and pick up dirty diapers, drink containers, forgotten clothing, etc. I guess littering is another right. Again, park authorities seem unwilling to try to enforce that rule with this group of people.
So next time you get upset about someone launching their boat a little slowly, just think that it could be worse.
