More swans
On holiday in the South of France we went on a boat trip on a canal. The boat was tiny, and solar-powered so it didn't move too fast (top speed 5km/h). The boat rental guy told us that if we saw any swans we should "wave the oars at them and they will go away", and they might be more agressive than usual because it was nesting season.
I hate boats anyway mainly because I can't swim. So when the others suggested we should go off the main canal and 'explore' I wasn't keen, but we did it anyway. The channel got narrower and narrower and finally we decided to turn around before it became impossible. Of course we got stuck. It was then that we noticed two swans powering towards us at high speed. With the aid of an oar we unstuck the boat and tried to run away. The problem with running away when your boat goes no faster than walking speed is evident. The swans chased us all the way back to the main channel, taking it in turns to take off and charge at us. The sight of a large male swan bearing down on you, wings outstreched, is not one I hope to see again. I was given the task of waving the oar at them, which was of course utterly useless. I thought I was going to die, either pecked to death or drowned when the swans overturned the boat. All the French people gathered on the banks pointing and laughing did not make it any better.
When we got back we told the whole story to the rental man. He grinned murderously and said "Don't worry. I will kill and eat them." Which although it sounds rather brutal made me feel a lot better.
Apologies for length and detailedness but this was one of the formative experiences of my early life!
(supershinysarah, Thu 2 Jun 2005, 10:35, Reply)