Letter: Not the Canyon Lake way

Editor, The Friday Flyer:

Canyon Lake is known for its residents looking out for each other. We live in a community where we have each other’s backs. We respect each other. We live within the gates of a hidden gem.

It’s not the Canyon Lake way to hit and run a fellow boater or anyone for that matter on our lake.

John Foster, who had just been hit while sitting on a paddle board near his dock, took this photo of the pontoon boat he said had just hit him. John, although startled, was not injured. His board was slightly damaged. Photo by John Foster.

On Sunday, July 4th around 2:15 p.m., I was on my paddle board near the docks by Indian Beach when a pontoon boat clipped the back of my board. I was not hurt and the board only sustained minor scrapes which took off some of the paint. I was as close to the docks as possible. I was taking photos of all the fun on the lake.

I yelled out to the driver of the pontoon and they just kept going. While I feel this was an accident, it should not have happened. They were too close to the docks. I commented that if they didn’t like me taking photos, all they had to do was stop and ask what I was doing. I would have gladly shared with them that I was simply taking photos.

This incident is not the Canyon Lake way. Thank goodness nobody was hurt. I hope that the person or persons on this pontoon boat think twice next time. Things could have gone a whole other direction if someone would have been hurt or if I would have been slammed into the docks or sucked under the pontoon.

The lake is here for us all to enjoy, even our guests. We should feel safe while out on the water. A harbor patrol report has been filed and while I am not seeking to see anyone fined or get in trouble, I would like the driver of the pontoon to know that it was a scary incident and I was in fear having a moving boat of that size so close to me.

— John Foster