Season Opener

April 30 2004, 10AM - 4PM
Sebago Club Opener ( a weird looking word) is this Saturday. Do not look like it would be a good day for it. Its a good change to meet everyone since last season thought. I hope to be there.

Kayak experience and personal History

I started Kayaking 3 years ago very much by accident. I have been going through several summer of just wasting my time and feeling sorry for myself because my weekend usually involve staying in home, walking my dog and talking long run. Searching the Internet for Hiking and outdoor activities I happened onto a website for Sebago Canoe Club. As it was my luck, they are having an open house the coming week. It is not too far from my house.

The club is tucked into a small artificial bay; the only way to get there is by car or by bus. I did not have a car at the time so getting there involve taking a bus north, then taking another bus east all the way to the end of the line, all together a one hour trip. By car it’s a 30 minutes ride.

I was interested in sailing when I get down there that first day. It turn out the sailing program is not fully restored yet, and there was a kayaking group going out. That how I get into kayaking. My first time in a kayak was a bit frightening; I have never been in a boat – except my childhood experience of fleeting Vietnam in a leaking boat.

The water is not in the condition that one would ever want to fall into. I make a couple of mistake on my first trip out; I did not have water (was not prepare to go out on my first day), no hat, and importantly no suntan.

Let fast forward. I took Star I and Star II my second year at our cabin in Sebago Lake, Harriman Park in upstate New York. I failed my first attempt at getting certified for Star II. I retook star I and star II again the next year and pass. Last year was somewhat of a bust; I went kayaking, but not as often as I want nor as challenging as I want it to be. I did learn how to do an Eskimo roll, but do not have any practice since leaving the pool.

So for this year, these are the things that I would like to accomplish or try.

1. Get certified for Canoe Safety – this will qualify me to lead trip and take friends out kayaking who are not member of the club.
2. Practice rescue and roll at least a dozen time this season.
   
3. Spend more time at our cabin a ACA camping area.
   
4. Take more extensive regional trips, there are a lot of river in the north east, there is no excuse to be home on a weekend.
   
5. Go out on unofficial trip with other members of the club, most importantly, initiate ideas where to go and organize trip.

Kayaking Season Is Finally Here

Finally warm enough to be thinking about getting back to the water again. The water is still cold, but the preparation is underway to have a fun and safe paddling season.

I am not a fan of cold weather paddling, too much preparation and clothing are need, and I do not like cold weather to start with.

Here to an eventful and fun summer.