I stopped by Jersey Paddler on Saturday. I wanted to see if they have dry suit I can try on. They don't have anything in my size. I end up putting down a deposit for a special order on a youth size Extra large Kokatat Dry suit. They will let me know when it come it. It will cost $339 total if I get it. Here hoping that it will fit. I also get two skullcap for cold water kayaking and a high tech top. Get a manager special discount on that.
It is very frustrating shopping for my size. I am 5 feet 4, 105 lbs so most often I end up having the used kids size or woman size. The problem with using woman cut clothing is the crotch area is always too tights and the waist tend to be too big on me.
Monday, November 27, 2006
I will Pass on the Big Wave, Thank You
Sunday, Nov 26
Arrived at the Club by 9:30AM. I was the first one there. I wanted to get there early and do some work on the club boat but realized that I don't have the key to the club workshop. Instead I get my roof rack set up for our short trip to Plum Beach for my first open water paddle. I have never actually sea kayak in my 6 years of paddling. I been on a lake, Long Island Sound (in a bay), in the Hudson River, and on Jamaica Bay but never in open ocean. The plan was to car-top my kayak to Plum Beach, meet up with some other paddlers, launch from there and head to Breezy Point to surf the waves off the underwater sandbar. The usual crews are going on this trip plus three others. Mike Miles, who I have never meet, an experiences Rockaway kayak surfer will be our guide for this trip. Lorry(Glory?) who I met before at the lake, and Bonnie's friend, whom name slipped my mind, were the other two paddlers that I don't often paddle with. Jerry, Stevie, Bonnie, Pete and myself make 8 in total on this little trip.
It take a bit of time before everyone is ready to start off when we get to Blum beach. The paddle to Breezy Point was not too difficult. A couple of 2 to 3 feet waves, nothing I have not see before, just require a bit more concentration and attention then flat water but more fun. We we get close to Breezy Point I see for the first time the waves that form off Breezing Point from the underwater sandbar. Never seen anything like it before, curtain of water 5 feet tall, a quarter of a mile wide running for about half a mile then dieing down as it clear the sandbar. I have enough problem just trying to hold my position outside the surf zone. I was terrified that I may unintentional end up inside the surf. A couple of other paddles were more adventurous and try to ride the wave. Bonnies has a blast, she probable spend the most time in the surf. Her friend capsized and had to swim his boat out of the surf zone before he can be rescue. The sound of the wave crashing onto the water was deafening.
After everyone have their fun, we head along the surf zone, and headed to the Brighton Beach. It was a tricky paddle because water is still effected by the surf from the sand bar. It seem like it take us forever to reach the beach. It was 1:30PM when we landed on Brighton Beach for lunch. I did not bring any food again, and have no money to get pizza. I ate two old energy bars, and a couple of crackers I get from Stevie.
We left the beach at 2PM. I never like launching from a beach. I always end up getting water in the boat, and getting my spray skirt on. I backed out as fast as I can to clear the wave and almost ran into Mike. I did not notice he was out there. Oop.
Pete needed to be back by 3PM for a meeting so we are on a deadline. Jerry have difficulties so Mike and the rest of the group wait for him. Stevie, Pete and I started the paddle back to Blum Beach. We hugged the shores, passing Manhattan Beach, round Kingboro College, cross the mouth of Sheepshead Bay and onto Plum beach by 3PM exactly. The rest of the groups arrived about 5 minutes after we landed.
We get the kayak pack and say good bye to our out of town visitors. I did not change out of my wet clothing till I get back to the club.
It was an exciting day of paddling, see the surfing that everyone is talking about. Maybe next summer I may actually try to ride it.
It was a short trip, about 7.4miles, but the challenging conditions make it feel like a lot more. I have to do more of these kind of trip instead of sticking to the same old same old boring trips.
Arrived at the Club by 9:30AM. I was the first one there. I wanted to get there early and do some work on the club boat but realized that I don't have the key to the club workshop. Instead I get my roof rack set up for our short trip to Plum Beach for my first open water paddle. I have never actually sea kayak in my 6 years of paddling. I been on a lake, Long Island Sound (in a bay), in the Hudson River, and on Jamaica Bay but never in open ocean. The plan was to car-top my kayak to Plum Beach, meet up with some other paddlers, launch from there and head to Breezy Point to surf the waves off the underwater sandbar. The usual crews are going on this trip plus three others. Mike Miles, who I have never meet, an experiences Rockaway kayak surfer will be our guide for this trip. Lorry(Glory?) who I met before at the lake, and Bonnie's friend, whom name slipped my mind, were the other two paddlers that I don't often paddle with. Jerry, Stevie, Bonnie, Pete and myself make 8 in total on this little trip.
It take a bit of time before everyone is ready to start off when we get to Blum beach. The paddle to Breezy Point was not too difficult. A couple of 2 to 3 feet waves, nothing I have not see before, just require a bit more concentration and attention then flat water but more fun. We we get close to Breezy Point I see for the first time the waves that form off Breezing Point from the underwater sandbar. Never seen anything like it before, curtain of water 5 feet tall, a quarter of a mile wide running for about half a mile then dieing down as it clear the sandbar. I have enough problem just trying to hold my position outside the surf zone. I was terrified that I may unintentional end up inside the surf. A couple of other paddles were more adventurous and try to ride the wave. Bonnies has a blast, she probable spend the most time in the surf. Her friend capsized and had to swim his boat out of the surf zone before he can be rescue. The sound of the wave crashing onto the water was deafening.
After everyone have their fun, we head along the surf zone, and headed to the Brighton Beach. It was a tricky paddle because water is still effected by the surf from the sand bar. It seem like it take us forever to reach the beach. It was 1:30PM when we landed on Brighton Beach for lunch. I did not bring any food again, and have no money to get pizza. I ate two old energy bars, and a couple of crackers I get from Stevie.
We left the beach at 2PM. I never like launching from a beach. I always end up getting water in the boat, and getting my spray skirt on. I backed out as fast as I can to clear the wave and almost ran into Mike. I did not notice he was out there. Oop.
Pete needed to be back by 3PM for a meeting so we are on a deadline. Jerry have difficulties so Mike and the rest of the group wait for him. Stevie, Pete and I started the paddle back to Blum Beach. We hugged the shores, passing Manhattan Beach, round Kingboro College, cross the mouth of Sheepshead Bay and onto Plum beach by 3PM exactly. The rest of the groups arrived about 5 minutes after we landed.
We get the kayak pack and say good bye to our out of town visitors. I did not change out of my wet clothing till I get back to the club.
It was an exciting day of paddling, see the surfing that everyone is talking about. Maybe next summer I may actually try to ride it.
It was a short trip, about 7.4miles, but the challenging conditions make it feel like a lot more. I have to do more of these kind of trip instead of sticking to the same old same old boring trips.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Back post - Sunday 11/19/2006
I don't like writing. I don't like talking neither. I need to practice both as conscientiously as I practice safety skills for Kayaking.
A planned workday turned into a kayaking adventure on Sunday. Jerry and I planned to have a look at all the club's boats to determine their conditions and repair needs. Email get passed back and fore, by Saturday night a sizable group of people want to do a paddle before the workday.
I get to the Club by 9:30AM. The sky was sunny and a very slight breeze. There were fifth of us going out to Gerrison Greek, Stevie, Charles, Bonnie, Elizabeth, Pete and myself, all experience paddler. Jerry have a family emergency and was not able to make the paddle. Because everyone is experienced there was not need for a formal trip leader. Everyone keep together in a tight group naturally as we conversed.
J. Bay was very quiet, not much waves or boats. We reached Marine Parkway GI Hodges Bridge by 11:45AM. We landed on the beach right before the bridge for a rest. It was nice to have a chance to land and get out of the boat to cool down. It is amazing how hot it get in my wet suit and dry-top. We headed under the bridge and toward Dead Horse Bay after 20 minutes rest. There is a slight breeze as we entered Rockaway Inlet. Just enough to cool us down, not enough to have to struggle with. Instead of going into the Marina at Dead Horse Bay, we paddled a bit pass it, and into Gerrisen Bay. I was going to go right through the middle channel, not realizing that there is a peninsular, and an island, the water take the formed of the letter CD, thinking that there are two islands. The rest of the group the channel furthest to the right so I have to hassle back to join them. We landed a the tip of the island for a break and lunch. I did not bring any food. I get some boil eggs from Steven and candle bars from Stevie to hold me over.
We paddled around the Island and down the middle channels back out toward Dead Horse Bay. I was a bit bored by that time and decided that I would see if I can paddled without stopping to Marine Parkway GI Hodges Bridges. I ended up with a sizable lead from the rest of the group when we all meet up again on the other side of the Bridge. We ended up with two group, Pete, Charles and I were the lead group, and Stevie, Bonnie and Elizabeth were in the second group as we make our way around Floyd Bennett Field to Bergen Beach. Stevie, Bonnie and Elizabeth land on Bergen Beach for a nature break. I decided to wait for them while Charles and Pete head back to the club. I waited till everyone is on the water then continue my way back to the club. I get the the dock 5 minutes before the rest of the group.
It was just a bit after four when we get back, and the sun was already setting.
And as I expected, no work was actually done.
A planned workday turned into a kayaking adventure on Sunday. Jerry and I planned to have a look at all the club's boats to determine their conditions and repair needs. Email get passed back and fore, by Saturday night a sizable group of people want to do a paddle before the workday.
I get to the Club by 9:30AM. The sky was sunny and a very slight breeze. There were fifth of us going out to Gerrison Greek, Stevie, Charles, Bonnie, Elizabeth, Pete and myself, all experience paddler. Jerry have a family emergency and was not able to make the paddle. Because everyone is experienced there was not need for a formal trip leader. Everyone keep together in a tight group naturally as we conversed.
J. Bay was very quiet, not much waves or boats. We reached Marine Parkway GI Hodges Bridge by 11:45AM. We landed on the beach right before the bridge for a rest. It was nice to have a chance to land and get out of the boat to cool down. It is amazing how hot it get in my wet suit and dry-top. We headed under the bridge and toward Dead Horse Bay after 20 minutes rest. There is a slight breeze as we entered Rockaway Inlet. Just enough to cool us down, not enough to have to struggle with. Instead of going into the Marina at Dead Horse Bay, we paddled a bit pass it, and into Gerrisen Bay. I was going to go right through the middle channel, not realizing that there is a peninsular, and an island, the water take the formed of the letter CD, thinking that there are two islands. The rest of the group the channel furthest to the right so I have to hassle back to join them. We landed a the tip of the island for a break and lunch. I did not bring any food. I get some boil eggs from Steven and candle bars from Stevie to hold me over.
We paddled around the Island and down the middle channels back out toward Dead Horse Bay. I was a bit bored by that time and decided that I would see if I can paddled without stopping to Marine Parkway GI Hodges Bridges. I ended up with a sizable lead from the rest of the group when we all meet up again on the other side of the Bridge. We ended up with two group, Pete, Charles and I were the lead group, and Stevie, Bonnie and Elizabeth were in the second group as we make our way around Floyd Bennett Field to Bergen Beach. Stevie, Bonnie and Elizabeth land on Bergen Beach for a nature break. I decided to wait for them while Charles and Pete head back to the club. I waited till everyone is on the water then continue my way back to the club. I get the the dock 5 minutes before the rest of the group.
It was just a bit after four when we get back, and the sun was already setting.
And as I expected, no work was actually done.
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