Get in a bit of winter paddling last weekend. Last Saturday I went out for my first cold weather paddle. I was not at all up to it. It was one of my more difficult paddle even thought we are going a very moderate distance and around an island that I have went around dozen of time before in the summer. My muscles just feel tight and wrong all over the place. My boat was weathercocking a bit, not as much as on the last day of my Long Island trip. Evey muscles in my body hurt the next day. I have not feel this much hurt since I started paddling 7 years ago.
By the time I round the back of the island, I was feel comfortable and handling the boat like I used to. We landed on a beach for me to pick up a rock to use as ballast. We end up walking around for a bit, looking for old glass bottles. Nothing interesting was found. We paddled back to the club at around 3PM.
My second paddle was last Wednesday. We paddled out at 11AM. There were 7 of us, paddle out for lunch at restaurant, and back again. It take 2 hours for us to get to Cross Bay Blvd and a small DINO restaurant. We get back on the water by 1:30PM, and back at the club by 3PM.
Stevie and I worked on our boats on the previous Tuesday but I did not put on the rudder so on Wednesday I decided to be on the save side and take out on of the club boat that have a rudder just in case I have to deal with the wind. Turn out I did not need the rudder.
We have another work day on Thursday. I finally get the rudder back on my boat. I have to test it tomorrow.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Fleet Captain
Still a bit under the weather. Nothing full blown but just me be a feel case flu any moment now. I felt it coming since last weekend but there is really nothing I can do about it. Spend much of last weekend in bed. Friday and Saturday were fine days to spend in bed because it was windy and raining all day. Sunday the sun finally come out. I extracted myself from the bed and head out to my kayak club because I promised a new member that I would show him what kind of work I need done on some of the wooden kayaks, and he is a woodworker. I really don't have that much work to do on the book, nothing that I can't do myself. If if given a choose between coordinating work with someone and doing it by myself, I would prefer to do thing on my own and on my own schedule.
I do have to figure out what I need done thought. Being the club Fleet Captain is not bad except for the coordinating thing.
I do have to figure out what I need done thought. Being the club Fleet Captain is not bad except for the coordinating thing.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Cross Linking Blog of Long Island Trip
Bonnie, one of the paddler on last weekend Long Island Trip has a great picture of me as the sunrise on Day 1 of the trip.
LI Cnav2007_Day 2
We have breakfast at at dinner near the inn, and bought grocery (beefs for BBQ, potatoes and vegetable for salad) to carry to our destination for Day 2.
We launched at the same parking lot that we landed at the end of Day 1, behind Paddy McGee. Everyone was in good spirite. The sky is overcast when we laugh at 11AM. We were in no rush to launch earlier since tide would not be critical for this part of the paddle.
It was a leisurely paddle. There were little wind and the current is not fighting us. The only diffulties is keeping clear of the motor boats since the area we paddle are very narrow at time. On one occation we end up paddling in the middle of the channel without noticing it because the red market indicating where the motor boat channel it end up on shores so we have no safe right hand side of the channel anymore. And there were two busy inlets leading to the Atlantic Ocean that we have to cross. Jone Bay Inlet was busy, but at least we have good visibility when we cross it.
We paddled in a light drizzles as the afternoon progress. Stopping at the only sandy beach we can find for lunch - it stop raining when we take lunch. I putted on a wind breaker when I landed for lunch because I was wet and feeling chilly.
Fog was setting in when we finally approach our second inlet, Fire Island Inlet. We have about a half mile visibility by the time we approach the bridge before the inlet. I was so glad that my have my GPS with me, and I finally personalize it so that I can use it for sea navigation. We have a couple of closed encounter with motor boats coming out of the fog as we crossed but all of them a good distance aways so we were never in danger of being run over. We manage to get our bearing just right to place us right before our destination for the day. We were greeted by a lighhouse on the shores as we make our way out of the fog and sight land after 2 hours of paddle without seeing land. We paddle about 2 miles after crossing over to our rented apartments on Fire Island. It was dark when we landed in a small beach on the side of the apartment complex.
We launched at the same parking lot that we landed at the end of Day 1, behind Paddy McGee. Everyone was in good spirite. The sky is overcast when we laugh at 11AM. We were in no rush to launch earlier since tide would not be critical for this part of the paddle.
It was a leisurely paddle. There were little wind and the current is not fighting us. The only diffulties is keeping clear of the motor boats since the area we paddle are very narrow at time. On one occation we end up paddling in the middle of the channel without noticing it because the red market indicating where the motor boat channel it end up on shores so we have no safe right hand side of the channel anymore. And there were two busy inlets leading to the Atlantic Ocean that we have to cross. Jone Bay Inlet was busy, but at least we have good visibility when we cross it.
We paddled in a light drizzles as the afternoon progress. Stopping at the only sandy beach we can find for lunch - it stop raining when we take lunch. I putted on a wind breaker when I landed for lunch because I was wet and feeling chilly.
Fog was setting in when we finally approach our second inlet, Fire Island Inlet. We have about a half mile visibility by the time we approach the bridge before the inlet. I was so glad that my have my GPS with me, and I finally personalize it so that I can use it for sea navigation. We have a couple of closed encounter with motor boats coming out of the fog as we crossed but all of them a good distance aways so we were never in danger of being run over. We manage to get our bearing just right to place us right before our destination for the day. We were greeted by a lighhouse on the shores as we make our way out of the fog and sight land after 2 hours of paddle without seeing land. We paddle about 2 miles after crossing over to our rented apartments on Fire Island. It was dark when we landed in a small beach on the side of the apartment complex.
LI Cnav2007_Day 1
An overview of our 3 days, 70 odd miles trips in our first years leg circumnavigation of Long Island.
Our landing site at the end of Day 1 behind Paddy McGee.
End of day one. The drive from our landing site to Best Western Inn where we are staying for the night.
8 of us launched from Sebago Canoe Club in brooklyn at about 6AM on friday for the first part of our around Long Island Trip. I was the last on to sign up for this trip - 3 days before the trip. I was afraid I was not able to handle the ocean condition.
Luckily for me the ocean was flat. I have never see the ocean that flat. The only wave action I get was the surf land for lunch. We land on the beach on the Atlantic side of the Rockaway. I ride the wave in and lean into the wave as it break for a picture perfect landing. Since I was the first on to land, there is no one on land to take a picture but if there is it would be picture perfect. Launchig after lunch was a bit more difficult. It take a couple of fail attempted before i was able to get my boat position and launched instead of a wave come in and pushed my boat into beach again.
We paddled back into protect water and make a short landing at the tip of a Peninsula. The water there was crystal clear. We landed on a private summer resort that rent out/or sell shares in cabina. We saw rows and rows of them. But the cabanas all face into each other and not into our side of the shores. I can't imaged what the family who owned or rent these cabana would do there durring the summer.
We continued to our pickup point for the day two bridges down at a restaurant called Paddy McGee. This is our most difficult and dangerous landing of the whole trip. We have land the boat against rock and concrete debre. We all managed to land and get our boats onto the trailer without any mishap. Two of the paddler went with John and the trailer with our kayaks to the hotel where we are staying for the night, the rest of us waited for pickup by our other support car. We waited for at least 2 hours before our ride get there. I take the time to explore the area, and the rest of the group grabbed a couple of drinks from Paddy McGee's bar.
We get two rooms at the Best Western 5 miles away. Each room have two full beds, and there are 8 paddle, 3 supports crew for a total of 11 people. We manage 6 people in one room and 5 people in the other. With some people on the floor and 2 person to a bed. We were to tire to be bother by the sleeping arrangement. I was fast aleep as soon as I hitted the bed.
But before bed, we head to dinner at a local Italian restaurant one of the paddler know. It was a feastive dinner. The foods are good, better companies.
Our landing site at the end of Day 1 behind Paddy McGee.
End of day one. The drive from our landing site to Best Western Inn where we are staying for the night.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Thendara Mountain Club
Do a lot of eating and a little kayaking this weekend.
I was upstate but not at Sebago Lake. I was two lakes north, at Lake Tiorati, a guest of the Thendara Mountain Club . They have a great lodgy cabin on top of a hill overlooking the south end of the lake. The Sebago gang get there at about 10:00AM on Saturday.
After introduction and a tour of the cabin, we get our stuff into respective room. Once that is settle we have to work the logistic of getting our kayaks to their dock once we scout of the boat down from their clubhouse to the dock and find it to be barely managable just hiking down much less with a 17feet book. It was decided that the only way to get our boats to the dock is to drive around the lake to a park boat launch and paddle the boat over to the dock, off course someone would have to drive the cars back. It end up my boat was towed to the dock and I drove my car back to the club. The other two cars also get a drive to drove them back to the club.
When we get back to the club, it was brunch time but we should just call it lunch since it was noon by the time we were ready to eat.
After lunch we hiked down to the dock for a tour of the lake. The dock was not design for kayak so it is a bit high for getting into and out of the kayak. I get in without any problem but it was tricky for other in our group. We paddled along the shore, around a couple of island, and back up north to the public beach. It was a good 2 hours paddlying. Because of the lake not close cockpit kayak rule I was not able to used my sprayskirt. I have it one, but did not used it because I don't want to cause any trouble. I feel a bit naked and unsecure without my skirt one, and it also mean I can't Eskimo role or do any tricks. I was done by the time we are ready to head back to the dock. This is the only time I went kayaking at Lake Tiorati. It is just too much trouble to get down to the dock just to go sigh seeing. After return from kayaking I went swimming. I just jump in and jump out again. I was not into it.
The rest of the day is just seating around listening to people talking. Happy hours started at 6PM, with everyone bringing out their contribution of alcohols to argment the abundants amount of wine already provided by our host. Thankfully happy hour is also accompany by lot of good finger foods. It is a very Italian affair with lot of cheese, smoke salmons, cookcut on breads. By 7PM we moved the alcohol indoor to have dinner. We dinner we have bbq beefs, roasted chicken, and 3 different salad. I get a little of each. I was not a particularly good dinner guests being that I usually don't talk at the table. My follow Sebagoian make up for my lack of dinner conversation with their antics. Let just say that a little wines were spill, and a blueberry desert end up on the floor during the course of the dinner.
Talking of Blueberry desert, every for a person who normally do not do desert after dinner, desert was great. We have Blueberry pie topped with ice cream, mix fruit salad, and italian ices in a tube.) After dinner and desert, we went for a nigh work down to the gate, a good one mile down very steep hill. Everyone was in good spirits as we make our way down to the gate, and take a couple of pictures. After the worked I end up leading everyone (the four person that actually goes all the way down to the gate) back up the the clubhouse. We try to goes back up without using flash light. We were almost back to the clubhouse when some cheated and turn on her flashlight. As we get closed to the club we encounters the rest of the group, sitting on a rock off the side of the road. They are practicing for the rest of the night, siting around waiting for the meteor shower.
I end up hiking in the dark down to the dock to watch the light show. It was a very long and uncomfortable 3 hours way to see 6 confirms sighting of a strick of lights in the night sky. It was cold and damn hard on the neck laying on the metal dock waiting. I called it quit at 12:30AM and goes to bed.
Get up at 8AM for breakfast. Part of the requirement as invited guest is to voluntee for a duty. I voluntee for breakfast clean up and cleaning up the grill. It take forever to rinse all the dishes, and clean the baking pans. Susan end up doing much of the grill cleaning otherwise I would have to spend all day doing it.
After breakfast most of the group when paddling. I loaned my boat to one of the Thendaran since I was not interest in paddling that morning. I was tired and sweating just going up and down the path to the dock. While people paddled, I packed my car and get ready for the trip home in the evening. When people get back we rested a bit, then two persons paddle the boat over to the park launch while three of use drove to the launch to put the boats onto our car. It was noon by the time we get back to the lodge.
I end up runnning around looking for Susan who I promised to help with her tent. I can find her anyway so I end up dismantling the tent by myself and leave the folding up of the tent to her. I finally find her sleeping on the hammock nearby. I was helping her with the tent when the hike schedule for the afternoon get underway. We hurry up to meet them down by the entrance gate. It was a pleasant hike, our guide was very informative. We get back by 3:30PM. I have my lunch then we started to our drive home. My passenger on the way up on Saturday agree to find another ride home so I can stop by Sebago Lake on the way.
It is fortunated that I was able to find other ride for my passenger because I end up staying Sunday night over at Sebago Lake. When I arrived at the lake I ran into Matty and her parents(mother and stepdad). I meet Matty last weekend and hit if off right away. A very happy and outgoing woman. I thought that she would be at the lake the next weekend but I was wrong. It turn out they arrived at 1pm on Sunday and end up swimming much of the time because all the boat is being used. It was a busy weekend for Sebago. I paddle out to meet them then back to the dock. Matty mom wanted to change boat, and Matty to grab something to eat. After Matty come back I take them on a tour of my favority corner of the lake. After paddling Matty, her mother, Sandy and I went swiming. Correction, they went swiming, I just jump in and out again due to uncontrollable shivering. The water was not cold, but my body is losing too much heat in the chilly air. I was to have dinner with them at a local restaurant but decided that the logistic just would not work at so I cancelled.
I end up staying at the cabin over night. I attempted to stay up to see more meteor shower but after spending 2 hours waiting, getting biten by bugs I give up and went to sleep by 11PM.
Get up at 5:30AM, and decided I don't want to drive back home for work. Get up again at 9AM to have breakfast, one english muffen with butter and a single serving box of AppleJack without milk. After breakfast take the boat out for some rolling practices and a short paddle. Get back by noon to go swimming. End up watching the kids attempted to catch fishes with a net. Surprisingly they did catched a couple of good side fishes with just bread and a kid fishing net. I end up not swimming. The air is a bit cold and blowing a bit so I don't want to get wet (surprising because I send two hours before rolling).
I have a sandwich with baloney coldcut with fresh mints and honey mustard, two soft boil eggs and a bowl of Lo Mein noodle. I decided to start back to NYC a bit early, 1:30PM instead of 2PM as planned.
After all the careful planning and making sure that everything is in order before departureI still end up forgeting a couple of important matter. One, the forget to take the garbage out, two I did not remember to clean the pot I used to boil the eggs, and third I did not remember my cooler with my peanut butter, jam and bread. The bread will spoil by the time I get to it next weekend. One other item with I am 99 percent sure about is the coffee maker. I am very sure I turn it off after making hot water for tea last night.
Get home at 5PM due to traffic and a short stop at Ikea on the way back.
Will post pictures of the Thendara lodge later.
I was upstate but not at Sebago Lake. I was two lakes north, at Lake Tiorati, a guest of the Thendara Mountain Club . They have a great lodgy cabin on top of a hill overlooking the south end of the lake. The Sebago gang get there at about 10:00AM on Saturday.
After introduction and a tour of the cabin, we get our stuff into respective room. Once that is settle we have to work the logistic of getting our kayaks to their dock once we scout of the boat down from their clubhouse to the dock and find it to be barely managable just hiking down much less with a 17feet book. It was decided that the only way to get our boats to the dock is to drive around the lake to a park boat launch and paddle the boat over to the dock, off course someone would have to drive the cars back. It end up my boat was towed to the dock and I drove my car back to the club. The other two cars also get a drive to drove them back to the club.
When we get back to the club, it was brunch time but we should just call it lunch since it was noon by the time we were ready to eat.
After lunch we hiked down to the dock for a tour of the lake. The dock was not design for kayak so it is a bit high for getting into and out of the kayak. I get in without any problem but it was tricky for other in our group. We paddled along the shore, around a couple of island, and back up north to the public beach. It was a good 2 hours paddlying. Because of the lake not close cockpit kayak rule I was not able to used my sprayskirt. I have it one, but did not used it because I don't want to cause any trouble. I feel a bit naked and unsecure without my skirt one, and it also mean I can't Eskimo role or do any tricks. I was done by the time we are ready to head back to the dock. This is the only time I went kayaking at Lake Tiorati. It is just too much trouble to get down to the dock just to go sigh seeing. After return from kayaking I went swimming. I just jump in and jump out again. I was not into it.
The rest of the day is just seating around listening to people talking. Happy hours started at 6PM, with everyone bringing out their contribution of alcohols to argment the abundants amount of wine already provided by our host. Thankfully happy hour is also accompany by lot of good finger foods. It is a very Italian affair with lot of cheese, smoke salmons, cookcut on breads. By 7PM we moved the alcohol indoor to have dinner. We dinner we have bbq beefs, roasted chicken, and 3 different salad. I get a little of each. I was not a particularly good dinner guests being that I usually don't talk at the table. My follow Sebagoian make up for my lack of dinner conversation with their antics. Let just say that a little wines were spill, and a blueberry desert end up on the floor during the course of the dinner.
Talking of Blueberry desert, every for a person who normally do not do desert after dinner, desert was great. We have Blueberry pie topped with ice cream, mix fruit salad, and italian ices in a tube.) After dinner and desert, we went for a nigh work down to the gate, a good one mile down very steep hill. Everyone was in good spirits as we make our way down to the gate, and take a couple of pictures. After the worked I end up leading everyone (the four person that actually goes all the way down to the gate) back up the the clubhouse. We try to goes back up without using flash light. We were almost back to the clubhouse when some cheated and turn on her flashlight. As we get closed to the club we encounters the rest of the group, sitting on a rock off the side of the road. They are practicing for the rest of the night, siting around waiting for the meteor shower.
I end up hiking in the dark down to the dock to watch the light show. It was a very long and uncomfortable 3 hours way to see 6 confirms sighting of a strick of lights in the night sky. It was cold and damn hard on the neck laying on the metal dock waiting. I called it quit at 12:30AM and goes to bed.
Get up at 8AM for breakfast. Part of the requirement as invited guest is to voluntee for a duty. I voluntee for breakfast clean up and cleaning up the grill. It take forever to rinse all the dishes, and clean the baking pans. Susan end up doing much of the grill cleaning otherwise I would have to spend all day doing it.
After breakfast most of the group when paddling. I loaned my boat to one of the Thendaran since I was not interest in paddling that morning. I was tired and sweating just going up and down the path to the dock. While people paddled, I packed my car and get ready for the trip home in the evening. When people get back we rested a bit, then two persons paddle the boat over to the park launch while three of use drove to the launch to put the boats onto our car. It was noon by the time we get back to the lodge.
I end up runnning around looking for Susan who I promised to help with her tent. I can find her anyway so I end up dismantling the tent by myself and leave the folding up of the tent to her. I finally find her sleeping on the hammock nearby. I was helping her with the tent when the hike schedule for the afternoon get underway. We hurry up to meet them down by the entrance gate. It was a pleasant hike, our guide was very informative. We get back by 3:30PM. I have my lunch then we started to our drive home. My passenger on the way up on Saturday agree to find another ride home so I can stop by Sebago Lake on the way.
It is fortunated that I was able to find other ride for my passenger because I end up staying Sunday night over at Sebago Lake. When I arrived at the lake I ran into Matty and her parents(mother and stepdad). I meet Matty last weekend and hit if off right away. A very happy and outgoing woman. I thought that she would be at the lake the next weekend but I was wrong. It turn out they arrived at 1pm on Sunday and end up swimming much of the time because all the boat is being used. It was a busy weekend for Sebago. I paddle out to meet them then back to the dock. Matty mom wanted to change boat, and Matty to grab something to eat. After Matty come back I take them on a tour of my favority corner of the lake. After paddling Matty, her mother, Sandy and I went swiming. Correction, they went swiming, I just jump in and out again due to uncontrollable shivering. The water was not cold, but my body is losing too much heat in the chilly air. I was to have dinner with them at a local restaurant but decided that the logistic just would not work at so I cancelled.
I end up staying at the cabin over night. I attempted to stay up to see more meteor shower but after spending 2 hours waiting, getting biten by bugs I give up and went to sleep by 11PM.
Get up at 5:30AM, and decided I don't want to drive back home for work. Get up again at 9AM to have breakfast, one english muffen with butter and a single serving box of AppleJack without milk. After breakfast take the boat out for some rolling practices and a short paddle. Get back by noon to go swimming. End up watching the kids attempted to catch fishes with a net. Surprisingly they did catched a couple of good side fishes with just bread and a kid fishing net. I end up not swimming. The air is a bit cold and blowing a bit so I don't want to get wet (surprising because I send two hours before rolling).
I have a sandwich with baloney coldcut with fresh mints and honey mustard, two soft boil eggs and a bowl of Lo Mein noodle. I decided to start back to NYC a bit early, 1:30PM instead of 2PM as planned.
After all the careful planning and making sure that everything is in order before departureI still end up forgeting a couple of important matter. One, the forget to take the garbage out, two I did not remember to clean the pot I used to boil the eggs, and third I did not remember my cooler with my peanut butter, jam and bread. The bread will spoil by the time I get to it next weekend. One other item with I am 99 percent sure about is the coffee maker. I am very sure I turn it off after making hot water for tea last night.
Get home at 5PM due to traffic and a short stop at Ikea on the way back.
Will post pictures of the Thendara lodge later.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Where were they when I was younger?
Spend a lot of time at the lake last weekend.
Aug 2 was ACA Youth Regatta at the lake. I get there by 7AM. I wasn't expecting anyone in the cabin on a Thursday so I was surprise to find the door unlocked. Just in case, I hollowed "Anyone in here." A pretty a pretty woman in her twenty with bond dreadlocks hair stick her head out of the "couple" room. I asked her if I meet here before. I have not. Turn out her name is Laura and she is Scott's daughter, here to help out with the Youth Regatta. I brought my stuff into one of the bunk room and lift to give Laura some privacy.
I was expecting hustling of activities in preparation for the race but I find no car in the parking lot, and no one walking around. I walked up to Linda's cabin, and find her there. Turn out everyone already went to Sebago Beach, a couple of miles away from where we are but the race itself will not commence to 9:30. I went back to Sebago cabin, and ran into Scott and his wife who is getting ready to drive to the Sebago beach. Laura apparently get up and dress while I was talking to Linda, when I get back she was ready to drive her truck with the trailer to Sebago Beach. Scott and his wife follow in their own car.
Since there is nothing for me to do and it still 2 hours till the race, I setted up my sleeping pad, and sleeping bag and went back to bed. I did not get up till 8:3o, when Paul knocked on the door. I had not seen Paul in a long time, since at least 2 winters ago when we spend a lot of time together helping with the cabin renovation. Paul drove a large converted van, with beds and other comfort of home. Paul introduced me to his friend (who name I forget right away.) We talked a bit, I informed him that everyone is already at Sebago Beach. Before Paul drove off, I asked him to help me load one of the club's kayak on top of my car so I can drive it to Sebago Beach later on.
After Paul drove off in his mobile home, I site on the front deck and eat my breakfast. While eating my breakfast, I saw Anne come out of her cabin. I asked her if she is driving with her kayak to Sebago beach, she informed me that she and Jerry are paddling over. I never thought of that. I have paddle to Sebago numerous time, but I never thought that it was an option for this event. Since I already have my boat up, and tied down and everything I was hesitant to undo everything but in the end I end up paddling over the Sebago Beach with Jerry and Anne.
Along the right shores next to Sebago Beach is a grassy area where coal fire bbq and picnic is allowed, the various camps that participate in the Youth Regatta have their own little area where they can set up their boats and cheering section. ACA, being the smallest group there have the smallest section, right next to the Korean Campers. I paddled up to the ACA encampment, and say hello to Linda, her daughter Tiffany (or Steffiny), her son Cody, Pete, Paul, Paul's friend, Paul's wife Sandy, a young woman with the most spontaneous smile I ever seen, Paul's stepdaughter, Matty. I must have return her contagious smile because she get on one of the sit on top kayak and paddle out to meet me.
"Is there any restriction on where we can paddle" Matty asked me as she paddle out to meet me.
"Not as far as I know, except for the Beach, and we have to stay away from the racer when it start" I reply, not know if she mean at this moment or for the race itself.
We paddled out together. Matty want to compare the various touring kayak stroke with white water stroke, which she knew. Me showing off my sea kayaking moves as she compare it to her whitewater strokes. I think she was impress by some of my skills.
Our along time did not last long. I have to get back to shore to get some water, and rest before the canoe race get start. Somehow I did not notice if Matty come ashore with me or not. When I returned to the water to get ready for the race I did not know where she is. I spotted someone alone at the finish line of the race course. I have veryt poor distance eye sight. I can't see any detail more then 5 feet in front of me. This is usually not a problem except when I need to read a computer screen when showing my boss where a file is, or when I am trying to find a pretty girl I want to hang out with. It turned out the long paddle at the finish line was not Matty, just some fella with a cowboy hat, which if I have my subscription class on I would have seen. Since I paddle all the way to the finish line already, I have to stay they when the race start. I end up directing traffic, and yelling encouragement to the 9 to 12 years old boys and girls as they finished their race. It was an interesting even even if boring after the 20th time one see a race.
I left my position at the finish line after the more mature paddlers start to race since they should all know where to go when they crossed the finish line.
When I return to the water, I paddled along the side instead of siting at the finish line. Run into Matty a couple of time, and we did a couple of rescues together. After the race end, Matty and her parents drive back to the cabin while I stay around to see the camp spirit contest.
I paddled back to Sebago dock at 6PM and went for a swim. Meet Matty there but she did not stay long. For the first time I actually swim out to the diving dock. I am not a strong swimmer so I have never left the safety of swimming dock or the wading pool. I decided to swim out with a bunch of kids just because. I spend about an hour swimming from platforms to platforms. Meet another cute girl at the platform and end up playing tag with her and a couple of kids that hang out on the diving platform. It was fun and tiring.
After an hour someone come down and say that the pizza is here for the after race pizza party. Matty and her parents were at the pizza party but I end up spending most of the time talking to her dad. Matty and her parent have to leave that evening so there was not much time to talk.
Friday Aug 3
Everyone left except for me and young paddlers campers. Get up relatively late, 9nish in the morning. Had breakfast, then take a kayak out to practice rolling. I borrowed Jerry's Greenland paddle as backup. I have never did eskimo roll without Stevie or someone experience as backup before so I was a bit nervous. I did a couple of rolls in front of the dock. I had no any problem rolling with the Greenland paddle. I make a couple of rolls as I paddled to the usual area where I normally practice rolling. My goal on Friday was to do as much rolling outside of my comfort area as possible and only go to the comfort area when I want to do some roll that I am not sure about. I don't want to have happen to me what happen when I did my Star 3 assessment. I wet exit out off my boats every time I capsided even thought I can roll because I panic. I realized then that I only roll when I am at the "Green" beach where I practiced with Stevie. I need to expand my comfort zone for rolling. I rolled a dozen time by the time I get the the Green Beach on Friday. It is so much more relaxing to roll with a mask on, no burning nose when I get back up.
Update:
Get home at 10:30 PM. Left Pete a message inquiring as to when and where we were to meet for the around Manhattan trip. Get no reply when I went to bed at midnight.
Get up to check my voice mail and email at 4AM. No email or voice mail from Pete. I decided to get ready anyway and drove to the clubhouse. Get there before the sunrise. See a cop car in front of the sport club next door, and people driving out of their parking lot. Apparantly 4Am is when the parking lot party must end. I open our parking lot gate and drive in without any question from the cop next door. There is noone in the club. I check my voice mail again, still nothing. I decided to have a nap in my car. At 6AM, someone arrive at the club and wake me up. The club member went on the Manhattan trip on Saturday with Pete. He informed me that Pete get sick and most likely would not be leading this Sunday Manhatten trip. He also told me that he think Sunday Manhattan trip would be meeting at the same place as Saturday trip, except instead of 4AM, they would leave at 6AM. The launching site for Saturday Manhattan trip was Inwood, at the northernmost tip of Manhatten, at least a one hour drive from the clubhouse. If I know and plan ahead, I would have carry my boat to up to the lake on Thursday, and then just drive down from the lake to Inwood on Sunday morning. It would be faster then from the clubhouse in Brooklyn to inwood. It is already 6AM when I learn this. It is way too late to drive up to Inwood. I decided to make a workday of it. I went back to sleep and get up at 8AM to drove to the local Home Deport to buy some stuff that I need for a boat repair job I have been putting off.
Aug 2 was ACA Youth Regatta at the lake. I get there by 7AM. I wasn't expecting anyone in the cabin on a Thursday so I was surprise to find the door unlocked. Just in case, I hollowed "Anyone in here." A pretty a pretty woman in her twenty with bond dreadlocks hair stick her head out of the "couple" room. I asked her if I meet here before. I have not. Turn out her name is Laura and she is Scott's daughter, here to help out with the Youth Regatta. I brought my stuff into one of the bunk room and lift to give Laura some privacy.
I was expecting hustling of activities in preparation for the race but I find no car in the parking lot, and no one walking around. I walked up to Linda's cabin, and find her there. Turn out everyone already went to Sebago Beach, a couple of miles away from where we are but the race itself will not commence to 9:30. I went back to Sebago cabin, and ran into Scott and his wife who is getting ready to drive to the Sebago beach. Laura apparently get up and dress while I was talking to Linda, when I get back she was ready to drive her truck with the trailer to Sebago Beach. Scott and his wife follow in their own car.
Since there is nothing for me to do and it still 2 hours till the race, I setted up my sleeping pad, and sleeping bag and went back to bed. I did not get up till 8:3o, when Paul knocked on the door. I had not seen Paul in a long time, since at least 2 winters ago when we spend a lot of time together helping with the cabin renovation. Paul drove a large converted van, with beds and other comfort of home. Paul introduced me to his friend (who name I forget right away.) We talked a bit, I informed him that everyone is already at Sebago Beach. Before Paul drove off, I asked him to help me load one of the club's kayak on top of my car so I can drive it to Sebago Beach later on.
After Paul drove off in his mobile home, I site on the front deck and eat my breakfast. While eating my breakfast, I saw Anne come out of her cabin. I asked her if she is driving with her kayak to Sebago beach, she informed me that she and Jerry are paddling over. I never thought of that. I have paddle to Sebago numerous time, but I never thought that it was an option for this event. Since I already have my boat up, and tied down and everything I was hesitant to undo everything but in the end I end up paddling over the Sebago Beach with Jerry and Anne.
Along the right shores next to Sebago Beach is a grassy area where coal fire bbq and picnic is allowed, the various camps that participate in the Youth Regatta have their own little area where they can set up their boats and cheering section. ACA, being the smallest group there have the smallest section, right next to the Korean Campers. I paddled up to the ACA encampment, and say hello to Linda, her daughter Tiffany (or Steffiny), her son Cody, Pete, Paul, Paul's friend, Paul's wife Sandy, a young woman with the most spontaneous smile I ever seen, Paul's stepdaughter, Matty. I must have return her contagious smile because she get on one of the sit on top kayak and paddle out to meet me.
"Is there any restriction on where we can paddle" Matty asked me as she paddle out to meet me.
"Not as far as I know, except for the Beach, and we have to stay away from the racer when it start" I reply, not know if she mean at this moment or for the race itself.
We paddled out together. Matty want to compare the various touring kayak stroke with white water stroke, which she knew. Me showing off my sea kayaking moves as she compare it to her whitewater strokes. I think she was impress by some of my skills.
Our along time did not last long. I have to get back to shore to get some water, and rest before the canoe race get start. Somehow I did not notice if Matty come ashore with me or not. When I returned to the water to get ready for the race I did not know where she is. I spotted someone alone at the finish line of the race course. I have veryt poor distance eye sight. I can't see any detail more then 5 feet in front of me. This is usually not a problem except when I need to read a computer screen when showing my boss where a file is, or when I am trying to find a pretty girl I want to hang out with. It turned out the long paddle at the finish line was not Matty, just some fella with a cowboy hat, which if I have my subscription class on I would have seen. Since I paddle all the way to the finish line already, I have to stay they when the race start. I end up directing traffic, and yelling encouragement to the 9 to 12 years old boys and girls as they finished their race. It was an interesting even even if boring after the 20th time one see a race.
I left my position at the finish line after the more mature paddlers start to race since they should all know where to go when they crossed the finish line.
When I return to the water, I paddled along the side instead of siting at the finish line. Run into Matty a couple of time, and we did a couple of rescues together. After the race end, Matty and her parents drive back to the cabin while I stay around to see the camp spirit contest.
I paddled back to Sebago dock at 6PM and went for a swim. Meet Matty there but she did not stay long. For the first time I actually swim out to the diving dock. I am not a strong swimmer so I have never left the safety of swimming dock or the wading pool. I decided to swim out with a bunch of kids just because. I spend about an hour swimming from platforms to platforms. Meet another cute girl at the platform and end up playing tag with her and a couple of kids that hang out on the diving platform. It was fun and tiring.
After an hour someone come down and say that the pizza is here for the after race pizza party. Matty and her parents were at the pizza party but I end up spending most of the time talking to her dad. Matty and her parent have to leave that evening so there was not much time to talk.
Friday Aug 3
Everyone left except for me and young paddlers campers. Get up relatively late, 9nish in the morning. Had breakfast, then take a kayak out to practice rolling. I borrowed Jerry's Greenland paddle as backup. I have never did eskimo roll without Stevie or someone experience as backup before so I was a bit nervous. I did a couple of rolls in front of the dock. I had no any problem rolling with the Greenland paddle. I make a couple of rolls as I paddled to the usual area where I normally practice rolling. My goal on Friday was to do as much rolling outside of my comfort area as possible and only go to the comfort area when I want to do some roll that I am not sure about. I don't want to have happen to me what happen when I did my Star 3 assessment. I wet exit out off my boats every time I capsided even thought I can roll because I panic. I realized then that I only roll when I am at the "Green" beach where I practiced with Stevie. I need to expand my comfort zone for rolling. I rolled a dozen time by the time I get the the Green Beach on Friday. It is so much more relaxing to roll with a mask on, no burning nose when I get back up.
I switched to my European paddle when I get to the Green beach. I need to practice with my Euro paddle because it is still a hit or miss. I am much more comfortable do static braces, and high braces with the euro paddle now then I was the week before but still not comfidence that I can do it in an emergency. I find that I can do my on side roll with 99% accuracy, but still a bit shaky on my off side with the euro paddle.
I have to wet exit once when I fail a an offside roll with the euro paddle. I went half way up, then end up back down again, reset and did it again, same result. I end up going out of breath and bailing out. I attempt a couple of time to do a reenter and roll but no luck. End up scrapping my left knee a bit. I attempt to swim the boat to shore but it was impossible to move it. I finally realize that I get the Greenland paddle with me. I reenter and roll with the greenland paddle to get back onto my boat, pumped it out and continue with my rolling practices.
I get back at noon to have lunch. Grilled myself some sausages and vegetable on my portable gas grill. After lunch it was more swimming with the kids. The cute girl that I meet at my swim on Thursday invited me to play Dubadubo with her and some of the kids. Its a diving game, where on person would dive down with a floating object, on our case an oak nut and released it. The people of the dock would look for the oak nut as it float up, if you see it you yell Dubdubo and dive in for it. Whoever get the oaknut "the Dubdubo" would then dive down with it and release it for everyone else on the dock to find. The game gave one the incentive to dive. We play that for a bout an hour and the same boy still keep on trying to drown me.
I went out for a paddle and more rolling practice in the evening. I think I spend almost 5 hours rolling on Friday, and 3 hours swimming.
Saturday Aug 4
Stay at the cabin by myself till about midnight when David and his girlfriend come in on his motocycle, in the rain. I end up vacating the queen side bed for them. I did not plan to stay the whole day because I was supposed to go around Manhattan on Sunday (a story for another day). I did a bit of paddling (more rolling practices) in the morning and come back right as Stevie and Adele were launching. I told Stevie that I would meet him after I get some padding for the knee braces.
When entered the Sebago Cabin, I noticed some belong that were not there before, some of which I identified as Stevie and Adele but also alot of food on the countertop. I did not notice that woman working in the kitchen till come into the cabin. I asked her if I meet her before? Not exactly a proper greeting. She told me she was a daughter of one of Sebago member. The woman was petit, Middle East characteristics, neither Lebanon or Isrealis. I did not recalled her name or her father's name whole I do not recognized till I see him at dinner. She asked me what to do with the used knife. I give her a bucket that I used to bring the dirty dishes to the public restroom to clean and the soap. I also told her I usually just put it in the freeze over night if I am using it again. I did not spend too much time chatting with her. I picked up what I need and get back in the water.
When I get to the Green Beach Stevie and Adele was no where to be find. I did meet up with two paddlers from Yonker who seen Stevie and Adele previously. I stay at the Green Beach and practive my rolls till they show up, which is about 1 hour later. As I excepted, they paddle around the lake to warm up. Stevied help another member, Jane I believes, learn to roll while I practiced my rolls on my own. The only roll I still get wrong everytime on my offside is teh shotgun roll. I keep on getting the set up wrong when I am upside down.
We did not get back for lunch till 2PM. I have some food that Stevie brought for lunch. I meet the woman from the cabin again, and finally meet her father, who I used to paddle with alot on last year Saturday paddle. I again get intoduce but again did not remember her name. It is a beautiful Isreal sounding name.
I did not went back out again in the afternoon. I decided, I have enough rolling for the time being. I end up swiming and play Dubadopo again with the kids.
I stay for dinner with Anne, Jerry, Stevie, Adele, the woman and her dad and a couple of other sebago members. It was a nice dinner. I learn about for the woman, she 26year old, Isreali and have a nose piecing with a very small diamond. I did not notice that the last couple of time I meet her earlier.
I end up driving home at 8:30PM.
Where were all the pretty girls when I was younger? I was with the club for 6 years and know some of the members for a couple of years and never know that they have such pretty daughters.
Update:
Get home at 10:30 PM. Left Pete a message inquiring as to when and where we were to meet for the around Manhattan trip. Get no reply when I went to bed at midnight.
Get up to check my voice mail and email at 4AM. No email or voice mail from Pete. I decided to get ready anyway and drove to the clubhouse. Get there before the sunrise. See a cop car in front of the sport club next door, and people driving out of their parking lot. Apparantly 4Am is when the parking lot party must end. I open our parking lot gate and drive in without any question from the cop next door. There is noone in the club. I check my voice mail again, still nothing. I decided to have a nap in my car. At 6AM, someone arrive at the club and wake me up. The club member went on the Manhattan trip on Saturday with Pete. He informed me that Pete get sick and most likely would not be leading this Sunday Manhatten trip. He also told me that he think Sunday Manhattan trip would be meeting at the same place as Saturday trip, except instead of 4AM, they would leave at 6AM. The launching site for Saturday Manhattan trip was Inwood, at the northernmost tip of Manhatten, at least a one hour drive from the clubhouse. If I know and plan ahead, I would have carry my boat to up to the lake on Thursday, and then just drive down from the lake to Inwood on Sunday morning. It would be faster then from the clubhouse in Brooklyn to inwood. It is already 6AM when I learn this. It is way too late to drive up to Inwood. I decided to make a workday of it. I went back to sleep and get up at 8AM to drove to the local Home Deport to buy some stuff that I need for a boat repair job I have been putting off.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Dockhand
I finally get around to actually doing Fleet Captain stuff last weekend. I stop by the club on Friday to prep a donated Lincoln kayak for fiber glassing. The left knee brace broken off and need to be reattach. Most of the close cell padding for the knee is already gone so I only have to clean up the stubborn pierces that remain. A good half hours of wiring brushing clean those up. I finished up by washing the boat inside and out. It was late by the time I finish. I get home before it started to rain.
Come back on Saturday after my race in NYC to do the actual fiber glassing. I have never did fiber glassing before so this is new territory. I can't imagine a couple of layer of fiberglass cloths and a cup worth of resin is going to be strong enough to reattach a knee brace. I have the procedure all planned out in my head before I did the job, but the actually work itself is much messier then I imagine. I cut two place of fiberglass to size and lay them out before I poured the resin into the mixing cup and adding the hardener. I thought 4 oz we be just right for the job not realizing how much 4 oz was. Once the hardener is added and stir I am on the clock to lay out the fiberglass over the join, brush on the mixed resin and try to hold my breath at the same time. The work space is confine, and upside down so I have to be on my knee as I stick my head into the opening.
The proper procedure is to put on one layer of fiberglass, brush on the resin and wet for the whole thing to dry before putting on the second layed, wait to dry then put on the third layer. The problem is I have mixed resin that would not wait to harden up. The end result being I put in all three layers as fast as I can before the last remainng 1 quartered of what I mixed harden up in the mixing cup. It did not take long for the repaired area to harden. I am surprise how strong join is after the repair. I still have to clean up the excess fiberglass that hang out pass the old knee brace and re-pad the knee brace area.
My next job is a personal project, restore my favorite club boat, an old beat up orange Huntsman. I bought two hatched to replace the old crack one. That that is a minor repair. The major repair is fixing seam line between the hull and the deck which is coming apart from the back of the cockpit to the tail on the left side and a but less on the right side. It would not be a problem it it is not also taking in water. I have to find a way to redo the seam tape so that it would prevent water from coming in. My original thought was to pour mixed resin in and let it fill out any holes inside the boat. I spoke someone at Atlantic Kayak Tours and he said to fiberglass it on the inside. That would not be a problem except for the fact that I have about 4 inch bulkhead, through a 5 inch hatch to work with in the Huntsman.
I was standing around trying to think of way to do it when Mike B. stopped by. Mike have a lot of experience fiberglass boat so I asked him to give my some advise. He end up take over much of the project. Instead of fiberglassing the inside, we removed the old seam gelcoat with a razer bladed down to the hull gelcoat. Mike then mix resin with filler, spray in some black car touch up color, and add hardener. We then put liberal amount of those stuff to make the new seam tape. It was a messed and take longet then I thought to harden up. I still have to send it down and remove the masking tape. I can't wait to finish it up and see what it like like.
Come back on Saturday after my race in NYC to do the actual fiber glassing. I have never did fiber glassing before so this is new territory. I can't imagine a couple of layer of fiberglass cloths and a cup worth of resin is going to be strong enough to reattach a knee brace. I have the procedure all planned out in my head before I did the job, but the actually work itself is much messier then I imagine. I cut two place of fiberglass to size and lay them out before I poured the resin into the mixing cup and adding the hardener. I thought 4 oz we be just right for the job not realizing how much 4 oz was. Once the hardener is added and stir I am on the clock to lay out the fiberglass over the join, brush on the mixed resin and try to hold my breath at the same time. The work space is confine, and upside down so I have to be on my knee as I stick my head into the opening.
The proper procedure is to put on one layer of fiberglass, brush on the resin and wet for the whole thing to dry before putting on the second layed, wait to dry then put on the third layer. The problem is I have mixed resin that would not wait to harden up. The end result being I put in all three layers as fast as I can before the last remainng 1 quartered of what I mixed harden up in the mixing cup. It did not take long for the repaired area to harden. I am surprise how strong join is after the repair. I still have to clean up the excess fiberglass that hang out pass the old knee brace and re-pad the knee brace area.
My next job is a personal project, restore my favorite club boat, an old beat up orange Huntsman. I bought two hatched to replace the old crack one. That that is a minor repair. The major repair is fixing seam line between the hull and the deck which is coming apart from the back of the cockpit to the tail on the left side and a but less on the right side. It would not be a problem it it is not also taking in water. I have to find a way to redo the seam tape so that it would prevent water from coming in. My original thought was to pour mixed resin in and let it fill out any holes inside the boat. I spoke someone at Atlantic Kayak Tours and he said to fiberglass it on the inside. That would not be a problem except for the fact that I have about 4 inch bulkhead, through a 5 inch hatch to work with in the Huntsman.
I was standing around trying to think of way to do it when Mike B. stopped by. Mike have a lot of experience fiberglass boat so I asked him to give my some advise. He end up take over much of the project. Instead of fiberglassing the inside, we removed the old seam gelcoat with a razer bladed down to the hull gelcoat. Mike then mix resin with filler, spray in some black car touch up color, and add hardener. We then put liberal amount of those stuff to make the new seam tape. It was a messed and take longet then I thought to harden up. I still have to send it down and remove the masking tape. I can't wait to finish it up and see what it like like.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Monday, July 02, 2007
Just the Figurehead
I lead my first trip this season. Actually all the actual doing and leading is done by the 2 assistants, Mat and John and the drill sergeant, Ed, who is a school teacher in real life. Ed is a short, purry man who like to give commands. He was at the club already when I arrived on Saturday morning, and put himself in charge of the Sea Kayak containers. He explained to me what he want to do and asked if I am ok with it since I am boss for the day, but there is no to turn down the offer. So Ed handle handing out boats. Mat, an experience trip leader end up doing the introduction to paddling. When everyone gets boats, lifejackets, and introduction to basic introductions witht he help of Mat and Ed, I step in to do a bit of introduction, our plan for for the trip and off we went.
I assigned each of the trip leads their rolls, John Wright, a moderate speed paddler get the lead to keep pace, Matt will be mixing with the newbies to help them along, and I would be doing the sweep making sure no one get left behind.
I asked John to get into the water first before everyone else launched while Matt helped the newsbies into their kayaks. Matt end up launch two paddlers before John as ready. I gentlely remind Matt that John is not ready yet on the other side.
The water in the inlet on Saturday morning was disgusting to put it nicely. It had been raining the last couple of night so there were overflow from the water treatment plants at the head of the inlet. It have a very milky green color to it and smell really bad. Normally I would try to get out of the inlet as soon as possible by leading everyone toward the bridge and into the bay for cleaner water but procedure now call for us to head closer to the water treatment plant to see who would have problem paddle before actually starting the trip.
So we paddled three quarter of a miles up the inlets in the foul smelling water before I called a stop, and asked how everyone is feeling. Surprisingly noone complain about the foul smelling water. Everyone feel good, even thought a couple of paddler have problem with control and maintaining speed. Since noone want to go back to the dock we make our way down the inlet to the bridge.
The water only get marginally better when we get into the Bay. I find out that my VHF radio did not work (I was using a club radio b/c I left mine on all week and it dead.) I end up having to relay my instruction to John in the front by yelling up to the nearest kayak in front of me and he/she would send it up to the next kayaker till it reach John at the front. Usually it would a request to stopped so the rest of the pack can catch up. The group tend to get separated out into three subgroup, the front - all the younger or more experience people, the middle, and then me with two ladies all the way in the back. One of the woman paddle with us before, I think she is a conditional member, and her friend, who have never paddle before but is very atletic. They have two problems, the boat that the second woman is in is not design for long straigh trip, it tend to turn a lot even for experience paddler, and the two women are simply having too much fun yakking and stopping to yak. Since I am the sweep, I can't go any faster then the slowest paddlers so I end up falling behind.
And since we left on time and the weather condition is perfect for a lazy paddle, I made a lot of stop to let everyone regroup and rests. It take all of 1 hours to get to our turn around point. We usually go into the shallow salt marsh right before Mill Basin Bridge but on this Saturday there weren't enough water to form the marsh. It was only 10:45 AM when we get to our turn around point, so I decided to continue to the Mill Basin Bridge. I asked Mat to take the sweep so I can get some exercise in. We paddled to the bridge but did not go into Mill Basin.
The trip back is always the part I hate the most when I was a newby. It tend to turn into a free for all. The fast paddlers just want to get home leaving everying behind, abandoned. I decided to make sure that this would not happen on my trip. I take sweep again on the way back, giving encouragement as needed. I have John stopped a couple of time so everyone can regroup and rest. I was happy that the group did not get spread out on the way back. We get back just after 12 O'clock, everyone help washing the boats, equipments and puting everything always. Ed again coordinated the tasks.
I promised on of the conditional members, Scott, that I would go out kayak with him after the official trip so he can try out a surf ski kayak. I did get a bit of rest stand around watching the group clean up before getting into my boat again. The worst part is the foul smelling water. Scott capsized right before the bridge where the water is still murky. I did not envy him his swim. I come along side his surfski and stablized it while he get back on top. That is the only time that I have to assist him get back into his boat. He did capside thrice afterward, twice in the bay, and once again inside the inlet. I hoped he washed himself with lot of soap when he get home.
Well that my first trip as trip leader. Wasn't bad at all.
I assigned each of the trip leads their rolls, John Wright, a moderate speed paddler get the lead to keep pace, Matt will be mixing with the newbies to help them along, and I would be doing the sweep making sure no one get left behind.
I asked John to get into the water first before everyone else launched while Matt helped the newsbies into their kayaks. Matt end up launch two paddlers before John as ready. I gentlely remind Matt that John is not ready yet on the other side.
The water in the inlet on Saturday morning was disgusting to put it nicely. It had been raining the last couple of night so there were overflow from the water treatment plants at the head of the inlet. It have a very milky green color to it and smell really bad. Normally I would try to get out of the inlet as soon as possible by leading everyone toward the bridge and into the bay for cleaner water but procedure now call for us to head closer to the water treatment plant to see who would have problem paddle before actually starting the trip.
So we paddled three quarter of a miles up the inlets in the foul smelling water before I called a stop, and asked how everyone is feeling. Surprisingly noone complain about the foul smelling water. Everyone feel good, even thought a couple of paddler have problem with control and maintaining speed. Since noone want to go back to the dock we make our way down the inlet to the bridge.
The water only get marginally better when we get into the Bay. I find out that my VHF radio did not work (I was using a club radio b/c I left mine on all week and it dead.) I end up having to relay my instruction to John in the front by yelling up to the nearest kayak in front of me and he/she would send it up to the next kayaker till it reach John at the front. Usually it would a request to stopped so the rest of the pack can catch up. The group tend to get separated out into three subgroup, the front - all the younger or more experience people, the middle, and then me with two ladies all the way in the back. One of the woman paddle with us before, I think she is a conditional member, and her friend, who have never paddle before but is very atletic. They have two problems, the boat that the second woman is in is not design for long straigh trip, it tend to turn a lot even for experience paddler, and the two women are simply having too much fun yakking and stopping to yak. Since I am the sweep, I can't go any faster then the slowest paddlers so I end up falling behind.
And since we left on time and the weather condition is perfect for a lazy paddle, I made a lot of stop to let everyone regroup and rests. It take all of 1 hours to get to our turn around point. We usually go into the shallow salt marsh right before Mill Basin Bridge but on this Saturday there weren't enough water to form the marsh. It was only 10:45 AM when we get to our turn around point, so I decided to continue to the Mill Basin Bridge. I asked Mat to take the sweep so I can get some exercise in. We paddled to the bridge but did not go into Mill Basin.
The trip back is always the part I hate the most when I was a newby. It tend to turn into a free for all. The fast paddlers just want to get home leaving everying behind, abandoned. I decided to make sure that this would not happen on my trip. I take sweep again on the way back, giving encouragement as needed. I have John stopped a couple of time so everyone can regroup and rest. I was happy that the group did not get spread out on the way back. We get back just after 12 O'clock, everyone help washing the boats, equipments and puting everything always. Ed again coordinated the tasks.
I promised on of the conditional members, Scott, that I would go out kayak with him after the official trip so he can try out a surf ski kayak. I did get a bit of rest stand around watching the group clean up before getting into my boat again. The worst part is the foul smelling water. Scott capsized right before the bridge where the water is still murky. I did not envy him his swim. I come along side his surfski and stablized it while he get back on top. That is the only time that I have to assist him get back into his boat. He did capside thrice afterward, twice in the bay, and once again inside the inlet. I hoped he washed himself with lot of soap when he get home.
Well that my first trip as trip leader. Wasn't bad at all.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Afternoon Paddle
No time for the lake the last two weekend. I don't know what I did the last two weekends. I don't think I did any kayaking. I finally get to go kayaking this Wednesday. The weather forecasted a chance of thunderstorm and the sky is overcasted as I inched my way down the Belt Parkway to the clubhouse. From what people who went on Wednesday evening paddle, there is a large regular crowd but this Wednesday due to the uncertain weather, I get there 25 minutes late but there is only 3 cars at the club. I ran into Phil, George, Mat, and two other people that I don't know. Phil informed me that there are only two guests, and they are just paddleing in the basin since the weather may turn any second.
Mat is not coming with us on this paddle. I end up having a conversation with Mat, and end up volunteering to lead this Saturday trip. I have to see if I can get assistants for the trip, the weatherman is forecasting a perfect Saturday so we could have a large crowd on Saturday.
The only reason i will be in NYC this weekend is because the cabin at the lake is fully book for our Star 1 and Star2 classes. I wished I could be up there with them but they have more then enough Coaches, and Coaches trainees helping I would only get in the way.
We were just leaving the dock when Peter and his daughter Danielle come down the ramp. Pete were hollowing something to us but it was held to hear anything. We just hollowed back that we are just going up the basin then back down, that he can catch us on the way. I have a pleasant conversation with George on the paddle and learn that I should goes on the Friday night paddle. I haven't been to any organize paddle at the club this season so I missed out on the going on at the club.
We get back to the club as the thunder get louder and more frequent.
Mat is not coming with us on this paddle. I end up having a conversation with Mat, and end up volunteering to lead this Saturday trip. I have to see if I can get assistants for the trip, the weatherman is forecasting a perfect Saturday so we could have a large crowd on Saturday.
The only reason i will be in NYC this weekend is because the cabin at the lake is fully book for our Star 1 and Star2 classes. I wished I could be up there with them but they have more then enough Coaches, and Coaches trainees helping I would only get in the way.
We were just leaving the dock when Peter and his daughter Danielle come down the ramp. Pete were hollowing something to us but it was held to hear anything. We just hollowed back that we are just going up the basin then back down, that he can catch us on the way. I have a pleasant conversation with George on the paddle and learn that I should goes on the Friday night paddle. I haven't been to any organize paddle at the club this season so I missed out on the going on at the club.
We get back to the club as the thunder get louder and more frequent.
Monday, June 18, 2007
So close but not quite
To quote on of my assessors, very close to star 3 but not quite. I was nervous and untight the whole day. I was not where as confidents with my skills as I should be. But the key thing is I was sloppy with basic techniques.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Getting my last star.
BCU Star 3 that is. I will be taking my assessment on Friday at the lake.
Plan is to drive up today, Thursday evening. Finally practice and testing is on Friday. I will stay over till Saturday. The rest of the group will do Coach 2 training which I am not doing. Will do some hiking. I will probably use the time to go to AKT and Campmore to get a couple of stuffs. I will drive home on Saturday evening, at about 5 or 6PM to get back to NYC before nighfall.
I get a race on Sunday. I hope my legs feel better then last week. I hate to have to give up running again last last year.
Plan is to drive up today, Thursday evening. Finally practice and testing is on Friday. I will stay over till Saturday. The rest of the group will do Coach 2 training which I am not doing. Will do some hiking. I will probably use the time to go to AKT and Campmore to get a couple of stuffs. I will drive home on Saturday evening, at about 5 or 6PM to get back to NYC before nighfall.
I get a race on Sunday. I hope my legs feel better then last week. I hate to have to give up running again last last year.
June 9 and 10 Weekend
Spend at the lake. Get there early, 8:30AM. I promised Adele that I would get there early to go paddle with her. When I get there the plan change. We went shopping, for antique and for food. Grocery is way expensive ins Sloatburg the town right outside the park. I should stock up on grocery when before I get there. Between Adele and Anne, they both 50 dollars worth of grocery that would have cost about 30 dollar in NYC. I volunteer to cover the meat part of our meal since I have often enough steal food from them last summer. We did not get to that part of the shopping till after the first paddle of the day. Just me, Adele, Anne and Jerry on a slow site seeing paddle. The flowers along the late shores are beautiful.
We did not anything too adventurous on our paddle. I was feeling a bit dizzy (from the sun and the fact that my hat is too tight). After the paddle Adele and I went swimming. Turn out Adele was also feeling dizzy from the paddle. The swim make us both feel much better.
I drove Adele to the only local grocery store that sell meat. I end up spending 48 dollars for two tray of ground meet for burger, 7 links of sausages and miscellaneous other food stuffs. We get back and lounge around till 5 when I start the fire in the fire pit at Anne and Jerry's cabin. It take almost an hours to get enough ambers for a proper bbq. I end up doing much of the cooking, which I preferred because I have obsolutely nothing to say in a conversation. There were about 12 people with us not including Beth and Mike's kids. Everyone have fun. We get too much sausages but other then that everything goes well.
Sunday started with breakfast at the local dinner. I ordered my usual, Western Omlette with home fries.
...don't remember much else about the weekend.
We did not anything too adventurous on our paddle. I was feeling a bit dizzy (from the sun and the fact that my hat is too tight). After the paddle Adele and I went swimming. Turn out Adele was also feeling dizzy from the paddle. The swim make us both feel much better.
I drove Adele to the only local grocery store that sell meat. I end up spending 48 dollars for two tray of ground meet for burger, 7 links of sausages and miscellaneous other food stuffs. We get back and lounge around till 5 when I start the fire in the fire pit at Anne and Jerry's cabin. It take almost an hours to get enough ambers for a proper bbq. I end up doing much of the cooking, which I preferred because I have obsolutely nothing to say in a conversation. There were about 12 people with us not including Beth and Mike's kids. Everyone have fun. We get too much sausages but other then that everything goes well.
Sunday started with breakfast at the local dinner. I ordered my usual, Western Omlette with home fries.
...don't remember much else about the weekend.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Belated Memorial Weekend Summary
Get a 4 day memorial day by taking Friday off. Went with Tony and two other guys, both name Walter for a paddle on the other side of JFK. It was a 14 miles paddle both way. The water is much cleaner then Jamaica Bay, but there is much more power boats traffics. There is one point in particular where we have to watch out for boats coming from 3 different directions. Patient and calm are the key to paddle a group across these busy waterway. This paddle was to access if it would be a good group trip. The wind and wave is a bit more interesting then Jamaica Bay but I don't see why a moderate paddlers with experiences with powerboats traffic would not be able to handle it.
We stopped at Empire Kayak for lunch. Empire Kayak is a sweet setup. It is run as a outfitter/kayak stores right in the backyard of the guy house that have a small beach, small as in enough room for 5 kayak to land nose in. We left our boats tied together under the ram so that it would be out of the way and walk out to a clam bar/burger place. I had a cheese burger with raw half shell clams on the side.
We tried to time our return trip so that the current is going out, since we started the journey at close to where the inlet open into the Atlantic Ocean. We did not rush lunch but we were itching to start back by 4PM because we don't want to be catch in the dark. The current were still coming in, which is not what we wanted but we decided to start back. Since the wind were on our back, and we take the short cut the first legs of the journey were not bad. I did have a bit of trouble trying to keep my boat going straight. I always prefered going into the wind the with it behind me because I end up spending way too much time adjusting my strokes. We get back to our car by 7:30PM.
I stopped by the Club to pickup my my Sof boat for the trip up to ACA cabin Harriman Park upstate (hencefore ACA Cabin). I will be leaving both kayak on top of my car outside my house overnight. When I get home, and try to find the key to my kayak lock, I realized that I losted it. I know at the end of last season I put it in a safe place, then I remember seeing a set of keys that look familiar to mine on the table at the club when I pick up my boat. I have a feeling that it was mine. I probably hide it in my winter summer water shoe. I was tempted to go in the morning to pick it up but decided against it, because it would defeat the whole point of me storing the boat on top of my car overnight.
I end up buying gate key at Harriman which I don't need since it was open when I drove up. There was noone one at the camp group when I get there at 8:30AM. The usual full time summer residents are about, Beth, her husband Mike, Scott the Camp Director, Anne, her long time companion, Jerry and some people from other club who I have never bother to meet. Since I don't have a key to the cabin, I knocked and hope that someone is inside. I wakeup David and his new girlfriend, Michelle. Nice enough kid.
Turn out that Sebago is hosting Memorial Weekend, meaning we have to sweep out the public area, make sure there is toilet paper in the restrooms, and clean the toilets. I volunteed to do the sweeping and tidying up of the pavilion. I think I finally get out of my SoF boat for a short paddle. Getting into it was a bit of a trick because a normal procedure for getting into a kayak would not do, and our dock have been push up onto the rocks and have a 30 degree incline. I forget what the proper way to get into a SnF boat was so I end up gingerly wiggling my legs into the boat while trying to keep the boat from sliding forward and away from the dock. It take my 5 minutes doing something that I normally take seconds doing on a normal boat. I take it out for a short paddle. The boat taken in about half a cup of water from water coming through the skin in the thirty minute paddles. It would be a problem if on a longer journey. The paint is not water tight.
Don't remember much of what else happen on Satursday. I may have take a paddle with Anne and Jerry around the lake. Don't remember, its a bit fuzzy.
Sunday is a bit more fun. Lot more paddles. (Really should write these thing down 3 week ago, because now I have no idea what happen). I did remember that my favorite little person arrived on Sunday. I went for a long paddle with Anne and Jerry on my SoF boat and end up with plisters on both my toe knuckles. There were cake, tea, cofees and movie night. The feature movies were Pirate of the Caribean, one and two which I already see on Sunday evening. Enjoy a nice game of frisby with a cute 11 years old girl who keep on trying to chop my head up with the frisby. Lucky for me her aim were bad and the frisby is a 3 feet nylon cover disk which do not hurt at all. Spend much of the rest of the night listening to people chat. It was a relaxing Sunday evening.
My regular paddling partners come on Monday, Stevie and his girlfriend(wife in everything but official), Adele. When Stevie arrived, it meant time for underwater fun, lot of rolling and getting completely wet. We take a long paddle to warm up, then went to a non-swimming beach to do the more adventurous stuff. Discover that I still remember my basic roll, on both sides. I take out my SoF in the afternoon and do some rolls that I would not be able to do in my regular both. It is also good to know that I can wet exit the boat without any problem if I have to. I do learned thought that sometime the boat refuse to complete capside leaving me disoriented and not know where the surface is. I wet exited both time it happen.
The day ended as usual with us all in front of Stevie fire at his camp ground. I steal some sausage and steak from Adele for dinner. I went for a walk right before the sun set, hoping to take some picture of the wild lifes. End up running into more deers then I bargain for, including one that block the path and refuse to move away till I flashed it why my camera flash. Get back right before it became complete dark. Good think too because I almost get lost a couple of time.
We planned to get to bed early, 8PM and get up at 4AM to drive back to NYC. I decided at night that there is no reason for me to rush home at 4Am so the plan was change to driving home with Elizabeth, who plan to drive home at a reasonable time, 6AM. But when I wake up at 4AM to see Stevie and Adele on their way and get back into bed, I decided that why should I came in to work at all? So I end up getting up at 9AM, have breakfast and take a short hike. Get lot of pictures. Meet a couple of deers, wild turkey and a very fast fox.
We stopped at Empire Kayak for lunch. Empire Kayak is a sweet setup. It is run as a outfitter/kayak stores right in the backyard of the guy house that have a small beach, small as in enough room for 5 kayak to land nose in. We left our boats tied together under the ram so that it would be out of the way and walk out to a clam bar/burger place. I had a cheese burger with raw half shell clams on the side.
We tried to time our return trip so that the current is going out, since we started the journey at close to where the inlet open into the Atlantic Ocean. We did not rush lunch but we were itching to start back by 4PM because we don't want to be catch in the dark. The current were still coming in, which is not what we wanted but we decided to start back. Since the wind were on our back, and we take the short cut the first legs of the journey were not bad. I did have a bit of trouble trying to keep my boat going straight. I always prefered going into the wind the with it behind me because I end up spending way too much time adjusting my strokes. We get back to our car by 7:30PM.
I stopped by the Club to pickup my my Sof boat for the trip up to ACA cabin Harriman Park upstate (hencefore ACA Cabin). I will be leaving both kayak on top of my car outside my house overnight. When I get home, and try to find the key to my kayak lock, I realized that I losted it. I know at the end of last season I put it in a safe place, then I remember seeing a set of keys that look familiar to mine on the table at the club when I pick up my boat. I have a feeling that it was mine. I probably hide it in my winter summer water shoe. I was tempted to go in the morning to pick it up but decided against it, because it would defeat the whole point of me storing the boat on top of my car overnight.
I end up buying gate key at Harriman which I don't need since it was open when I drove up. There was noone one at the camp group when I get there at 8:30AM. The usual full time summer residents are about, Beth, her husband Mike, Scott the Camp Director, Anne, her long time companion, Jerry and some people from other club who I have never bother to meet. Since I don't have a key to the cabin, I knocked and hope that someone is inside. I wakeup David and his new girlfriend, Michelle. Nice enough kid.
Turn out that Sebago is hosting Memorial Weekend, meaning we have to sweep out the public area, make sure there is toilet paper in the restrooms, and clean the toilets. I volunteed to do the sweeping and tidying up of the pavilion. I think I finally get out of my SoF boat for a short paddle. Getting into it was a bit of a trick because a normal procedure for getting into a kayak would not do, and our dock have been push up onto the rocks and have a 30 degree incline. I forget what the proper way to get into a SnF boat was so I end up gingerly wiggling my legs into the boat while trying to keep the boat from sliding forward and away from the dock. It take my 5 minutes doing something that I normally take seconds doing on a normal boat. I take it out for a short paddle. The boat taken in about half a cup of water from water coming through the skin in the thirty minute paddles. It would be a problem if on a longer journey. The paint is not water tight.
Don't remember much of what else happen on Satursday. I may have take a paddle with Anne and Jerry around the lake. Don't remember, its a bit fuzzy.
Sunday is a bit more fun. Lot more paddles. (Really should write these thing down 3 week ago, because now I have no idea what happen). I did remember that my favorite little person arrived on Sunday. I went for a long paddle with Anne and Jerry on my SoF boat and end up with plisters on both my toe knuckles. There were cake, tea, cofees and movie night. The feature movies were Pirate of the Caribean, one and two which I already see on Sunday evening. Enjoy a nice game of frisby with a cute 11 years old girl who keep on trying to chop my head up with the frisby. Lucky for me her aim were bad and the frisby is a 3 feet nylon cover disk which do not hurt at all. Spend much of the rest of the night listening to people chat. It was a relaxing Sunday evening.
My regular paddling partners come on Monday, Stevie and his girlfriend(wife in everything but official), Adele. When Stevie arrived, it meant time for underwater fun, lot of rolling and getting completely wet. We take a long paddle to warm up, then went to a non-swimming beach to do the more adventurous stuff. Discover that I still remember my basic roll, on both sides. I take out my SoF in the afternoon and do some rolls that I would not be able to do in my regular both. It is also good to know that I can wet exit the boat without any problem if I have to. I do learned thought that sometime the boat refuse to complete capside leaving me disoriented and not know where the surface is. I wet exited both time it happen.
The day ended as usual with us all in front of Stevie fire at his camp ground. I steal some sausage and steak from Adele for dinner. I went for a walk right before the sun set, hoping to take some picture of the wild lifes. End up running into more deers then I bargain for, including one that block the path and refuse to move away till I flashed it why my camera flash. Get back right before it became complete dark. Good think too because I almost get lost a couple of time.
We planned to get to bed early, 8PM and get up at 4AM to drive back to NYC. I decided at night that there is no reason for me to rush home at 4Am so the plan was change to driving home with Elizabeth, who plan to drive home at a reasonable time, 6AM. But when I wake up at 4AM to see Stevie and Adele on their way and get back into bed, I decided that why should I came in to work at all? So I end up getting up at 9AM, have breakfast and take a short hike. Get lot of pictures. Meet a couple of deers, wild turkey and a very fast fox.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Fit like a Glove
The inside of my new kayak. It is a skin on frame kayak, weigh in about about 25lb at most. I bought it used from a friend at the club. She bought it last summer and only used it once or twice before her back problems force her to give up rolling. It fit me with centimeter to spare. I can't wear anything on my feet otherwise I would not fit into that truncen you see there. I have toe cramp on both of my feet the first time I sat in it.
I felt really guilty about spending another thousand dollar on a new boat when my future remain so uncertain, but it is an opportunity I just can't pass up on. I also get the sprayskirt that goes with this kayak. Best fitting stray skirt I ever had. I can't wait to go out and role at the lake. Itching to get it upstate this memorial weekend.
More pictures:
Monday, May 21, 2007
Open House and Little Yellow Boat.
Wake up at 6AM on Saturday to go to Manhattan for my 10K race in Central Park. I get there with enough time to get my numbers/chips and warm up. The sky was overcast, a bit chilly, and a light random drizzle. Perfect weather for a run. Love the t-shirt they give out, one of those sport fiber material. Race started at 9AM after a stupid speech from a representative from the UAE. I started the race out very strong. My ankles were not bothering me as much as I fear. I started to lost steam into my fifth miles. I attempted to sprint the last quart of a mile but end your dry heaving and gaging before I get to the last 400 meter. I end up dragging myself to the finished line at 40.43 instead of under 40 minutes that I was hoping for. I need to learn to run the 10k right.
Take a train back home right after crossing the finish line. Well not right after, I did sat around long enough to eat two peaches and drink lot of water while my lungs get it act together. Get home by 11:09 to change out of my running tight into a jean and drive to the club. I did not get to the club till 12:25 because my sister left a message saying she need the car. Turn out she don't need it for the evening. There were not that many people at the club. Many people stay home due to the uncertain weather. I grabbed something to eat first before changing into my dry suit. I did not get on the water till 2PM. I end up on the last group to go out for the day.
Also end up with a new yellow boat.
Take a train back home right after crossing the finish line. Well not right after, I did sat around long enough to eat two peaches and drink lot of water while my lungs get it act together. Get home by 11:09 to change out of my running tight into a jean and drive to the club. I did not get to the club till 12:25 because my sister left a message saying she need the car. Turn out she don't need it for the evening. There were not that many people at the club. Many people stay home due to the uncertain weather. I grabbed something to eat first before changing into my dry suit. I did not get on the water till 2PM. I end up on the last group to go out for the day.
Also end up with a new yellow boat.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Dock Bum
Spend all Saturday and Sunday at the clubhouse but never get a chance to do any kayaking. For that matter I have don't do what I was a the club to do neither, which is to inspect all the club kayaks under my supervision as Fleet Captain. Turning out for Saturday work day was pathetic. I end up with only one voluntee to help me with the boat. Send much of Saturday and Sunday mowing the the "grass". I meant weeds field when I say grass. This weekend is the Open House. I have a short race in the Morning. Hope to be there by 12PM.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Peaceful Sunday
I went to the Revlon Run/Walk on Saturday with my sister. It was impossible to run, there are forty thousand participants, and there are no separate start for runner. Since it was not timed, there was no sense in me running. I would never be able to find my sister again after the event if I ran, then have to wait for a hours for her to catch up. It take us 1hours and 10 minutes to get to the finish. It was a pleasant day for a short walk and a short free outdoor lunch. We walk back down to 57th Street from the finish area at 97th Avenue. Meet with my sister's friend for a movie, Spiderman 3, then go to a Korean restaurant. Never have Koran food before, interesting but nothing spectacular about it. So that's it for Saturday.
Get up relatively late on Sunday, 10AM, droved to the club. Spend 3 hours doing minor fix on the club boats, and washing them out. Went for a short paddle with Louis, Mary and Bonnie. It was a bit windy. going out against the wind I am ok with, going back with the wind at my back I am not too crazy about. My boat weather cock when running with the wind comming from the stern. We did a good 6 miles paddle. We get back at about 6PM, washing our boats and get all the club's boats back into the containers and get home by 7PM.
Get up relatively late on Sunday, 10AM, droved to the club. Spend 3 hours doing minor fix on the club boats, and washing them out. Went for a short paddle with Louis, Mary and Bonnie. It was a bit windy. going out against the wind I am ok with, going back with the wind at my back I am not too crazy about. My boat weather cock when running with the wind comming from the stern. We did a good 6 miles paddle. We get back at about 6PM, washing our boats and get all the club's boats back into the containers and get home by 7PM.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Revlon Walk/Run for Women Fund Donation
My sister and I will be participating in Revlon Run/Walk for Woman. It is a 5K run/walk to raise money for figh women's cancers.
Details on the cause and the event can be find here.
You can make donation neither throught Revlon website, or go to my donation site.
Details on the cause and the event can be find here.
You can make donation neither throught Revlon website, or go to my donation site.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
So what's been up....
Have a great winter. Did three great ski trip with Zogsport. Meet interesting people, regrettably do not get to know them well enough to maintain relationship after we get back to NYC. Finally learn how to ski properly, enjoy it immensely. Wanted to plan other trips for the winter, but there were just not enough time.
Reason I don't have enough time is because I am taking up running seriously. I registered and ran a couple of race in March, all with New York Road Runner (NYRR). I have ran so far, one 6.2 miles run ( in Central Park), a 12.4 miles run (Coney Island/Prospect Park), and two 4 miles races. The 4 miles races are the worst. I have to work on keep a faster pace for these 4 miles race. I do enjoy it thought. I need to find a running partner(s). I wanted to do a couple of half marathons and cross country before the weather get bad again.
April 21 - So back to kayaking. My club season opener was last Saturday. The weather was perfect, in the mid 60's with clear sky. I arrived at 9AM with my egg rolls. This is the first time I ever cook something to the club pot luck party. Actually, this year we have a Chili cookout. It was billed as our first annual chili cookout so this would be a annual thing. As soon as I put my food down, I was pursued to go out kayaking. I was fully repair for a little on the water fun so not much persuasion was needed. There were five of us, 4 men and one woman. Since this was our first paddle in a couple of months we did not go far, out across to Canarsie Pol, and along to northeast coast to a egress nest at the tip and back. We get back by 1:30PM, ready to sample all the Chili that had been entered into the contest. I only manage to sample 3 different chilies. My pick did not win. But the day was not all bad, my egg rolls were a hit.
This weekend, April 28 and 29
Send an e-mail out Friday to let everyone in the club know that I am going out for a paddle on Saturday, and would love company. Did not get any reply, except for Stevie M to say that he can't make Saturday. So on Saturday I kayaked out along. The weather was overcast, and a in the low 60's, not much wind or wave. When I launched the tide is going out. I brought my Garmin Forerunner with me since today I plan to work my speed. When I get out under the break, the water is flat with a slight breeze. I paddled across the channel, and start to head toward Ruffle Bar. My plan was to do a quick paddle to Ruffle Bar and back since I was bored just paddling
by myself. As I approached the channel separating Canarsie Pol from Ruffle Bar I start to get into my stroke so I decided to go around to the back of Ruffle Bar just because I have never been around Ruffle Bar before. Getting around Ruffle Bar was not difficult, like I say I was in my groove. When I clear the back of ruffle Bar, I send a long land mass in front of me. I don't know where Canarsie Pol end, and the vast expand of salt marsh islands that became visible in low tide. As you can see I make the first guess right, and the second guess wrong. I end up going around a marsh island before I get to Canarsie Pol, expending my trip by 3 miles. Even thought the trip is longer then I planned, I enjoy it. The only pain I feel afterward was a slight ache in both my elbows from fight the wind that pickup as I round the pol on the way back. I make very good speed, managing to keep between 4 and 5 miles per hours most of the way. I only reason I need to rush to shore was to use the facility. I don't want to beach and get out of my dry suit. I make it back to dock just in time.
As I was getting my stuff together to leave the club, I heard someone yelled , " Sebago", "Sebago." Since I was the only one at the club, I went outside to see who it was. I see someone standing on the other side of the fence separate our club from parking lot of the sport facility next to us. I do not recognized the guy standing on the other side. He introduce himself as a member of Yonkers Club named Lee Reiser and that he come down to paddle with us. The problem was he did not set up a kayak trip with anyone. He just drove down from Yonkers and find the gate lock. I was not sure what I should do. I was supposed to leave to meet my mother, at 1PM, and its now 2PM.
I felt really bad for the guy, driving 1 and a half hours down just to drive back up. I can't just let him in to launch because I need to lock the gate if I leave. As we take another club member drive in. He is a racer. I called the him over an explain to him that the guy from Yonkers guy want to go out kayaking but he need a member to be at the club to lock up. The club member say ok, but I don't think he care. So I let the Lee in but was sure that the racer have no idea what I am asking him to do because he just go and pick up his K-1 and launched.
Instead of leaving I stay around, getting Lee to sign in, and watch him repair his kayak. He seem to have the right gears and able to take care of himself on the water. I called my sister and find out that my mom and sister already went home from a little apartment shopping without me so I don't have to leave right away. I end up staying at the club, inventorying, and check all the paddles and spray skirts in preparation for the season. By that time Bonnie stop by to do some gardening and to work on her boat. We chatted a bit. She need to repair her kayak for her up coming coach 2 training. When Lee come back, Bonnie recognized him so they have a long chat. Since Bonnie is there to let Lee out and lock up I left the club.
Sunday - Get up at 6:25AM to get ready for my second 4 miles race in Central Park. I had a can of spaghetti, which taste sweet and disgusting. I did not finish the whole can. I get to Central Park at 8:10 and have to rush to the baggage area to leave my bag before rushing to the starting line. Instead of going the very start of the line with the 5 minutes miles people, I get to the front of the 6 minutes mile section. I try being the very first one out of the gate on last week race, and was death by the first mile. I feel great for this race. I actually do a couple of 4 miles practice run on this same course last week so I was ready, and my legs feel loose (probably from the run to the subway and from the subway to the starting line.) I maintain a good 7 and 6 minutes miles most of the time, with enough energy left over for a sprint for the finish line at 25.44 vs 27.22 last race on the same course, and I felt great afterward. I headed to the subway right after I crossed the finish line. I have a noon appointment at club for a bit of kayaking and a bit of work on the club fleet of kayaks.
I was not expecting anyone to still be at the club when I get there. Stevie, and a couple of members are planning to go out this Sunday but I expect them to already be on the water then the time I get there at noon. The first person I meet as I drove up was Adele, Stevie's girlfriend. From her I was informed that Stevie have not left yet, along with Pete. Elizabeth is getting ready in the club, and Pete was changing in the locker room. Apparently they had been delay. Another group left earlier in the morning and have not get back yet. Since no one was there for my planned workday at noon, I decided to join them for a short trip. I get ready in a hurry and get my boat down on the dock in record time. The other group come back as we get ready to launch. One of the guy on their group capsized, and was retrieved without any incident. Elizabeth was borrowing another member's kayak so there was a bit of adjust before everyone get on the water. We headed out and head straight for Canarsie pol. Elizabeth paddle back and ford, trying get the feel of the boat. I was more then happy to just paddle around, backward, forward, bracing etc rather then a long trip anyway. We head toward Mill Basin, and then back to the club just to test how Elizabeth borrowed boat handle in cross wind. It was a nice and relaxing 4 mile trip. I get back, washed my kayak and equips and let them dry in the sun rather then returning them to the container. I planned to spend a couple of hours inspecting the club's boats and doing repair so may as well let everything air out.
I only manage to get around to 2 boats. One of the wooden boat have a problem with the seat. The left side of the backrest was missing a screw, so that was easy enough to fix. I hunted for a proper screw and tool in the club work container. Take me long to find the screw then to fix the problem. The boat is full of sand even thought all club equipment should be thoroughly clean before putting back. I open all the hatches, and give the boat a thorough wash down.
The second boat that need fixing is the pride of our kayak feet, a 17 feet Epic Expedition donated to us by a local kayak outfit. The seat is loose due to loose screw and on screw that is missing a nut. The woman that used the boat when the screw come loose safe the screw and plastic retainer so I get that, I just don't have the proper nut. I can't find any nut that fit the screw that this boat used. I tighten all the screws that is still in the seat and it look secure enough. I take the boat the the wash rack to wash out the send and pebbles in the boat. As I sponge out the inside that I find the metal nut from that screw that come out. So in goes that screw, and now the bat seat is solid as a rock. I finally called it quit when Stevie had to leave since I need someone to help move the boat.
Reason I don't have enough time is because I am taking up running seriously. I registered and ran a couple of race in March, all with New York Road Runner (NYRR). I have ran so far, one 6.2 miles run ( in Central Park), a 12.4 miles run (Coney Island/Prospect Park), and two 4 miles races. The 4 miles races are the worst. I have to work on keep a faster pace for these 4 miles race. I do enjoy it thought. I need to find a running partner(s). I wanted to do a couple of half marathons and cross country before the weather get bad again.
April 21 - So back to kayaking. My club season opener was last Saturday. The weather was perfect, in the mid 60's with clear sky. I arrived at 9AM with my egg rolls. This is the first time I ever cook something to the club pot luck party. Actually, this year we have a Chili cookout. It was billed as our first annual chili cookout so this would be a annual thing. As soon as I put my food down, I was pursued to go out kayaking. I was fully repair for a little on the water fun so not much persuasion was needed. There were five of us, 4 men and one woman. Since this was our first paddle in a couple of months we did not go far, out across to Canarsie Pol, and along to northeast coast to a egress nest at the tip and back. We get back by 1:30PM, ready to sample all the Chili that had been entered into the contest. I only manage to sample 3 different chilies. My pick did not win. But the day was not all bad, my egg rolls were a hit.
This weekend, April 28 and 29
Send an e-mail out Friday to let everyone in the club know that I am going out for a paddle on Saturday, and would love company. Did not get any reply, except for Stevie M to say that he can't make Saturday. So on Saturday I kayaked out along. The weather was overcast, and a in the low 60's, not much wind or wave. When I launched the tide is going out. I brought my Garmin Forerunner with me since today I plan to work my speed. When I get out under the break, the water is flat with a slight breeze. I paddled across the channel, and start to head toward Ruffle Bar. My plan was to do a quick paddle to Ruffle Bar and back since I was bored just paddling
by myself. As I approached the channel separating Canarsie Pol from Ruffle Bar I start to get into my stroke so I decided to go around to the back of Ruffle Bar just because I have never been around Ruffle Bar before. Getting around Ruffle Bar was not difficult, like I say I was in my groove. When I clear the back of ruffle Bar, I send a long land mass in front of me. I don't know where Canarsie Pol end, and the vast expand of salt marsh islands that became visible in low tide. As you can see I make the first guess right, and the second guess wrong. I end up going around a marsh island before I get to Canarsie Pol, expending my trip by 3 miles. Even thought the trip is longer then I planned, I enjoy it. The only pain I feel afterward was a slight ache in both my elbows from fight the wind that pickup as I round the pol on the way back. I make very good speed, managing to keep between 4 and 5 miles per hours most of the way. I only reason I need to rush to shore was to use the facility. I don't want to beach and get out of my dry suit. I make it back to dock just in time.As I was getting my stuff together to leave the club, I heard someone yelled , " Sebago", "Sebago." Since I was the only one at the club, I went outside to see who it was. I see someone standing on the other side of the fence separate our club from parking lot of the sport facility next to us. I do not recognized the guy standing on the other side. He introduce himself as a member of Yonkers Club named Lee Reiser and that he come down to paddle with us. The problem was he did not set up a kayak trip with anyone. He just drove down from Yonkers and find the gate lock. I was not sure what I should do. I was supposed to leave to meet my mother, at 1PM, and its now 2PM.
I felt really bad for the guy, driving 1 and a half hours down just to drive back up. I can't just let him in to launch because I need to lock the gate if I leave. As we take another club member drive in. He is a racer. I called the him over an explain to him that the guy from Yonkers guy want to go out kayaking but he need a member to be at the club to lock up. The club member say ok, but I don't think he care. So I let the Lee in but was sure that the racer have no idea what I am asking him to do because he just go and pick up his K-1 and launched.
Instead of leaving I stay around, getting Lee to sign in, and watch him repair his kayak. He seem to have the right gears and able to take care of himself on the water. I called my sister and find out that my mom and sister already went home from a little apartment shopping without me so I don't have to leave right away. I end up staying at the club, inventorying, and check all the paddles and spray skirts in preparation for the season. By that time Bonnie stop by to do some gardening and to work on her boat. We chatted a bit. She need to repair her kayak for her up coming coach 2 training. When Lee come back, Bonnie recognized him so they have a long chat. Since Bonnie is there to let Lee out and lock up I left the club.
Sunday - Get up at 6:25AM to get ready for my second 4 miles race in Central Park. I had a can of spaghetti, which taste sweet and disgusting. I did not finish the whole can. I get to Central Park at 8:10 and have to rush to the baggage area to leave my bag before rushing to the starting line. Instead of going the very start of the line with the 5 minutes miles people, I get to the front of the 6 minutes mile section. I try being the very first one out of the gate on last week race, and was death by the first mile. I feel great for this race. I actually do a couple of 4 miles practice run on this same course last week so I was ready, and my legs feel loose (probably from the run to the subway and from the subway to the starting line.) I maintain a good 7 and 6 minutes miles most of the time, with enough energy left over for a sprint for the finish line at 25.44 vs 27.22 last race on the same course, and I felt great afterward. I headed to the subway right after I crossed the finish line. I have a noon appointment at club for a bit of kayaking and a bit of work on the club fleet of kayaks.
I was not expecting anyone to still be at the club when I get there. Stevie, and a couple of members are planning to go out this Sunday but I expect them to already be on the water then the time I get there at noon. The first person I meet as I drove up was Adele, Stevie's girlfriend. From her I was informed that Stevie have not left yet, along with Pete. Elizabeth is getting ready in the club, and Pete was changing in the locker room. Apparently they had been delay. Another group left earlier in the morning and have not get back yet. Since no one was there for my planned workday at noon, I decided to join them for a short trip. I get ready in a hurry and get my boat down on the dock in record time. The other group come back as we get ready to launch. One of the guy on their group capsized, and was retrieved without any incident. Elizabeth was borrowing another member's kayak so there was a bit of adjust before everyone get on the water. We headed out and head straight for Canarsie pol. Elizabeth paddle back and ford, trying get the feel of the boat. I was more then happy to just paddle around, backward, forward, bracing etc rather then a long trip anyway. We head toward Mill Basin, and then back to the club just to test how Elizabeth borrowed boat handle in cross wind. It was a nice and relaxing 4 mile trip. I get back, washed my kayak and equips and let them dry in the sun rather then returning them to the container. I planned to spend a couple of hours inspecting the club's boats and doing repair so may as well let everything air out.
I only manage to get around to 2 boats. One of the wooden boat have a problem with the seat. The left side of the backrest was missing a screw, so that was easy enough to fix. I hunted for a proper screw and tool in the club work container. Take me long to find the screw then to fix the problem. The boat is full of sand even thought all club equipment should be thoroughly clean before putting back. I open all the hatches, and give the boat a thorough wash down.
The second boat that need fixing is the pride of our kayak feet, a 17 feet Epic Expedition donated to us by a local kayak outfit. The seat is loose due to loose screw and on screw that is missing a nut. The woman that used the boat when the screw come loose safe the screw and plastic retainer so I get that, I just don't have the proper nut. I can't find any nut that fit the screw that this boat used. I tighten all the screws that is still in the seat and it look secure enough. I take the boat the the wash rack to wash out the send and pebbles in the boat. As I sponge out the inside that I find the metal nut from that screw that come out. So in goes that screw, and now the bat seat is solid as a rock. I finally called it quit when Stevie had to leave since I need someone to help move the boat.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
From Water to Ice.
I will be away skiing this weekend. Going from heated pool to subzero temperature, recklessly down hill on two sticks.
Have to remember to open my eye....
Have to remember to open my eye....
Monday, January 22, 2007
Kayaking in Place
Hitched a ride with Stevie over to a High School pool in Long Island to do a little kayak skills practice. The pool is a bit crowded so bringing a 17 feet sea kayak was discourage so I decide to used the river kayaks that the event sponsor have for rent. It is a bit expensive, 25 dollar for the pool session and 10dollar for the boat. Stevie brought along a friend of his, Danny, a musician. Danny like exactly how I imaged a Rock star to look like, ear rings and british ascent.
We get to the pool at 5 minutes to 3 PM. We pulled in the school parking lot to see a woman standing next to a trailer full of very small kayaks. I was introduced to Elizabeth, the person in charge of today pool session. We were the first 3 persons to arrived. After getting our boats (Stevie brough is Romany and Skin on Frame kayak) and equipments in and fill out the disclaimer form we changed into boating cloths. I am wearing my dry suit. I was pointed to a small red kayak, about 7 feet long. I have a difficult time getting my spray skirt to fit the kayak, end up ripping a nail on my right hand. After 5 minutes trying to force my spray skirt onto the kayak, I try one of their.
Elizabeth have to get out of the pool to try an fit it. I end up sliding into the stray skirt after we finally get it to fit. It is strange to be paddling a 6foot boat after spending so much time paddling a 17 feet kayak. Don't take much to make a complete turn in place.
I have a bit of trouble rolling a river kayak the last time I try but this time it was not hard. I have to remember not to over do the hip flip. I like this pool, a lot less chlorine then the last week pool. I stend some time just hanging upside down and have a look around. Did not learn anything new but practive alot of rolling and bracing. I seem to lost my shotgun shoulder roll. I just can find the correct motion.
At the end of the pool session I have about a gallon of water in each legs.
We eat a tie place. A bit expensive.
We get to the pool at 5 minutes to 3 PM. We pulled in the school parking lot to see a woman standing next to a trailer full of very small kayaks. I was introduced to Elizabeth, the person in charge of today pool session. We were the first 3 persons to arrived. After getting our boats (Stevie brough is Romany and Skin on Frame kayak) and equipments in and fill out the disclaimer form we changed into boating cloths. I am wearing my dry suit. I was pointed to a small red kayak, about 7 feet long. I have a difficult time getting my spray skirt to fit the kayak, end up ripping a nail on my right hand. After 5 minutes trying to force my spray skirt onto the kayak, I try one of their.
Elizabeth have to get out of the pool to try an fit it. I end up sliding into the stray skirt after we finally get it to fit. It is strange to be paddling a 6foot boat after spending so much time paddling a 17 feet kayak. Don't take much to make a complete turn in place.
I have a bit of trouble rolling a river kayak the last time I try but this time it was not hard. I have to remember not to over do the hip flip. I like this pool, a lot less chlorine then the last week pool. I stend some time just hanging upside down and have a look around. Did not learn anything new but practive alot of rolling and bracing. I seem to lost my shotgun shoulder roll. I just can find the correct motion.
At the end of the pool session I have about a gallon of water in each legs.
We eat a tie place. A bit expensive.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Solo Circumnavigation
Make my first solo Canarsie Pol circumnavigation last saturday. The wind was in my favor most of the way so i do not feel tired at all afterward. The was stiff wind on the way back but not too difficult. I was not bother by the wind at all till I return Paeregat Bay. Make the trip in less then one and a half hour.
Went to Club board meeting on Tuesday night. Learn about a couple of item that I was not aware of but my participation was not required. Drive a guest speaker and his young son home afterward.
Went to Club board meeting on Tuesday night. Learn about a couple of item that I was not aware of but my participation was not required. Drive a guest speaker and his young son home afterward.
Monday, January 01, 2007
2007 Frostbite Regetta
Waked up to raining falling on my air condition unit on my window. I get up, turn my computer one to see if today Frostbite Regatta paddled been cancel. No such luck. Jerry and Anne did give me an out thought since they send a email saying they can't make it. I send an email out with the weather condition as an excuse not to goes out. Jerry and Anne were going to be at the club to set up for the meeting at 1o:30 so I decided to drive down at 1o AM to help them out. I brought 2 bottles of soda and two bags of chips for the potluck.
The ground at the club was soggy and water log. The usual crazies went out paddling. It was a beautify sight outside with a light drizzle coming down and fog just a couple of feet off. I take a couple of photo of the fog and close up of the water droplets on branches and leaves.
The meeting itself was uneventful. We wrapped up by 3PM. I took home lot of foods.
The ground at the club was soggy and water log. The usual crazies went out paddling. It was a beautify sight outside with a light drizzle coming down and fog just a couple of feet off. I take a couple of photo of the fog and close up of the water droplets on branches and leaves.
The meeting itself was uneventful. We wrapped up by 3PM. I took home lot of foods.
New Year Eve Paddle
I was determine to make it down to the club for a paddle on Sunday. My first attempt on Saturday was unsuccessful, just can't get myself out the door. I arrived at the club by 1o:40AM - plan was to get there at 9AM. Better late then never. I saw Pete's van at the side of the clubhouse, and his name on the log book but I can't find him.
Instead of wearing street clothes underneath my dry-suit, I changed into running pant, hydro under layer, and a neoprene fuzzy rubber upper. I did not wear the polyester Fleece sweater. The last time I wear it I was burning up inside.
Since I thought nobody was at the club, I used one of the dolly to drag my boat down to the dock. The dolly was not very efficients at moving my long boat. I drag the stern of the boat on the ground when I pick up the bow. When I get to the waterfront, I see sign of human activities, but no one around. I hollered Pete name, and sure enough he was on the bank, under the ramp going from the shore to our floating dock. Pete is running wire from the club house to the dock, via conduits under the ramps. The tied is low enough that there is a 15 feet drop between the shores and our dock.
The ramp to the dock is way down due to low tide. I end up going down the ramp backward, slowly lowering the boat on step at the time. When I get to the bottom of the ram, I end up with the stern hitting the dock. As I stand there trying to figure a way to get my boat the rest of the way onto the dock and not dragged my boat bow on the ramp, Pete called up from below - find a green rope. I was confuse as to what green line he meant. I went up to where he was underneath, no green line there. Pete then specified that is on the dock next to the ramp. Sure enough there is a green line come out of a conduit running underneaths ramp. Pete want me to carefully pulled the green line out (very slowly and carefully - he have been spending a good part of the morning fishing the green line up the conduit so that he can drag electrical wiring down by tying the line to the electrical wire) as he feed the wire into the conduit from the other end. This will take a bit of time. Since I need another person to left the boat from present position to get the rest of it on the dock I wasn't going anywhere anyway so there I was in full paddling gear, on my knees pulling a green wire out of a conduit. After 15 minutes, the electrical wire emerge on my end of the conduit, and we can both breath easy.
Pete wanted to go paddling, I can use the company so I waited for him finish, and get ready. Needless to say, It was 11:3o by the time we both get on the water. I brought down my two wooden paddles that I bought some years back at the Big Splash Fund riser. They are called Greenland paddles but the blade is way too wide for a proper Greenland paddles. I also brought my European paddle just in case I can used the wooden one. The only thing I noticed as I paddle out is the annoying squeaking nice as my neoprene gloves rubbed against the paddle. I keep on thinking there were a flock of geese flying above me.
I want a short, uncomplicated paddle so we headed under the bridge, and straight out to the red buoy on the Canarsie Pool southern tip. Pete offered Floyd Bennett Field and King Plaza as the alternative but I wasn't looking for anything that long. We headed from the buoy to Raffle Bar. Beside the boat Channel much of the water is no more then 2 to 4 feet deep. I end up having to switch over the the European paddle because I keep on hitting the bottom with the Greenland paddle(and the squeaking is annoying). We rounded the tip of Canarsie Pool and head for Raffle Bar. We were paddling over less then 3 feet of water till we get to the channel between the Canarsie and Raffle Pool. When we get close to Raffle Bar, I asked Pete to spot me while I try to do a skooling for support. I switch over to the Greenland paddle to do this. My first attempt was good, I try to do a second on with more extension and end up slipping out of my seat, ending up capsize. Did I mention there is only four feet of water? I try to used the paddle as a pole to get up. Since I was out of my seat, I can get enough hip motion to get back up again. I ended up having to tap my boat for a rescue from Pete.
This is the first time I get my face in cold water. I panic a bit when I find myself out of my seat and attempt to get up as soon as possible instead of staying calm. My ears were clamped shut and I can't will them to open. I try a couple of hip flip off Pete's bow. Was not smooth at all. I do need more practice in cold water.
After I have enough with trying to practice my cold water technique we headed to Raffle Bar. I have hot tea and cooks for lunch while we warmed up. We almost lost our kayaks as we stand next to them talking. The water come in as we talk and the boats floated away - about 20 feet away. Fortunately for us, the water is only 2 feet deep, and would be for a good 300 feet out so I ran out and drag them back. Pete get a picture.
We start back at 2:00 and end up back at the dock by 3:00. I was not at my best on this paddle. I was tire throughout much of the trip even though on the scale of 1 to 1o (10 being the most challenging) this trip would be a 2 and that is just for distance.
Instead of wearing street clothes underneath my dry-suit, I changed into running pant, hydro under layer, and a neoprene fuzzy rubber upper. I did not wear the polyester Fleece sweater. The last time I wear it I was burning up inside.
Since I thought nobody was at the club, I used one of the dolly to drag my boat down to the dock. The dolly was not very efficients at moving my long boat. I drag the stern of the boat on the ground when I pick up the bow. When I get to the waterfront, I see sign of human activities, but no one around. I hollered Pete name, and sure enough he was on the bank, under the ramp going from the shore to our floating dock. Pete is running wire from the club house to the dock, via conduits under the ramps. The tied is low enough that there is a 15 feet drop between the shores and our dock.
The ramp to the dock is way down due to low tide. I end up going down the ramp backward, slowly lowering the boat on step at the time. When I get to the bottom of the ram, I end up with the stern hitting the dock. As I stand there trying to figure a way to get my boat the rest of the way onto the dock and not dragged my boat bow on the ramp, Pete called up from below - find a green rope. I was confuse as to what green line he meant. I went up to where he was underneath, no green line there. Pete then specified that is on the dock next to the ramp. Sure enough there is a green line come out of a conduit running underneaths ramp. Pete want me to carefully pulled the green line out (very slowly and carefully - he have been spending a good part of the morning fishing the green line up the conduit so that he can drag electrical wiring down by tying the line to the electrical wire) as he feed the wire into the conduit from the other end. This will take a bit of time. Since I need another person to left the boat from present position to get the rest of it on the dock I wasn't going anywhere anyway so there I was in full paddling gear, on my knees pulling a green wire out of a conduit. After 15 minutes, the electrical wire emerge on my end of the conduit, and we can both breath easy.
Pete wanted to go paddling, I can use the company so I waited for him finish, and get ready. Needless to say, It was 11:3o by the time we both get on the water. I brought down my two wooden paddles that I bought some years back at the Big Splash Fund riser. They are called Greenland paddles but the blade is way too wide for a proper Greenland paddles. I also brought my European paddle just in case I can used the wooden one. The only thing I noticed as I paddle out is the annoying squeaking nice as my neoprene gloves rubbed against the paddle. I keep on thinking there were a flock of geese flying above me.
I want a short, uncomplicated paddle so we headed under the bridge, and straight out to the red buoy on the Canarsie Pool southern tip. Pete offered Floyd Bennett Field and King Plaza as the alternative but I wasn't looking for anything that long. We headed from the buoy to Raffle Bar. Beside the boat Channel much of the water is no more then 2 to 4 feet deep. I end up having to switch over the the European paddle because I keep on hitting the bottom with the Greenland paddle(and the squeaking is annoying). We rounded the tip of Canarsie Pool and head for Raffle Bar. We were paddling over less then 3 feet of water till we get to the channel between the Canarsie and Raffle Pool. When we get close to Raffle Bar, I asked Pete to spot me while I try to do a skooling for support. I switch over to the Greenland paddle to do this. My first attempt was good, I try to do a second on with more extension and end up slipping out of my seat, ending up capsize. Did I mention there is only four feet of water? I try to used the paddle as a pole to get up. Since I was out of my seat, I can get enough hip motion to get back up again. I ended up having to tap my boat for a rescue from Pete.
This is the first time I get my face in cold water. I panic a bit when I find myself out of my seat and attempt to get up as soon as possible instead of staying calm. My ears were clamped shut and I can't will them to open. I try a couple of hip flip off Pete's bow. Was not smooth at all. I do need more practice in cold water.
After I have enough with trying to practice my cold water technique we headed to Raffle Bar. I have hot tea and cooks for lunch while we warmed up. We almost lost our kayaks as we stand next to them talking. The water come in as we talk and the boats floated away - about 20 feet away. Fortunately for us, the water is only 2 feet deep, and would be for a good 300 feet out so I ran out and drag them back. Pete get a picture.
We start back at 2:00 and end up back at the dock by 3:00. I was not at my best on this paddle. I was tire throughout much of the trip even though on the scale of 1 to 1o (10 being the most challenging) this trip would be a 2 and that is just for distance.
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