The last mile is always the Hardest

Its is starting to be a tradition to paddle from Sebago Canoe Club to State Island's Fort Wadsworth to camp out with members from a couple of local paddling club, then paddle back to Sebago Canoe Club the next day.

This year is a bit more understates. There is not as much excitement as last year when we did it for the first time.  We have a smaller group of paddle going from Brooklyn then last year.  There are  Steve H., Peter, Ilene, Larry, Cory (a new guy I have never meet before), and myself launching at 7:50 Am on Saturday morning.  It was a beautify morning, mostly clear sky with a slight breeze with temperature in the 50s in the morning with a upper 60s high.  We were surprised to find a couple of dozen kayak fishermen on the water.  It is not usual to see more then 1 or 2 kayak fisherman on Jamaica Bay.  I suspected there is a fishing competition going on, and was proven right when we picked up two more members to our group. 

We meet up with two other paddlers off Floyd Bennett Field, John (the ranger) and his friend at at a bit after 8:20 AM.  It was a fast paddle.   With our new members we paddle to Marine Parkway Bridge then head to Breezing Point where we plan to stop for a break.  It was 10:30 AM when we landed on Breezy Point, it was too early for lunch but I haven't eat breakfast so I eat my sandwich for brunch.  We head out from breezy point to Coney Island at 11 PM.  We made very good time.  It was a more risky route because we are not hugging land like we use to.  In theory this should short our distance to Ft. Wadsworth.  I don't think we keep to the plan route I thought we were supposed to take. We end up closer to Coney Island then I thought we need to be but we are so far ahead of schedule it doesn't matter. Before we cross the shipping channel to Staten Island we meet up with Tod from Red Hook Kayak Club.    From Coney Island we head to Staten Island, then head north up the coast to our destination.   We landed at exactly 1PM, just in time for lunch.  

This time I did not carry all my camping gears on my kayak so it was much lighter for the carry up the beach, and then up a hill to the camp site.  We were so early that the van with our camping gears amd dry clothing did not get to the camp site year.  It was a short wait though, the van pull into the parking lot as we get the last kayak up from the beach.

I changed into dry cloth and set up my tent by 2PM.   The only draw back is what to do till dinner time.  I never like the hanging around part of camping.

By late noon the wind was picking up and the calm water we paddled in less then 4 hours ago developed into a 3-4 feet waves with whitecap.  Most people would count themselves lucky to be off the water before the ocean get to that condition, but not Todd. He wanted to play in the water and is asking if anyone want to join him.  I wasn't about to let him have all the fun since I remember I brought extra kayaking cloth anyway. Wish I know this before so I don't carry my boat all the way off the beach and up a steep hill.   I get to practice beach lending.  I get a bit too much water in boat launching because I did not have time to put on my dryskirt before I launch.   We paddled around trying to catch some waves but most of the wave is too short to be any fun.  I was tire in less then 30 minutes of paddling in and out from the shores.  Two other kayakers join us for a little fun in the wave.

I took a quick cold shower to wash the salt from my body.

It seem to take forever to dinner.   We end up having dinner real early because of potential of run early in the evening. I think we start pre-dinner sneak by 5PM, and Steve started cooking the beefs on teh BBQ at 5:30PM.  It was a good meal as usual when Steve cook.  I hang around the fire.  Steve is always funny when he's drunk.   After the sun set, John, the ranger take us on a tour of Ft Wadsworth, a tour I missed last year because I was lock out.  Steve take a lap of the inner court topless and we lost him for the rest of the tour.

The tour of the fort itself was interesting. It is a very impressive fort.

We gathered around the front entrance debating if we need to search for Steve before we leave the fort when we get a call from him saying he is back at camp.  As least he is a considerate drunk.  We would be real piss if we spend hours searching for him.

After the tour we gather around the camp fire, and professional guitarists pay a couple of songs as the rest of us sung along.  It was fun.   I call it a night at 9:30PM and was dead to the world as soon as my lead hit clothing bag I use as a pillow.

I was up by 6:30 AM with a urge to piss but I don't want to get out of my sleeping bag. I hold out till 7:30 PM before I get out and see what for breakfast.  I had a dry box of Fruit Loop and a piece of steak left over from yesterday dinner.  I took down my tents and pack everything up as I eat breakfast.  Plan was to launch at 9 AM.  As I expected I need to do number 2 not soon after breakfast.   Better now then when I am in the water i supposed.   My stomach been good all Saturday and Saturday night so I was grateful for that.

We launched at a bit after 9 AM after all the goodbye and photo ops.   The wind was blowing from the Northwest so we have favorable wind.  We make much better time then we though.  We hitted our only plan stop, Manhattan Beach by 10:30, way to early to lunch so it was decided that that break would only be for pee break and leg stretching.   I did not land.  I prefer not to land if it is for a very short time.  I hated relaunching after a beach landing.  It turn out to be  longer stop I was lead to believe.  I relaxed on the water and let the wind blow me  in the direction that we would be paddling.  After 30 minutes the rest of the group launched from the beach and catch up with me.  The paddle from Manhattan Beach to Memorial Parkway Bridge take less the half an hour.  At this rate we were so sure that we will get to Sebago dock by 12 PM.  We underestimated how much head wind when we finally pass Mill Basin Bridge.

My plan was to cross the channel into Mill Basin Bridge and head into land to get some protection from the wind.  The problem is my boat keep on getting blow further and further from where I need to be.  I remembered that I had the same problem on the way home from the Staten Island trip last Fall and wanted to avoid getting blow pass the entry to our bay.  Try as I may I can't get my kayak to go north. I get blow further and further South.   At one point I was seriously debating landing to rest and wait out the wind. The wind was gusting at 25-30 knot when we get to the market in front of our bay.   Ilene called on the radio asking where I was after 20-30 minutes, and asked if I see Peter. I did not see Peter.  I though he was behind me, but I can't see him.  I scanned the land to see if he beach but nothing.  I have my own problem so I wasn't too worry about Peter.  After Ilene call on the radio I somehow find the strength to paddle north against the wind, and reach the channel market that have been eluding me.  As I cross the boat channel I see peter a head of me and on the North shore. He have got blow all the way to Canarsie Pier.  I was 10 minutes behind the group when I land at Sebago beach, at exactly 1PM.  It take me 30-40 minutes to paddle the last 1 miles.   I was so glad to be off the water.

I am still debating whether two days of good paddling is worth the 1 miles of killer padding.   But I know I will do it again next year. 

Putting in My hours

That all I did today.   Putting in my hours but not getting any done work.

I arrived at Sebago Club house at 10 AM, arriving at the tail end  of Cindy's summary of what work need to be done.  We have a good group for today Club kayak repair day.  The usual dependable Sebago members that come to every work day.  Cindy is very organize.  She get 5 stack of forms, each page describing what work need to be done on that particular boat.  We were to break up into 5 groups, each group fixing what needed fixing as indicated on the worksheet.  I joined the fiberglass/epoxy group since it already have group leader.  I don't feel like being in charge of anything today.   Fiberglass epoxy is the lease popular work and require some skills so not many other member join our group.

On our team was Frank who I work with a lot at the club, and Loise (speaking probably wrong). Never good with name.  Well it not important to this story any way.  Frank and I went out side and pick up our first "patient" - a Fiberglass Montauk that need work on the back bulkhead.  I started sanding the area to be fiberglass while Loise read the label on the harder.  In order for the epoxy and hardener to work, the temperature have to be at least 55 degree.  It was about 39 degree today.  Kim join our group with Chris (a woman) so we have a debate if it worth doing the fiberglass- epoxy.  We decided again starting the fiberglass work.  I finished up my sanding and clean up on the Montauk.  I spend my time pretty much rummaging around and looking for thing till 1 PM when everything stop working and gather in the clubhouse for lunch. I did not have lunch but did stick around a bit before I sign out.   I put my 3 hours end but honest don't do shit.  It was a very unproductive work day for me.  

But it still 3 hours of require work hours.  I would have stay longer if there was anything constructive I can do.  

Reassess Why I started Kayaking.

I started kayaking in 2001.  2001 was the year I started a lot of self improvement project to get over my social anxiety.

1.  I took very expense speech class in the Upper West Side with a relatively famous voice coach.

•  This last for about a year, it help a lot but it was too expensive, and I need real life interaction not practice talking to the same group of people once a  week. I don't remember a single person by name now from those weekly Thursday session.  I still have email for the instructor for years after my last class.  

2.  Sign up for dance classes at the New School.

• This was a disaster.  I was too busy freaking out at being that close to a stranger to think about my feet, the music or anything else.   

3.  Sign up for my first organize running race with the New York Road Runner

• I take up running with a vengeance.  Running became an activities I can put all my frustrated energy into.   I trained 7 days a weeks and keep a close eye on my standing after each race, trying to see what the next speed I need to achieve to beat that last guy and to improve my average standing in my age group, I was very proud each time I inched up on my age group average.  I was at 89% of my age group when I drop out of competitive running.  I forget the reason why I take up "social" running in the first place.  I takes running classes and join multiple daily running group without speaking to anyone.  After my appendix operation, I tried to get back to running in organize races to be frustrated my ability to train and run competitively.  After a couple of false started at getting back to racing I give up running in races in 2012.  I did not make any running friend in that 12 years I runs. I meet so many nice people but I just was never able to connect.  I am now running just for fun and clearing my mind. I give up on the illusion that because I get up every Saturday and run with thousand of people that I am not alone. 

4.  Join a couple of political organizations.

• I don't know what I was thinking.  For a person not comfortable declaring what my favorite favor of ice cream is to a stranger, talking politic is not my thing.  I try my best to be a joiner thought. I come to every  meeting and social gathering, 99.9% without being able to speak a word to anybody but I was there.  I don't know when I stop going, it just became too much.  

5.  Sign up for first foray into online dating.

• Money I will never get back is all I can say about this foolishness.  I never get a message back from any ladies I show interested in.  Sadly, this first attempt wasn't my last.  All end the same way.  

6.  Kayaking 

• Kayaking is the last man standing as it was.  I am still kayaking as of last year.  I still have all my boats and equipments but the excitement of kayaking is gone.  I don't know when it left and I don't know if i want it back.  Kayaking give me a lot of what I am looking for socially.  A place to belong and for that I am grateful.   I love the sense of community I have at Sebago Canoe Club.  I enjoy being greet with nice loud shout of my name and a hugs at social gathering.   But I feel myself regressing into my anti-social mode again.  I don't know what happen in the last couple of years. I still enjoy being in the water but the getting myself out of bed to do it getting harder and harder.   I used to be part of a tight group that go out and do thing only crazy kayakers would do but somehow that have fallen to the way side, and I missed that.  I have to decide this year where to go with kayaking. Redouble my effect to be involve or take a break from kayaking for a while.  Who am I kidding, if I take a break it will be it for kayaking.  Like running I just don't have the enthusiasm anymore.  Waking up early to go kayaking and running used to be worth it now sleep till 10 AM win every time. Maybe I am must be lazy.  Or depress.  I am afraid I am reverting to those dark pre-2001 days when I have too much time to  think and drive myself half crazy. My kayaking buddy Stevie moving to Tucson don't help matter.  
• 2016 - the year I must get more fully involve or get out.  

Losing my Kayaking Mojo

I am thinking about quitting kayaking.  I am just not into it as I use to be.  But mostly because I am not kayaking with the people I used to kayak with.  We seem to be splitting into other stuff.  Neither that or I am too wrap up in myself to keep up with what everyone is doing.  I have lost lot of momentum after my appendix operation in 2013. I need to get back into it, find new paddling friends, and find new and exciting place to paddle or just quit the think all together.

Kayaking is not the only think that I lost momentum on to be far.  I never did get back to seriously running.  I need to do that also.  Outdoor activities keep my sane.  I am being lazy and using my stomach issues as an excuse.

Second Time Around is not Always Easier

Oct 17-18
Since we have so much fun kayaking from our clubhouse in Canarsie, Brooklyn to Staten Island, camp and paddle back to the clubhouse was so much fun in May, we clamord to do it again later in the season.  Steve H. our resident chef and adventure paddle extraordinaire arrange for us to do it again last weeked.  I was pump to go.  I need to do more adventure paddle after spending much of the summer paddling in lake (when I am not sailing), and it would help me prepare for my big Halloween trip to Connecticut. Also I love camping, and I haven't do that all summer!

I know on Friday that this paddle would not be easy by an measure.  Wind is predict to be high, 15-20 knots coming from the NW, meaning we have be aid on the first leg out but hinder on the last leg as we turn North to go up river.  This did not detered me, if nothing else I look forward to the challenge.  I packed the night before so I don't forget anything, and may have over pack.   Meet up time was 9:30 AM for a lauch at 10AM, which is good for a late morning but a bit late for such a long trip but I have complete trust in Steve planning on these things.   I was on course to be early to the club but release as I approached Exit 13, I realized that I don't have my watershoe and neoprene socks and turn around to go home and get them.   Luckily for me when I finally arrive at the club at 9:45 no one is ready.   I spend some time trying to pack all my gears into my expedition  kayak, last year I used my low volume Tahe Marine Greenland.  Neither I brough less stuff or packed them all in more efficiently into my Tahe Marine because I can not pack everything into my bigger expedition boat this time around.   I managed to coerced everythings into my forward and stern hatched after couple of attempts.  We finally get on the water at about 11 AM.  We need to be a the mouth of Hudson harbor before the tide turn so time is essential,and we already late starting off.

Like I say, going out we were aid the the Northwest wind since we are going Southwest.   We we making decent time is at Floyd Bennett Field.   About half a mile from Marine Parkway Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge (Marine Pkwy Memorial Bridge) we make our first unschedule stop.  One of the paddler have problem with her skeg so she and a couple of other paddlers have to land and fix it. This take a good 15-20 minutes to fix. I did not land, landing area is between rusted metal sea where so ther is not much space.  Soon we get back on the water but on of the kayak that land to help fixed the skeg radio that his seatback broke so he have to head back to fix it.   This take another 15 minutes.   We paddled toward Marine Memorial Bridge with me ahead of the group.  I went under the bridge and look back to notice that the group did not follow me.   The paddler that have to fix her kayak skeg decided to terminate her trip so they are dropping her off at the breach at the foot of the bridge.   We continue on under the bridge and into Rockawy inlet.   This is when we really feel the full force of the 15-20 knots winds, with gust that I feel is much stronger then 30 knots.   I half expected our leader Steve to call off the trip because of the high wind.  I believe there was a small craft advisor for the morning.    We losted another paddler as we paddle pass Gerritsen Creek, Larry was having problem with his Epic Expedition 18 in the wind, even with rudder he can't control the boat so he turn back.  I did not know this detail till we meet up for lunch later.  All I know is I see Larry to my right, and I can't find him as I routinely take counts the kayaks 10 minutes later.  Since no one else is alarm that Larry just disappear i assumed they know something I don't, in that wind and heavy wave condition I can't get close enough to anyone to talk to them anyway.

The remaining foolish kayakers slowing inched our way into the Atlantic Ocean.  It was slow going, by the time we get to Manhattan Beach it was 1 or 1:30 PM and everyone is tired (we have only been on the water for two and half hours but it feel like forever) it was decided that we should land on Manhattan Beach for lunch.  As usual i was in the lead and did not hear of the plan to land for lunch, my radio is on the wrong channel.  I keep track of the next paddle behind me the whole paddle so most of the time I know where I last see him, right at the first jetty.   I turned around and can't find him, then notice that I can't find anyone else neither.   I have a sudden unconfortable feeling that i am in the twilight Zone  about those last fliers in the Bermuda Triangle but temper my imagination as i turned my kayak around to look for them.  Every landed behind a jetty that I paddle passed 15 minutes ago.  I was not expecting lunch. The time is right for lunch but not the place. I expect us to be at Coney Island for lunch, that they would probably be by 3 PM.  So right there I know we are in trouble time wise.   But we need to rest after the difficult crossing of Broadway Inlet and eat up to regain our energy.

We did not lingers for lunch so are back on the water by 2PM.  The paddle to Seagate was uneventful.  We reached Coney Island Lighthouse by 3-3:30. We take shelter behind the last jetty before the turn wound Seagate to plan our approach.  We to get accross to Staten Island and time is of the essentience.  We decidend to make a diagonal run from Norton Point to the Channel marker across from Hoffman. We set out in very close pack formation but as we paddle the group started to break up.  Illene, one of the more experient paddler that is next to me asked if I think we are moving closing to our objective, I fibbed and say I hoped so.  The real answer is no, I don't think we are moving anywhere close to our objective. We are move further aways from we were started but it was not where we want to be.  The wind is still blowing, as it turn out the current is coming out of the harbor. We paddled as hard as we can for 1 hours but all we did was sideway without making progress.  Steve, Illene, and Yum radio to say they are turning back.  This leave me in the very front still believing if I paddled faster just long enough i would make it across, Lori who is also head with me decided to paddle ahead.   I slowed down to let Carlos catched up with me, we decided to radio back that we will try to cross.  We paddled as hard as we can to catch up with Lori but she is way ahead of us and going South and out into the Atlantic instead of heading to our object to the North  toward Staten Island.   20 minutes into paddle, Lori turn back to rejoin us.  It was decided then that we should also head back to where we group up before the attempt crossing.  It was disappointing but i don't have much time to think about it.  It was head paddle crosswise into the current and wind to get back to Coney Island. Like I say we went sideway into the Atlantic and further from where we started but no closer to where we want to be.   Carlos and I joined up with the rest of the group that have wisely turn back 30 minutes early.   Lori for so reason paddle further and further along Coney Island Inlet, going eastward. I was half afraid she is actually going to paddle all the way back to Sebago!   We were quite dejected as we landed and wonder what became of Lori.   It was 4:30PM
After numerous phone called we arrange to be pickup up.   I was freeze after the hard paddling.   My kayak is loaded up  with 50 lbs worth of gear so it was no easy tasked to kayak it 500 feet up the beach.  Of couse by that time every kayaks feel heavy.   While we waited I empty out my boat to make carrying it up the beach to the street easier.   Since Steve call up ahead the with for our rescuers was long.   We get every loaded and headed to Staten Island in three cars.   It was disappointing to not be able to make it across but I learned alot about when to call it quit.  We arrived at Fort Wadworth camp ground as the sun set.   I was so happy to get out of my drysuit at the end of the day.
Since it get darker earlier then in May, dinner is a bit more chaotic.  Steve cooked up leg of lamp, and members from out club brough lot of sausages which were already cooking on a open wood fire by the time I get myself set up.   Dinner of course is delicious as always when once paddle with Steve, the Kayaking Chef.  I hang around the camp fire and chat with the paddlers from other clubs in between playing hide and seek with two 11 years old girls who don't understand the concept of hide.  It was fun.   I went to bed by 9:30PM, all wear out.   Steve and the other paddlers stillup late and as i faded into my slumbers can be head loudly singing drunken camping song.

I wake up at 5:30 on Sunday and can't go back to sleep because it too cold.   Since I do not heard anyone moving around I stay in my sleeping bag till 8AM when I can smell the coffee being brew and people start moving around.   There was already a small woodfire going.  I get a coupleof pieces of breads and half a bagol for breakfast. We wanted to be on the water by 9:30AM, just to give ourself more time to beat the turning of the tide. We don't want to have a repeat of Saturday crossing.  Instead of repacking all my camping stuffs and other gears that I don't need back into my kayak I back them up in a two big drybags and left it to be transport by car back to the club.  It make carrying the boat the 500 feets down to the beach much easier.

On the trip back we have Steve (our fearless leader,who paying for his night of drinking), IlIene, Carlos Yum and myself from the original group that paddle from Sebago; Lisa (a friend of Larry who drop out at Gerritsen Bay) take public transportation over in the morning and is paddle back to the club with US. We picked up two new kayakers on the way back to Brooklyn, Ranger John and his friend who yesterday launched from Marine Parkway Memorial Bridge (where we left off one of our paddler yesterday) and arrive at Staten Island before us because they time the tide correctly.)   So there are 8 of us totals paddle out of Staten Island to Jamaica Bay.  
We were on the water by 9:30 AM and started to heading across the harbor. We decided of a straight crossing to the other side then head for Coney Island. It take 30 minutes to get to where we attempted to cross over the previous evening.  We have wind (still Northwesternly) and current going in our favor this time around.
  
We very quickly work our way along the Coney Island/Brighton Beach coast, make a short stretch break on Manhattan Beach at 11:30 AM. Too early for lunch. I expected that we would stop for lunch when we get to Marine Parkway Memorial Bridge when part way with Ranger John and his friend.   We went under the MPM Bridge at 12:30PM, it was decided that we would head straigh home instead of stopping for lunch. I do not know how I feel a about that, I was looking forward to lunch but everyone else want to get home so we continue.  As we round the seawal at the western side of Floyd Bennet Field we ran to Louis De Marco how lastest paddle with us half way.  He was camping in Floyd Bennett and come out to see us on his out to go fishing.   We parted way with Louis and continue heading west till we make the turn North, that when we feel the full forces of the 10-20 knots wind.  For 8 miles we struggle against the wind to get back to the club. Since current is still in our favor, we can still slowly make progress, at 1-2knots per hour speed.  But much but still forward progress.

 Steve radio-ed as we pass Mill Basin that he have to stop to stretch so Yum landed with him while the rest of us paddle ahead.  Carlos (who was with me yesterday), Lisa (she only paddle on the return trip) was ahead as we make our way back tothe club, I made no attempt to keep up with him.   We ran into the sailors as they race around in front of the bridge leading to our clubhouse, look like they have a good time even in the heavy wind).   I was so happy to see the bridge that go over the little bay where the club is located.  We get to the bridge at 2:30PM but waited for the rest of the group  (less Steve and Yum)to catch up.   We all get back to the club by 3PM.   Everyone agrees that this is a very brutal and challenging trips.  I need more trip like this. Some to quicken the blood.

ACA Camp closing, Oct 10-13 (part 2)

So what  happen on Sunday? I missed my promised breakfast with the Peterson because I sleep on a tent out back beyond Stevie's tentplatform.   Because Peter is still teaching that class on Sunday he left for breakfast earlier then usually.  I get up at 7:30AM, normally this would be early to catched the Peterson before they left for Breakfast at 8:30 -9 o'clock.

Instead breakfast was cook over a wood fire at  my tentplatform, that don't happen oven.  It turn out badly, for some reason my eggs are frozen so it take a while to defrost on the caset iron skellet.  The "sausage patties" taste like flavor cardboard. After my tasteless breakfast, since I still have a good fire going, I decide why waste the fire, might as well get start on lunch since my turkey thigh would take at least 2 hours to cook anyway (more on that later).  I quickly sear the meat and wrap it in aluminum foil and let it cook while I visit Tod and Mia.  I end up eating a second breakfast of coconut pancake with Tod, Mia and their little girl Pearl.   Abby is drop off by her dad as we finish up breakfast.  Abby is a beautify girl, a bit too loud and very energetic.  She have the cutest freckles on her nose.  I left to let to two girls plays.  

Since I took Monday Columbus Day off I really was in no rush to back up my own platform.  So much of Sunday is spend slow organizing my platform, and visiting Stevie and Tod, and playing with Pearl and Abby.
 
Stevie is moving to Tuscon next year so is giving up his tent platform. I will missed having him and his wife Adele at the camp.  Stevie was the main reason I end up sending so much time at the camp to begin with.  I enjoyed hanging out after a hard day of kayaking. We used to have a big cookout at his place every weekend.   He stopped doing that 2 summers ago after he figure he spend too much money on food, even thought we do bring some food to  contribute.   I stilled missed those pass summers when everybody gather at Stevie for meals.  It is an end of an era.  I don't know who I would hang out with now that Stevie (Adele stop coming up to the camp much since she retire) is not going to be there.  I take up sailing to fill the time this year. Next year I will probably be doing more kayaking, and hanging out with the sailors (kidding).   He is giving a way most of the stuffs that he can't bring to Tuscon so i get a couple of stuffs, and help move his BBQ set to Peter's cabin, and Tod moved a very heavy concrete/tiles slab to his place.  Actually Peter's son Cody do most of the work.
Cody grown up to be a tall, muscular boy(man). I think he is 21 now!  I know him since he was 9-10 years old when I used to share Sebago Cabin with the whole family.  I don't seem him much any more the last couple of years. That is to be expected of course.  I always have problem recognizing him when I see him these day. I mistake him for his older brother when i first see him this weekend.  Since we have a  strong young man around we decided to have him movie all the heavy stuff, like a 300 lbs rocks that Tod no long wanted to my  platform.  I would never be able to move it.  We flipped it into a wheelbarrow.  Cody pushed the wheelbarrow while i keep the wheelbarrow from flipping over.  It was hard work to move it up the foot trail uphill from Tod's plagtform to the pave road going up hill, then down hill to the unpaved foot path to my platform then over a couple of steps to where I want it to be.  Cody do it all with enthusiasm and energy.

Some where between all these moving of heavy object and "packing" i manage to get one last sail in, I have to move the sailboat from my side of the lake to the other side where it belong.  It was windy 5-10 mph winds with some gust.  I only have 2 instants where I was close to capsizing, I managed to recover by adjusting my sail instead of have to jump to the opposite gunnel to prevent a capsize, get improvement from the beginning of the season.  It was fun now I learned to control the sail to get where I want to be instead of manhandling the boat with my paddle as a rudder. My sailing skills improved enough that I  am comfortable sailing around Peter and his kayaking class after doing on loop around the lake.    I don't want to push my luck and its consecutive three years that I capsized on my last sail of the season.   I docks and get the boat ready to be put up on the newly position boat rack but found at that the boat don't fit in the newly resized space.  It have to be modify. At first I thought I can do it myself, but decide on of the other sailboat on the rack have to be move in order for me to make the modification.  Cody come to the rescue and we modify the rack and put put back both boats in less then half an hour.

After the sailboat is put away, i don't have much to do except wonder around and bother other people who are busy packing up.  Stop by Tod and play with Pearl and Abby.   They set up a "house" among the large boulder by Tod's platform.  Each boulders is a separate room and I am invite for dinner as Aunt Julie, who the girls keep on trying the push off the cliff or poison.  Good thing I always have multi-spectrum antidotes with me!  I finally have enough of being poisons and get back to the job at hand, taking down my tent platform tarp roof.   The problem is I am staying till Monday so I don't want to take the roof down early. But i also have Cody around on Sunday so if I want his help I would have to do it on Sunday.   It was 5 PM when I finally decided to take the tarp down.  We don't have to be gentle with it since I have to get a new one for next year.  Cody help with the side facing the lake where the roof is 20 feet off the ground.  We get a ladder on top of a picnic table. He is about 6 feets with the ladder on the picnic table he can reach all the ropes I tied.   In less then 30 minutes we get the tarp off, It would have taken me hours.   I slipped Cody $40 for his help.  Worth every penny.

Back to that turkey tight I have cooking since morning.  While we were taking the tarp down I remember the turkey thigh left cooking after breakfast.   It is very well cook and apparent a bit of it get chew by a wild animal at the end.   I cut off that end and have that for dinner.   Very tender.
Since I am staying till Monday afternoon, or late evening on Monday I don't want to turn off the fridge till Monday, same thing for my big tents.  Those are the two biggest thing I need to do and those don't have to be done till Monday.   Hang out with Pearl and Abby for a while till it start to get dark,  have stevie and his hiking friends over by the fires for a couple of hours.  It was a good way to end Sunday.

Monday I went Breakfast with the Peterson.   I was tempted to forgo breakfast and hang out with Mia and Pearl before the leave but decided that me be to intrusive (Tod left earlier in the Morning in separate car).   We almost literal ran into Mia and Pearl as we come back to camp.   Stevie and Adele went home early in the morning as they usually do so I don't have anyone to distract me from doing what the weekend was supposed to be for, closing down for the winter.

I talked to two ladies North Brooklyn Kayak Club, they need a ride to the train station so we decided on 1:30 PM as departure time. Give me a deadline so I don't procrastinate.   I get everything all pack up and move where they need to be by 1PM.   I decided that there is no reason to drop the ladies for NBYC off at the train station to take the train to the city then subway to Brooklyn when I am driving to Brooklyn anyway so over them a ride to the City.   We make too time till we hit the FDR/Triboro bridge exit.  Since the two girls live near the Triboro, I decided to take the Triboro and get out of  FDR Parkway traffic.   I drop them off right off the  Pulaski Bridge. The hardest part is finding my way to Sebago in south Brooklyn. My GPS take me through the local road the whole way.  It wasn't bad traffic wise but I am never comfortable driving through some of these neighborhood.   Get they by 3PM and get help with the boat so all in all a good ending for the weekend.

2015 ACA Camp Season Come to and End

Last weekend is the last weekend at ACA camp for the year.   I took Columbus Day off from work to make it a long weekend. Originally I planned to take Friday off but changed to Monday in hope of spending more time with my friends at the lake before take down the tarp and the cabin tent for the season.  It work out well.  Let started with Friday night.

It was raining in the evening when I get home from work.  I decided not to drive to the lake on Friday, and come drive up early on Saturday.  The weather report say the rain should clear by 8:30 - 9 PM but it make do sense to drive up just to go to bed. No point in going up if I can't get a fire going.   I was in the middle of pickling my lime for the winter and cooking dinner when I get a called from Tiffany, my friend Peter Peterson's daughter at  7:30PM.  Peter get on the fun and tell me he have an emergency.  Peter, Linda and Tiffany were driving up to the camp when their car break down in the Lincoln Tunnel and is now waiting for a tow, and if I can come and pick them up.   There was no question of saying no.  I need some time to clean up my half cook dinner and pack my food.   I get out of the house  by 7:40.   The drive on the FDR and across the Battery Tunnel was fast, I was across the river to Manhattan by 8:10, then hit traffic.  It seem not none of the light on the West Side "Highway". I putted higway in quote because you can't call something a highway when it have traffic light. I take my 20 minutes to drive to the exit for the Lincoln Tunnel.  I find out what the problem is when I get to 40th street.  The two traffic polices give up on directing traffic as the crucial crossing and let cars block the intersection so when the light turn green no one can move. I hope those two traffic officials go to hell when they die. Its another 20 minutes on the ramp to the tunnel and a slow 5 mph drive across the tunnel. Pete called me while I am stuck in the slow crawl to the tunnel. I was informed that the tow truck drive is nice enough to drive them off at t gas station off the first exit getting out of the tunnel to Hoboken, just stay to the right and the gas station is on the left.

There was only one tunnel open, going both direction. When I get out I see the exit for Hoboken exit right away but I am 5 lanes over and the exit is 200 feet right off the tunnel.  By the time I make it over 4 lanes I missed the exit.  I get off the next available exit and call Pete for the address.  I putted the address into my GPS and quickly meet up with Pete, he was waiting out at the corner.  I parked while Linda get some coffee. My car is dead when Pete try to start it, lucky I brought the battery jumper with me.  We boosted the car, loaded up their supplies and headed to camp.  We stopped by the Pete's favorite restaurant Rhode's for dinner.  Pete bough my dinner. I appreciated that.   We get into camp at 11:30. Nothing to do but unload, brush my tooth and hit the sack.

Wake up on Saturday and realize there nothing for met do on the tent platform since I need everything till at least Sunday evening.  I did organize some stuffs.  I already take some stuffs back home last weekend so this weekend its mostly the can foods and whatever is in the fridge, all of which and by back in 30 minutes.  I don't want to turn off the fridge till Monday morning.  Taking the tarp off and taking down the tent  have to be done on Monday because I am still using it.

Peter is teaching a kayaking class on this weekend and he need some help.    Saturday morning was cold so Peter get all the on land stuff done before they get on the water.  He have 6 students so he can handle the class by himself but an extra instructor would be handy.  I let the group get in to water before I joined them. Pete tended to talk a lot so I like to missed that part.   I join them for the rest of the day.  It always surprise my how much I enjoy teaching.

Tod and his daughter Pearl come out in their canoe to visit us on the water while we instructed. I have to be on my toe with Tod on the water.  He always keep you on alert for a capsize.  I was waiting for them to show up.  I enjoy hanging out with them.  Pearl is a very affectionate girl and like to cuddle.  I love a good cuddle.

Since I was instruction for a bit I get to eat dinner with the students.  Free dinner is always good.  After the class I hang out with my other friend Stevie. He talked my into buying hammock and tarp.  He help me set it up behind his tent platform to try it out and teach me how to tie up the tarp. I did not take pictures.  After I set up the hammock and try it out I went back to my place and started a fire. I get a good bonfire going by 6PM.  I love a fire when I can get a fire going. Stevie and his hiking friends over to enjoy the fire.

There is also a fireside gathering at the camp only tenting camp site.  I stopped by to say hi to everybody but prefer to be in smaller group by my fire.   At 9 PM I decided to call it a day and crawl into my hammock for the night.  I was out before I know it, which is surprising since the party is stay going strong near by.  I wanted to be asleep before Stevie go to bed because he snore.

I get up at 2 or 3 AM to go relief myself.  I did not sleep as soundly as I did before I get up.  I wake up at 7:30AM. I promised to go to breakfast with the Peterson.  Stevie told me that the Peterson already left.  Oh well.  I need sometime with my other favorite family anyway!  I stopped by to say hi to Tod and Pearl.  Mia, Tod's wife come up late last night  and is out in front of their tent platform tending to their fire with their neighbor, Beth.  Tod is inside cookin gup coconut pancake.  I loved coconut.  Tod wanted to go on the water so I told him to use my boat since I want to work on my tent platform and going sailing.  While we were hanging out having breakfast Pearl camp friend come by, Abby.   Abby is a lovely girl about Pearl age.  She is full of entry and pretty as a button.  He father is dropping her off to pay with Pearl while he go to work.   I have two cute girls to keep me distracted.

end of part 1 of 2015 Camp Closing

Season Prep

I drove up to ACA camp early on Saturday, May 16.    Left my house at 7:30AM, arrive at camp gate a bit before 9AM.  It  my weekend to do Host and Sanitation as part of my facility leaseholder agreement.  While I was driving down Seven Lake Drive, I saw Linda's van drove by in the oppositioon direction.  They were going out for lunch, I was tempted to follow them but  I wanted to get my duties over with before everyone show up.  

I was done cleaning both bathrooms before Linda and gangs come back.  The gang is Linda (camp director), her husband Pete, her daughter Tiffany and surprice of surprise Stevie.  Stevie never go to breakfast witth us.  Regretably I have to miss the breakfast.  It was too expensive for me to have breakfast twice in  a weekend anyway ( average cost is $12 to $13) way out of my exceptable price range for breakfast.  Once  a weekend on Sunday is more then I can afford as it was.  I have to cut but but have not find a way to say no to our sunday breakfast routine.   I finished sweeping the Pavalion, and strengthen out the meeting room while everyone else let their breakfast setttle.  Spend a couple fo minutes finishing up my own breakfast of Oakmeal.     When I finished I go around and see if anyone want to go paddling.    Stevie and Pete joined me on the water by 10AM, which is quite an accomplishment.   We made a slow loop of the lake clockwise.   When we get back I set up my sailing canoe and take it out for a spin.

I join Stevie for Lunch at his place, and watch as Tod and his family drive in.  I love spending time with Tod and his wife Mia and daughter Pearl.  Pearl is a sweet little girl of eight who like to climb alll over me.  I don't mind one bit.  

Some time after, while I was talking with Linda  Mia come up and asked for a drill bit.  I used that as a opening to stop by and visit.  Tod need the drill bit to hang up a swing chair.  I never see anything like it.  It was hang just  a bit too high. I was talking to Mia while Tod was doing this.  Tiffany show up also.  We were playing around trying out the new swing chair.  Pearl of course have to be on everyone laps.  She is use a cute little thing.  At the risk of overstaying my welcome I left with Tiffany when she left.   I try my hand at sailing again.   There was no wind at all in the afternoon.  I was slow drifting in the canoe in the light breeze when I heard thunder.  I paddle my sailing canoe back to shore.   The rest of the afternoon just by by in a blur.    Before I know it it was dinner, more of our paddling friends drive in so we hang out at their rental cabin till time of dessert "potluck".   I joined after I finished my dinner. Spend the evening playing witty Pearl and her lighted balloons.   I stayed too late and get catch in the pavalion, one thousand feets from my tent platform, I waited for a while then make a run for it.  I didn't get too wet.  Spend half an hour watching water leak through hole on my tarp roof then go to bed by 9PM. 

Sunday started with Breakfast with the Peterson, and two of our friends.  Get back to camp by 9AM, inspected the bathroom and the pavalion to make sure nothing need to be taken care of.   We have one big project to need to be done this weekend before Memorial day,  The job is towing out the two swimming platforms and positionin it witth anchors.  I just get thing organize, Pete direct all the work.   I was tire by 12:30PM from towing and pushing the swimming platforms so I stop by the swim dock and play around witth the kids.  I left to have lunch a bit after one when everyone is satisfy that the swim platforms are as good as they are going to be.  After lunch I visited Stevie who had two of my friends with him, along witth Linda and Pete.  The conversations turn to camp politic so I left and go visit Tod, Mia and Pearl which had a tent platform down hill from Stevie.  Tod was not there so I hang out with Mia and Pearl.  I sit on the swing chair and Pearl was on my lap tthe whole time.  I think Mia was beginning to get upcomfortable with Pearl sitting and swarming on my lap.  I take the opportunity to get Pearl off my laps when Mia offer to show me  video she is working on for her daughter school.  I left before I over stay my welcome, if I haven't already,   

Take the sailing canoe out again.  Time time there are more wind.  It was fun but I still need to handle the tack, keeping on going into iron.   I get badly sunburn as usual.   Good news is I have more time in the sailing canoe this two weekend tthen have all of last summer.  I want to get better at this sailing thing.   After sailing I went for my first swim of the season in my wetsuit.   I have never gone swimmingg before July before.  The wetsuit work wonder.   I suntan a bit with Tiffany till a Miltipee get to friendly with her and that was it for suntanning on the dock. It was 5PM by the time I get out of my wetssuit.  Visit Pearl again, just as they come back from their paddle.  Tiffany and Linda stop by with left over hotdogs to feed the turtle so we went down the the dock by Todd's platform.  No turtle though,  stick around talking to Mia while she cooked dinner then say my good bye.  Went back to my place and cook my own dinner.    I pack up and drive back to Brooklyn at 7:40PM, get home by 9:30 PM so it was about average travel time for the trip back to the City.  

Urban Kayak Camping

Done something I always want to do, combining kayaking and camping.  My two favorities outdoor activites.

Steve H, one of Sebago member come up with the idea of kayaking to Staten Island, camp overnight and kayak back on Sunday.   One of his friend who also kayak is a park ranger at the back in Staten Island and they want to do some promotional for the camping facilities in the park.  I have see the park everytime I drive over the Varrazono Bridge, and even been inside when I ran the marathon but don't know that there is a camping ground in the fort.   

I wasn't sure that I would be able to make the kayak on Friday night but I packed up everything I need and drive to Sebago clubhouse.   Luckily I check my email in the morning because instead of 10AM launch time, the launch time was moved to 9 AM.   I get there a 8 AM, and take all of the 1 hour to pack all my camping equitp in my Tahe Marine, a very small boat with little cargo room.   I was surprice I still have room left when I crampted the last item in the boat.  We launched at 9 AM.  There were 19 kayakers in all.   The paddle was very relaxing from the clubhouse till Marine Memorial Bridge.   Most of the kayaker get out on the beach before the bridge, I did not get out.   We  continue from there to Coney Island.  We get around Coney Island by 1 PM.   We land at a little beach after Seagate for lunch.   The beach is right across from my apartment where I live for 15 year and never know about.  I heard there a boat launch there.  I have to launch from there next time.  We have lunch and wait till the tide turn.  Unfortunately while we wait the winds pick up and started to whip up the waves a bit.  We started out after lunch to cross the Narrow right before the Varazono bridge.  There was a bit of large boats traffics so  getting across was tricky.  Luckily we have a couple of kayakers with experience with paddle the Hudson.  The cross was the trickiest part of the day paddle.   It was challenging even for me.  Take us a good 1hour to make the 2 mile crossing.  We have a welcome committees waiting for us and direct us in through the 1 foot surf.  We all make it without anyone capsizing.  

Tod and his daughter Pearl is there.  I was not expecting her to be there. I love spending time with Pearl.   Todd is also fun to hang out with.  

The last part of the kayak complete drain my energy.  Unfortunately we have to carry our boats 1000 feets off the beach, and up a hill.  I carrry my boat with the help of another kayaker up to the camping area, and come back down to help carrie on other boat up and I was done.  We were all off the beach by 5PM.  

The camping area is very spacious.  I pick an area with a good fire pit and relative closed to Tod and Pearl.   It take me less then 15 minutes to set up my tent.  The tent area have real restroom and a hot shower.  By the time I get to the show there is no more hot water, at least I have fresh water to clean up.   I spend time hanging out witth Pearl.  She  is a very playful little girl.   

Nothing to see here, move along.

Just crawl out from under my rock to say hi.   I have nothing to report beside work, take multiple visits to the porcelain thrown to empty out my bowel, and going home to cooks and start cycle all over again. 

Stomach still have not recovered from multiple appendix flare ups last year and finally operation in December.  I stomach is nowhere near it is before the appendix problem in start up in July 29.  July 29 is also the last time I have a run that is more then 3 miles.   I did a 5k Turkey Trot in November and that was it for running.

You would think that without running to take up my time I would get more done.  Not the case.  My apartment is still a mess, and all my every day life paperwork (paying bills, filing, etc) are still woefully inadequate.  No running remind me why I need to run, I need an excuse to be out of the house and dealing with people in a non-work environment.  It also balance out my frustration with the depressing news on the internet.  I should stop obsessively checked the political websites, it always keep me in a angry mood.  I am spending to much money shopping on the internet without something else to take my restless energy.  

I have a doctor appointment tomorrow.  No getting my hope up I would get any encouraging news or good advise from my doctor.  I definitely have to look into getting a new doctor.  One of the item on my long list of thing to do while I don't have running to occupy my time but still don't get done.  

I been thinking of deleting this blog.  I am really bad at it.  The only reason I don't is because I don't want this to be 5th  blogs I deleted because I can't keep the discipline to spend one hour a day writing.    

Measuring My Progress by Foot

2012 started with ambitious running and kayaking plan.  I will not dwell on that now.  All my plans running and kayaking come to an end on July 29 after my last long run.   I end up the the hospital for a couple of weeks for a rapture appendix.  The appendix was not removed.  There were to much infection in my stomach cavity to operate.  I was told to fully recover before getting it operate on.  On my primary doctor recommendation I went to a Appendix surgeon in my parents' neighborhood.  I wanted to have the operation as soon as possible but he want it done in 3 months. In that time the appendix/bowels flare up a couple of time, the day before my birthday it flare up, and I end up in the ER.  I waitied 6 hours outside ER but leave. Lucky I was able to obtain the same antibiotic I was using from my downstair neighbor. There were a couple of other minor flair up I did not get my operation the third appendix flare up in December which end up being a whole month stay in the hospital for removal of the appendix and about one feet of my intestine.   My one month at Beth Israel was hell.  The hospital was a mad house.   I was so relief to get out of there.  I am home know for almost one month but I am still not recover. My stomach is till not process food well.  I can never be confident after lunch that I don't need to be near the bathroom.

Cleaning up

Marathon cleaning session today. Get to Sebago Canoe Clue at 8:30 AM, get a fire started, start cleaning up the club. Get rid of tons of old newsletter, literature, and pamphlets. We end up with quite a crew inside cleaning it out, Mary is in charge of saying "throw it out." We make the club house decent enough for a quick lunch, tot stews and chillis were provide by two club members, and o

ther member bring different food to shares.

I was so catch up on cleaning outside I did not notice the growing work crew outside. There is Sebago members everywhere working on this and that, getting the boats untied, more off the rack, level the ground and re-position the storage rack, putting the kayaks back, large group of Sebago members picks up hundreds pound walkway segment and re position it back. Other members clean out the storage containers. A group work on emptying water from a couple of kayaks in the club boats containers, and removed wet carpets. When I left the clean up crews were getting back to work cleaning up and straightening out the rest of the ground.

After lunch I have to drive to my parents' house. My parent's basement have more stuff then all of Sebago. I don't know where to start so I just digged in and start clearing thing out. My sister, her husband Tony and their dog stop by with foods. Tony helped out out in the basement then they have to leave. My older brother finally arrive from Manhattan by then so he help when my sister and her husband leave. All in all we make good progress. It is 40% done. My father have to do there rest - decide what he want to keep and what we can throw away. I decided I have enough by 6PM just want to go home and take a shower. That and we went out of room in the front of the house for the garbages. I drove my brother to the F train station so he can make his way back to Chinatown in Manhattan. He is coming back to help my parents out on Sunday.

Spend a good hours when I get home getting all the Sebago photo our of the photo book and rinsing them of. I dry them in the oven at 150 Degree.  I put too many layers on the first batch and they never dry right. 

Live as a Draft Animal

The new swimming dock project finally get off the ground this weekend.   Well, at leas the visible part of it.  I am sure Pete and everyone else been working on it for a while.   My contribution to the project is to provide what little muscle power I can on Saturday. This involve moving 16 feet lumbers from the top of the hill down to the old swimming dock.    Me and another feller carry two pieces down at a time. It take a while for us to finally find a good solution to carrying 50 lbs of lumbers down a steep hill.  I used some paddling that I used on my car rack to transport boat and slip it under my shirt, and carry the lumber on my shoulder.  It help so much.  I was going to pass out from carrying  by the arm.  We managed to carry about half the pile down before another set of volunteer so up and relieve us.   My body is in pain right now from all the carrying.  

I should have bring more to eat and drink.  Don't expect to be working so hard. I was expecting more volunteers.  

I was pleasantly surprise when I get the the Brooklyn Bridge, no more 30 minutes, 1 miles wait to get on the bridge.  They finally clear away so of the construction.   I was so surprise that I almost miss the exit for the bridge. 

The Fall Foliage trip planned for Sunday was cancelled.  I expected this of course.   There is no way we are going on the trip considering the impending arrival of Sandy.  I was a the club much of the morning helping to prepare the club for the onslaught of wind and water then drive to my parents place to do the same.   I went to a local construction store to get some sand bags for the door.  The price was rice from $4.50 (the worker in front of the store told me) to $10 when I asked at the counter in the same day.  It was $3.50 when my father looked the previous day.  That what happen when you wait till the 11 hours to prepare, you get hosed.  But what can you do, better to spend $90 to prevent a flood basement then to risk thousand in damage.   

What Old is New Again

Saturday was spend at Sebago clubhouse in Canarsie, Brooklyn.  The plan was to go paddling then come back and help on with the workday the John W. organized.   As usual I get my time wrong, I thought the paddle would happen at 9:30, I get there at 10  AM so I though I used the paddle.  John was power washing the shipping containers we use to store our boats and equipment when I drive in.  Beside John's red Subaru Forester there was not body else there.  Which is weird because I thought Tony email say they are going out paddling at 9:30.  Apparently the paddle is later.  Which really shouldn't surprise me, Tony like late start when he lead paddle.    

John put me to work scrapping the loose paint that the power washer missed.  The problem that I face as soon as I started scrapping is how easily the old paint come off.  I can stripped the entire containers down to the original color if I am not careful.  We have at least 15 contains so that would take forever and leave paints chips all over the ground.  So the hard part is not stripping the paint away, it deciding need to be strip.

I was hard at work stripping paint when Tony drove in.

15 Lb X 17miles

This Friday I finally make good on my plan to run from my office to my apartment in Brooklyn.   It was the most miserable long run I have ever run.  Even at the start of the run, my first 2-3 miles was miserable.  I can place why it was so hard. It could be the humidity, the temperature (88 Degree) or the fact that I am carrying a backpack. I have done 7 miles with backpack before so I can't attributed the problem I have.  The backpack weight 15 lb - I weight it after the run so lot of it can be from the sweat. 

Overview of route

The run from my office to 38th Street entrance to the West side bicycle path include stop light and crowd trying to get home.  I wasn't planning on  a set pace so it was not that big a deal.  When I get on the West Side bicycle path, I maintain decent long run pace.  By the time I get to the 6th Street Track I was ready to quit. But I keep going by breaking it into parts.  

Finding entrance to Brooklyn Bridge

 Part 1 - Get to Brooklyn Bridge
Unfortunate getting on the Bridge is easier say then done because getting on the bridge meant running through Chinatown. These were some very slow running.    Surprising I don't get lost.

Part 2 after getting  going from the Brooklyn Bridge to Atlantic Avenue.

Part 3 is to get from Atlantic Avenue to 36 Street where I can get my train if I need to quit.




Part 4 is to get from 36th Street to my sister place on 77th Street.

Stop by sister for restroom break.

Part 5 is getting from my sister's to Shoreview Drive and down toward home.

The pace - Walked the last 1 miles

 

Timing and Elevation

Heart rate and Cadence

The extra 15 lb backpack really do a numbers on me. I thought I drink enough water but apparently not as much water as I lost due to sweating.   I was very tire by the 16 miles and call it quit one mile before my apartment and slow down to a walk the rest of the way.  I get home and take a cold shower.  I don't know if it is a good idea to take a cold shower right after a hot humid run.  The shock can't be good for the body.  I sleep early.   Take a dump on Saturday morning before my drive up to ACA camp.  I stomach was feeling weird but nothing to be concern about. By the after noon I feel bloated, along with periodical stomach pain. By Saturday night I heave the severe need to go to the restroom but was unable to get a bowel movement. I seat in the bathroom for a good 30 minutes, nothing so went back to bed.  I don't have any sleep on Saturday between the need painful cramps, bloating and the need to go the the restroom every 1 hours are so.  This continue all through Sunday and to today.   I may have to see my doctor if this continue for another day.  I can't even think of taking in food.  Still no bowel movement.   My hiking friend told me my problem could be because of ions imbalances.  I did not take any sport drink during my long run only water.  

Next time I need to bring along sport drink, and fuel for my long run and leave the backpack.  

To Smell the Sea Again

It have been a while since I paddled in Jamaica Bay just for fun.  Since I spend so much time up at the lake in the Summer, I usually only go out on Jamaica bay when I committed to neither leading a open paddle or teaching.  This weekend in the city was unplanned.

I did not planned on kayak on I get up on Sunday morning.  I have no plan at all other the to exchanged the CO2 bottle for my Sodastream machine.  I did not even have my paddling clothing when I left the house, but half way down the stair I decided it is a sin to be in the city on a hot day and not go kayaking and return to my apartment for a pair of swimming short and a towel. 

Derrick one the the guys I mentors kayaking in last winter pool session as there getting ready to go out so I asked him if I can tag along.    He have no plan in particular  so we just free style it.   We get on the water by 11 AM, and decide on going around Canarsie Pol instead of a longer paddle.  I am all for that, I haven't have breakfast and don't want too late for lunch.  There is also the threat of thunderstorm that weight on the decision to have a short paddle.   

It was a joy to paddle with Derrick.    We only stop once on the paddle, Derrick need to check his cellphone for a call and I need a drink of water.   Since it was almost mean low tide when we left, it was iffy if we can paddle around the north side of Canarsie Pol without going around a large marsh on that side of the Island.  I paddled in first to check for dept.   I have about 5 to 6 inches worth of water and I barely manage to scrap through to deeper water. I was surprise that Derrick with his 6'5" frame and a good 200 pounds also make it through.  

Arrive back at the bridge into our basin by 12:10, almost an hour after we left.  It was a good paddle.

Racing a race

Sub 30 minute 5 mile mean a sub 6 minutes mile.  Sound easy enough.    That mean 4 mile after the first may have to be sub 6minute mile for me to come in at 30 minutes.  I finished at 30 minutes 23 second, my personal best for a 3 miler.  I have a chance to see if I can do it on my second club point race, the NYRR Portugal Day 5miler (aka Father Day 5milers) Harder in practice because it take me at least 1 miles before I can settle into my race pace.   It help that I started out stronger then I expected, a 6.3 pace on the first mile and manage to get to 6 minutes miles by the second mile.  I was able to get 5.40  for a couple of downhill stretch without losing any speed on the uphill.  The last 1 mile was hard going.   It take all my mental tricks to pickup speed for the last 600 meters to the finish line.   It was perfect morning for a quick 5 milers, temperature in the low 60's with a slight breeze.  

Over Schedules Saturday.

Posted on 06/28 Backdate to event date.

I signed up to lead an open paddle, and do a kayak quickstart class at Sebago's Brooklyn clubhouse.  In my mine, both item on the agenda for the day should be easy enough.  I forget I have not lead a trip since early last summer, and have not teach kayaking class since last Summer, and never did quickstart before.   But how hard can it be right.   Wrong on both count.  

I forget how chaotic it is at an public open paddle.  The last open paddle I lead was the beginning of last summer, and on that one there were only one or two off the street public guests.   I forget how much confusion there is when trying to get more then 15 never been on the water people on the water.   I did not have control of the situation from the get go.   Dot and Walter was there so I have to compete with their leadership of the group.   I get so confuse that I forget to get everyone set up in the boat, adjust foot braces, get them fitted in their kayaks etc.   So most of the people are new no one complain until we started to launch.   After a couple of minutes of confusion we get everything sorted out and one our way.    The usually larcenies of new paddlers complains on the paddle but no one capsized.   I have everyone gather up and rested a couple of time on the paddle.   It is frustrating for those who learn faster and want to go further but  I want everyone together.   I teach the more able paddlers refine strokes techniques while we wait for the slower paddlers to catch up and rest.  Elly my assistant for the trip was very helpful in keeping the slow paddlers from falling too far behind.  

I turned us back a bit earlier then I could have just to give everyone enough time to leisurely paddle back to the dock before 12PM.   We end up getting back a bit before noon.  The kayaks were all washed and return to their storage racks, and other equipment hang out to dry before in short order.    Now I have 2 hours to wait the Quickstart class I am teaching at 2PM.

After eating my lunch of take out Jamaican Ox tail stew I take the time to talk to Walter.  Walter is our Sea Kayak Chair and the wizard of Kayak Quickstart class.  He and Tony must have teach dozen of Quickstart classes last summer.   We discuss what the class material, material to cover and the timing of each part of the class.   I have a general idea of what I want to cover and how much time is need for each but finding a nature progression from one subject or skills to another.   Since this is a Quickstart class, a 3 hours class according to the ACA course description, it is hard to cut back on material to fit in the time.   I can teach each of the stroke for an hours but I get least 7 odd skills to introduce.  One of that hour is take up by on land lecture. 

I hate on land lecture.  I am the worst at speaking to a group of people. Luckily for me there were only 3 students so I can forgo a formal lecture instead go for discussion format.   EG  is my assistant for the class. She was great at give me hint as to the subject to be cover, fill in the material I forget to discuss, and lead in new subjects.   I started off with kayaks and paddles term and terminology with flash card. I have to learn how to properly us flash card as a teaching aid. We were slightly late in getting onto the water but not by much.  Walter and Dotty with two Sebago members that want to be certify to use club's boats and equipment accompany us out on the water but split up to do their things while we stay on the other side of the bridge and go over the basic stroke.

It was very windy when we get on the water.  I have to be mindful of where we were paying blow as I demonstrate and as the students practice the skills.   We went over the forward sweep strokes and practice it for a bit before going under the bridge and out into the bay.   The water is a bit choppy but manageable.  I would rate the condition a level 3 class condition, 1/2 to 1 foot wave, 15-20 mph wind.  Perfect kayaking condition but not so much for teaching preview of basic kayaking stroke.   Our three students were not intimidated by the condition thought.  They head into the waves like a pro.

The biggest problem with teaching in Jamaica Bay is trying to speak over the plane flying overhead.  I keep on having to stop speaking and wait till the airplane over head pass by.  

A couple of more skills were demonstrated and practice on.  The class end up being 5 hours instead of the schedule 3 hours but I have blast teaching it, and my three students seem to enjoy learning and playing on the water. I did a rescue demonstration, EG was rescuer and i was the rescuee in a t/x rescue.  We paddled back with Walter and his little group.  Tony have a small BBQ of burger and hot dogs for us when we get back.   I end up only getting hot dog since I was busy making sure everything is square away.   I did not leave the club till 6 PM.   It as a 8AM to 6PM day at the club.  I have not put this kind of time in at the Brooklyn clubhouse in awhile. I should find time to do it more often. 

 

Getting Back on the Water.

The tent platform project is getting expensive and frustrating.   It is not turning out the way I want it, and I am no making progress.  Actually this weekend the project take a step backward when I destroy my new refrigerator.  I arrived on Saturday night to a open refrigerator and food missing.  A raccoon have getting into my food stash.  I decided as I stay up way pass my bed time listening to the neighbor loud talking and laughter anyway to instead a latch on the fridge.  I savaged a locking latch from another fridge that I can use.  I know I was in trouble when I hear hissing sound of gas escaping and loud grunching sound of ice breaking.  I try to think fast, unplugging the frige and  plug the hole cause by the screws but it was too late.  The next morning I open to fridge to see everything melting.  I am back to square one, finding a new fridge.  My asked Beth who offer my an old fridge previously if her offer is still good. I am going over to have a look at her fridge on Wednesday.  I can't afford another fridge even at a low price of another $150 if I can find it.  I just need a fucking fridge.

I decided to put aside the tent platform head ache and just enjoy being around the camp.  Since Stevie is not the center of the day social activities anymore I am a bit at lost.  I manage to get breakfast and lunch from my take home dinner on Saturday night, and grill some chicken and collar green with bacons for dinner on Sunday. I don't have anything for breakfast on Monday.  I wake up too late to catch breakfast with Stevie or Pete. Just as well, I am out of money.

I went out on the water, enjoy hanging out with the kids, and actually start a fire at my fire pit, a fire pit that need extensive reworking.

NYRR Brooklyn Half Summary

In two words-  scrotum chaffing.  Do I really need to explain it? Needless to say don't try out new sport under-pant (actually its not new, I only wear it a couple of times kayaking because I don't like it and forget why I don't use it anymore - I remembered two mile into the race when it start to drop and the crotch area start to rub where you never want to be rub against by anything) in a race.  So lesson learn, 1 - never try something different from your normal long run clothing on a race, 2 - if clothing is uncomfortable/painful on  a run throw it away.  On the bright side of this - my first running rash - I am a real runner now. 

So on to the race itself.  The start was chaotic, the race itself was fast, the finish is anticlimatic and they really want you to go away.  They don't have a finish area, no place to wait and meet your running friends.  The start and finish was disappointing.  The race itself - I am still undecided on the new course.  I think it is faster.  The 5 miles of Ocean Avenue wasn't the endless hell it was the last couple of time I run it.   Maybe I am just more prepare.  I get a couple of 20 plus miles long run in before this race.

Over all, I think  party atmosphere that make this race fun is dead.