Its Spring!!

This is the first year in a while where I haven't been on the water before March. Somehow life has conspired to keep me from the kayak. So when PB asked if H and I wanted to do an easy paddle this weekend, I was more than ready!! The forecast was for lovely Spring weather and very little wind. H was not quite as psyched. She really doesn't like wearing all the crazy cold water garb (the water is still in the 40s). She did relent though - as a favor to PB.
We decided on the salt pond because it is flat, protected, and PB had never paddled there. We were hoping for a TM appearance with out luck. TM's kayak is the shop for a preseason tune up...
We launched with a group of five:, H, PB, CC, KP, and myself. Our plan was for a leisurely stroll towards the breechway, a long lunch, and a leisurely stroll back for coffee. I was so happy to be back on the water, however, that I sped off from the group. I found settling into the group's pace difficult. It wasn't that they were paddling slow. My body just wanted to paddle fast.
The salt pond was perfect for the day. There wasn't much wind or waves. We meandered along and chatted here and there.
We did have a long lunch. PB spotted a nice beach just west of the boat yard. As we approached we noticed a couple on the beach, so we paddled to the opposite end of the beach to give them some privacy. We didn't want to interrupt any moment they were attempting to have. Sadly, by the time we had broken out lunch, they had packed up and scadoodled. Oddly they were soon replaced by a group with several kids. A few jokes were made about "and five years later...".
While we lounged in the sun on the beach, the wind picked up. By the time we got on the water there was a good 10+ knt breeze. We crossed the pond and headed back up the eastern side to take advantage of the shelter from the islands that split the lake.
The last bit of the paddle before making the turn into the narrows and the upper pond were fun. The breeze had just enough fetch to kick up a small following sea. The Q-boat's tail wanted to wag, but I dropped the skeg quickly. I was not prepared to fight the kayak. I wasn't completely pooped, but it was early in the season and I am not in the best shape...
After the paddle we were joined by TM for coffee at Java Madness. TM discussed the benefits of Yoga with us among other ranging topics. It is always nice to relax at Java Madness after a nice day on the water. Does life get better than hanging out with friends on a deck, sipping beverages after a day of outdoor fun?

Should I Stay or Should I Go

This was the first weekend of scheduled paddles for RIC/KA sea kayaking. It was a number of weeks since I last paddled. Work is getting crazy busy. I was looking forward to a relaxing paddle and there was a perfect salt pond paddle on the docket.
Unfortunately, the weather scheduled showers....
Last night, I called TM to see if he was going to cancel. He was also feeling the need for paddle. If the weather wasn't going to be totally miserable, he was going to paddle. I checked the forecast... 100% chance of showers. I set the alarm...
When I got up this morning, I checked the weather on the computer... 100% chance of rain until early afternoon. I checked the radar... patches of rain. I called TM... His wife sounded skeptical, but he was optimistic.
I started getting my stuff together. I dressed in doubles layers of polypro, packed some food, gathered my electronics, and packed up some dry clothes.
H looked on in a state of disbelief. She kept asking if I was really going to drive to the put-in, if I really needed to paddle bad enough to endure the rain, if I knew how much gas cost...
Then I went outside to pack up the car. It was gray and damp, but not raining. Once I had the my stuff in the egg, H helped me re-attach the roof racks and load the Q-Boat.
Then it started to rain. As I drove south, the rain got worse. By the time I was approaching Providence, I could barely see because it was raining so hard. I began doubting the wisdom of my choice, but drove on.
As I passed through Providence, the rain began to thin out. As I approached the Route 4 turn-off, it was just misting. By the time I pulled off of Route 1 and into Marina Park, the rain had abated.
TM and RR were waiting in TM's truck. We got the kayaks off the cars and down to the water. I donned my drysuit. We packed our gear into the kayaks.
The sky didn't leak once. It was pleasantly cool. The clouds get the sky gray.
We took our time paddling around the salt pond. We talked about politics, cars, paddling, retirement... It was nice to get the blades swinging again. Being outside was far better than the alternative.
I took a little time to warm up, but once I was warm paddling felt good. The currents and the wind were pushing the Q-Boat around, so I got plenty of opportunities to practice my boat control.
By the time we got back to the put-in, the sun was starting to burn through the clouds. The air was getting warmer. The late afternoon was shaping up to be a nice May day.
RR and I decided to practice our rolls. RR's rolls, sculling, and balance brace looked flawless. My roll felt much better than it had the last time I practiced. After one roll on each side, I decided to quit while I was ahead.
TM was not so keen on getting wet. The water was pretty cold, and he suspected that the gaskets on his drysuit may be leaky.
After we transferred our gear back to the cars, TM and I enjoyed the sun and some coffee on the Java Madness deck. (Have I mentioned how much I like Java Madness...).
Sometimes, taking a leap of faith is a complete disaster. Sometimes, taking a leap of faith is exactly the thing to do. Today it was the right call.

Poking Around Pt. Judith

Today marked H's return to the water after the long, cold winter. BR's wife, MR, also joined us for her second outing. BH returned to the group after a too long hiatus. JS used the paddle to begin his recovery from knee surgery.
The weather was nice for mid-May. The sun was out and it was not too windy. We still needed thermal protection and H did groan a bit about putting on the wetsuit. (Wetsuit are miserable and I stick to my drysuit whenever I need thermal protection.)
Right out of the dock BH had a major equipment malfunction and was forced to return to the put-in. The rest of the group, however, enjoyed a leisurely paddle around the western edge of the pond.
I was a little nervous because last time I paddled in Pt. Judith Pond I took a huge divot out of the Q-boat's bow. Fortunately though we passed along without incident.
At lunch we enjoyed plenty of chocolate. CC brought along the remainders of RS's birthday cake-a homemade mass of chocolate torte. It was soft and had just the right amount of sweetness. H supplied a healthy chocolate alternative - brownies made with flax seed instead of oil. They were good in a very dense way, but the torte... oh the torte...
The return to the dock was the normal paddle home in the wind. It was pretty mild though.
Back at the dock the rolling ensued. RR showed us that you can do a balance brace with a Euro paddle. He is preparing to take the BCU 3-star and, according to RR, BCU does not allow a paddler to use a stick for the evaluation. So, he has put his stick away for the time being.
After getting all wet, we adjourned to Java Madness for some warm caffeine. It was close to perfect.

Birthday Paddle

Today was auspicious for many reasons: I got to paddle, hang out at my favorite coffee joint, and do all these things in excellent company. There was some anxiety about the plans coming together. I couldn't make the Saturday paddle and wasn't sure who would be up for a Sunday paddle. On Friday night Tim and I decided that we would do a low key paddle out of Marina Park and then get some coffee at Java Madness. To complicate matters even more, neither one of us had access to any form of modern communication gear until later on Saturday. H was on the fence about paddling in the cold. Our oven was thwarting her efforts at baking bunt bliss. Ultimately, the little frustrations made the outcome even more delicious.
H and I packed up the kayaks Sunday morning and before hitting the road pondered how long it had been since the egg proudly wore both of our kayaks. It had been at least a month and more likely six weeks. H didn't paddle on the Barking Crab expedition and I was trapped at work on the Veteran's Day paddle out of Wickford. It is a little sad to think that the gaps between paddles will get longer before they get shorter. H, I'm sure, feels it a little more than I do since she does not paddle in the winter.
For a change, we were the first people at the launch. Tim showed up a few minutes later and Bob, in his sexy back box, followed in short order. Paddle preparations took a back seat to checking out Bob's box. The little Scion B model is pretty impressive. The seats are comfy, there is a ton of room in the back end, and the racks have plenty of span. It even has a satellite ready radio.
As we were getting ready to paddle, it became evident that H was not going to be able to go. Her lips were turning blue and she was getting very cold. Wisely, she decided that, despite wanting to paddle with on me on my B-day, she would visit a friend while we were on the water. She figured I'd have more fun if I didn't have to worry about her freezing. She also figured it would be more fun to be in a good mood for the post paddle partying.
The final group of paddlers was Tim, Bob, Rich, and myself. We headed out of Marina Park along the docks at a leisurely pace. I needed some time to warm up. I'm not sure if it was the Flu shot I got on Friday, the fact that I'd been out of the kayak for a few weeks, or the cold weather gear, but I was feeling out of sorts when we started out. I was stiff, couldn't find my rhythm, or keep the Q-boat's tail from wandering. I kept whacking the skeg control, so adjusting the drift with the skeg was tricky.
Once past the point of Harbor Island we hugged the western shore and wended our way towards Snug Harbor. Along the way we found plenty of shallow water and rocks--not the fun kind of rocks either....
I was paddling along talking to Bob when WHACK. I ran the Q-boat bow first into a sleeper. The nose of the Q-boat has steep angle and the rock was perfectly poised to inflict maximum damage to the "impressive clipper bow." The scar is superficial, but long and ragged. I've put the Q-boat in plenty of desperate straights in the few short months I've captained her and earned nary a scratch. The irony is delectable.
I'd never been to Snug Harbor. It looks like it would be interesting at the right point in the tide, but today wasn't happening. There was a decent current running. I managed to use it to impress Bob. As a power boat came into the channel, I did a speedy sculling draw while moving backwards. The current did all of the work, but I took all of the credit.
From Snug Harbor we headed back past the commercial fishing docks and under the bridge to head down the eastern side of the pond. It looked like Tim was going to drive the group back to the launch without lunch. Bob and I quickly started whining and Tim, after consulting his new watch ($14 at Target), decided that we could stop for a quick lunch.
Over lunch we debated the plausibility of the Block Island Ferry being completely automated. Rich was told, by an authoritative source, that the Ferries were run completely on automatic. According to his source, the pilots didn't even perform the docking maneuvers. Tim, Bob, and I took the contrary position. Tim and Bob took the it doesn't make sense from a safety position. I took the it doesn't seem technologically feasible based on the economics position. The discussion veered off to a discussion of how they use GPS to anchor oil platforms and other large vessels that need to be held at precise positions in open water.
Before hitting the water, Tim broke out the birthday bunt muffins. We even had candles. H's frustration from the night before paid off. The muffins were a blast of chocolate goodness. Bob's became the brick of chocolate goodness that kept bubbling to the surface, but that is a tale for him to tell.
The paddle back to the put-in was superb. What little wind there had been died down. I was feeling back in form and lunch energized me. I decided to just open it up. As I picked up the cadence, I felt better and the Q-boat grew steadier. Tim calls the state I was in Zen paddling. It is an apt description. You allow yourself to focus on the cadence, the weight of the blade through the stroke, the motion of the kayak in the water, the sound of the group. The rest of the stress, confusion, pressure, and happiness of the rest of your life fades to the background. The effort of paddling energizes you from a primordial well that lays hidden from the workaday world.
Back at the launch Tim, Rich, and I practiced our cold water rolling while H, who pulled into the parking lot as we pulled into the dock, snapped some "action" shots. It is amazing how much the cold can effect things. For a couple of rolls I wore a warm fleece cap and it wasn't bad. Then I took the hat off... Talk about an ice cream headache. The water is still in the 50's.
Once we got changed and repacked, Tim, Bob, H, and I convened at Java Madness for a well deserved cup-o-joe. We gossiped, heard Bob's tale of terror from Saturday's paddle, and talked about big paddle plans for next season. These are the things that will get us through the cold weather: good conversation over warm coffee, dreams of adventures to come, and the knowledge that we have excellent friends to enjoy them.
I am a very lucky man who had an excellent birthday. May we all be so fortunate.

Blown away in Pt. Judith Pond

The forecast on Sunday hinted at possible danger, but a good crowd showed up at Marina Park to venture out into the Pt. Judith Salt Pond under the steady leadership of Tim Motte. Tim was upbeat about the weather, and correct (mostly) as usual. He predicted that things would stay pretty calm until late in the day.
The group consisted largely of regulars: the Bomes, Carol C., Bill Luther, Rich R., Bill Hahn, Christie, and my better half. There were also two people from the flatwater group that joined us.
After introductions and Tim's speech about being a responsible group member, the plan was laid out. We would beeline up the outside of the Salt Pond to the fishing ramp in Galilee. The hope was to beat the wind. Then take it easy and make our way back to Marina Park protected by the islands. The sun was out and, from the boat ramp, the wind was pretty mellow. Anticipating a beautiful level 2 paddle, we hopped in our boats and set out following the channel.
Upon emerging from the protection of the harbor, we quickly realized that the plan had changed. The wind was blowing straight at us at a steady 15 knots. Even late in the season a strong head wind makes for a slog, but in May it is miserable. A number of the paddlers had also been out on Sat. and were still stiff from that. The group continued to make strong headway and everyone held there own.
Always conscious of the group and committed to ensuring that everyone enjoyed themselves, Tim decided that the best course of action was to slip behind the islands at the earliest opening. Once protected by the islands, the paddling got much easier and we proceeded towards the head of the pond. There was still a fair headwind, but it was much more manageable. At the breaks in the island cover we got a taste of the hurt being offered on the other side. From our protected lunch spot we could also see the water being kicked up by the wind just around the corner.
The conditions were just enough so that you could practice skills without really needing them. I practiced a technique for locking the back of my boat when in the wind. It is interesting to see how the boat reacts to leaning in the wind. One way causes water to pile up and hold the rear of the boat. The other way allows the water to flow right under the back of the boat and makes it weather cock. The tricky part is remembering which is which. I still cannot remember. I also tried out different turning techniques for maneuvering in the wind. A bow rudder does a great job of turning a boat into the wind. And a low brace turn while leaning away from the paddle will spin the boat pretty darn quickly, if you don't fall over...
It was a nice day so there people out in their yards and at one point we had a little crowd as we rested in a little cove. The residents gathered around and started gawking at us. It was hard to tell if they were worrying that we intended to land and pillage their homes; kayakers=pirates.
The way home was quite nice. The wind just pushed us home, but it didn't give us much opportunity to stop and play. There were a few spots on the return journey when the wind reared its ugly head. It was just enough to make us work.
Once back at the dock, Tim took a small group over to a protected cove for some practice. Bob Bomes did four stunning roles. Each one looked more effortless than the one before it. He has come along way in the short time he's been kayaking!! Heather pushed herself to practice her wet exits and practice being rescued-twice. Rich R. did a great job of putting her back into the boat. He also did some rolling practice. Tim, of course, made sculling and rolling look easy. I even managed to get a roll or two in.
After we got the boats on the car and were safely at Java Madness--possibly the best coffee place in RI--the rains came.