Seals

Tim 3 posted a show and go from Wickford Harbor to Rome Point for the Saturday after Christmas. It was a mini present to go along with sun and mild temperatures. Who am I to pass up a gift?
I thought I planned for enough time to get to Wickford in plenty of time for a 10am launch. I forgot to plan for the slowest Starbucks on the planet. I also forgot to account for my dependence on electronic enhancements.
I decided to forgo my external brains handy mapping features and rely on pure memory. I was doing great until I got on Route 4 and realized I had no idea which exit to take. I knew there was a 2 involved and that I would eventually drive past an ice cream store. Luckily I guessed mostly right. The intersection of 1A was another challenge. I failed it a lot when I frequented Wickford and I failed it again. Then PB called wondering if I was almost at the put in….
Once at the put-in things went much smoother. Packing the Q-boat and donning the drysuit was fast and easy. I didn’t even let the unnatural heat sidetrack my cloting descisions. The water was cold and I dressed appropriately.
The paddle was pleasant and relaxing. The weather was mild and sunny. The wind was minimal. We paddled out of the harbor and hugged the shore over to Rome Point at a lesiurely pace. It was nice to just move and chat. We saw a few seals and a duck hunter.
For lunch we went to the southern beach of Rome Point where the trail from the parking lot emerges onto the beach. It was pleasent. One of the paddlers had yummy “hot chocolate” cookies left over from Christmas. They looked like little cups of cocoa with handles and everything.
For the return trip we paddled around Fox island. As we passed Rome Point we saw a lot of seals in the water and a few on the rocks. They checked us out while we floated around. Then we made our way home at a laid back pace.
It was a pleasent Christmas present from the paddle gods.

Paddling with My Sweety

H wanted to get at least one more couples paddle in before the season ended, so we took advantage of the nice weather and day care to make it happen. We invited along good friends. She picked an area where we could do something interesting, but not too crazy - Wickford.
We paddled from Wilson Park to Rome Point and back under clear skies. It was unremarkable - if you can call a relaxing and enjoyable day on the water unremarkable.
One crazy thing we did encounter were these crazy crab-like larval things floating in the water. They were everywhere and covered the water in a thin layer of goo. The things would get stuck on my arms and hands as a paddled. It was creepy! I still have no clue what they were, so info in the comments would be a great help.

Sunday on the Water

After some confusion about if there was going to be a paddle on the weekend, TM finally settled things by coordinating a paddle out of Wickford. His plan was a long trip that would appeal to level two paddlers.
The day started out a little chilly, but got progressively warmer. The wind was minimal. It was idyllic late summer weather.
We paddled down past the Jamestown Bridge and had lunch on Dutch Island. Then paddled back to Wickford with a quick detour into the bay behind Rome Point.
I did get a chance to play with some different paddles. I tried out RB's Werner paddle. It is very nice, but it foiled me in rolling. I managed a roll on one side, but not the other. TM seems to think that it is just that I'm not used to the blade shape....
I think TM is just trying to make me feel better.
It was a great chance to spend some time on the water with just the expectation of relaxing.

Paddling the Leisurely Way

February was not a good month for ocean paddling. That is not to say I didn't paddle. I did several pool sessions. The RIC/KA pool sessions were great learning experiences for H and a lot of fun for me. The pool session run by Carl and Sam Ladd featuring Omar from Israel was also excellent. Omar showed us a few exercises to help work on bracing and boat stability.
So when CC sent around an e-mail looking for people to paddle on the opening weekend of March I jumped at the chance. The forecasted conditions were not ideal, but still well within bounds. To further mitigate the chances of trouble from the winds, we decided to launch from Wilson Park in Wickford. If it was too windy or too rough we could always stay inside the Wickford Harbor. We could also stick close to the shore and work our way down to Rome Pt. and still be pretty protected.
H and I rolled into the boat ramp lot to find BH, RR, , BR, and B from CT in varying states of readiness. CC was going to be a little late, so I wasn't too worried about rushing. Of course CC showed up ready to hit the water and I was still trying to get my act in gear. One of these days I'll be ready on time.
The weather was fine. The air temp was in the upper 40's with a bit of a breeze to keep the edge off. With the water in the 30's we were probably over dressed for the air temp, but breathable fabrics make that OK. We also weren't planning on pushing ourselves too hard.
We headed out of the harbor and turned south towards Rome Pt. The wind was present, but not bothersome. The water was bumpy enough to keep it from being boring. It was a great way to get back into the kayak after a month or more. We chatted about wedding plans, life, and the joys of being alive.
At Rome Pt. we took an leisurely lunch stop. We rested and chatted for about an hour. It was warm enough that we didn't have to worry about cooling off. CC talked to a man who insisted that on the full moon high tide is always at noon. We looked for seals, but found none. We oggled BR's new kayak.
BR moved into the composite kayak club by purchasing a Riot sea kayak. It is a sexy, and skinny, kayak with hard chines. He looked very comfortable in it and I bet once the weather warms up and he has had time to really push it, the kayak will be a rocket ship.
After lunch we headed around Fox island and over to Quonsett. It was another pleasant and leisurely stretch of paddling. Nothing was too challenging, but neither was it too flat. It was just nice to feel the kayak roll underneath you, the wind caress your face, and the paddle blades slicing through the water.
For me it was fantastic to slip into that Zen-like flow of strokes where you are just doing and absorbing. It is not that I stop thinking, far from that. Instead, the cacophony of thoughts coalesce into a melody for a time. The swirling chaos of work, commitments, bills, and the cruft of living fade into the background and the joy rises to the foreground.
Once near Quonsett we decided to head over to the beach for another leisurely break. I mopped out the back hatch of the Q while the others watched the planes take off and otherwise rested.
After a nice 40 minute break, we headed back to Wilson Park. RR seemed to be in quite a hurry as he rushed ahead of the rest of the group. When we finally reached him, he said he didn't realize how slow we were paddling until he was at the harbor entrance. It is fortunate that he didn't inadvertently run into trouble because it would have taken one of us a few minutes, at least, to reach him. In 35 degree water, even 3 or 4 minutes is a long time.
At the put in, BR, B from CT, and myself decided to give our rolls a try. It was bad all around.
BR had not tried out his roll since the pool sessions. He gave it a valiant try . He missed his first attempt, made a second, and then let us practice a rescue. Later, he gave it another go with similar results. The important thing is that he gave it a try. The more important, and more impressive, thing is that when his first attempt didn't work, he had the presence to set up and try a second roll.
B from CT also tried and failed at a roll.
I tried and failed the first time. Fortunately, Carole was quick with a bow and I didn't have to wet exit. Not happy and unwilling to head ashore without giving it another go, I flipped set up on the other side and rolled up. It wasn't pretty, but it was a roll. I tried the first side one more time, and it just wasn't happening. This time I did manage to switch sides and get myself up.
I guess it goes to show that while time in the pool is a good way to keep the skills fresh, nothing makes up for practicing in the real world. White water kayaks are not sea kayaks. Clear, warm pool water is not 35 degree, muddy salt water. Nothing says rushed like the sensation of your head being crushed in the vice of freezing water....
We cheered ourselves up with some yummy treats at the Wickford Gourmet.

Winded in Wickford

After being rained out on Sat. I was ready to hit the water. The marine forecast Sat. night called for a grey, but calm, day.
When I woke up Sunday and it was a bit rainy way up north in Framingham, I wasn't worried. The forecast had said that we may get a some drizzle in MA, but that RI was clear and dry. Sure enough as I drove south and drank my latte, the rain dried up.
As usual, I arrived at the put in, Wilson Park, early and napped. The front seats of my wee Subaru are pretty comfortable for short pre-paddle naps.
When I emerged from my car and began talking to the other paddlers, it became clear that once again the winds would not be our friend. The forecast had been ratcheted up from a paltry 5-10knts to a blustery 15-20knts. The winds put the plan to paddle to Rome Pt. in question because this was a level 2 paddle. However, after consultations with the group, we decided that the best course was to stick to the original plan, but to make frequent checks at critical points along the way.
Despite the grayness and the wind, a good size group showed up. There was a new face from MA, an old face making his return, and a bunch of the usual gang.
After I butchered the standard RIC/KA disclaimer about my utter lack of responsibility, I reminded everybody that we are a group and that we needed to be responsible for each others safety. Then we headed off for the mouth of Wickford Harbor. The harbor was oddly still. There was a lot of money sitting dormant at there moorings. Inside the harbor the wind was pretty calm.
Once we got to the harbor entrance, we conferred and decided that everybody was Ok with heading down to Rome Pt. The harbor was a little bumpy, but not too bad. I sometimes worry that when the group decides, people do not always voice their concerns for fear of looking silly. I know that I have been guilty of such. However, not being a mind reader...
We made our way down to Rome Pt. admiring the houses and the quiet of the day. At Rome Pt., we tucked in behind the headland for a brief pit stop. After I managed to drag myself away from a stimulating conflab about AMC web policies, I got down to the business of planning the rest of the trip.
The day was so nice and people were enjoying being on the water so much that some people wanted to continue on towards the bridge. However, the wind was a concern and other members of the group, while wanting to stay on the water, were concerned that they would have trouble paddling back if we went further.
Bob Bomes graciously offered to take the level two people back to Wickford so the rest of us could stay out, but I do not think it is a good idea to split groups in that manner. It is one thing when a paddle is advertised as having two groups, but splitting a trip in the middle is never a good idea. Often what happens is that the tired and less experienced paddlers wind up split off from the stronger and more experienced paddlers. Even if one or two of the better paddlers does go with the other group, it is still not as safe if the whole group sticks together. Part of paddling in a group is occasionally sacrificing your desires for the safety of the group.
Anyway... the whole group headed back towards Wickford and the wind blew into our faces. Turning back was the right choice. When the members of the group make wise decisions about their abilities and comfort level, it makes the whole day a lot more fun.
We stopped for lunch at Duck beach. There was a big black lab on the beach that played catch with Bob H. I managed to blow my roll and get to once again make sure that my drysuit didn't leak. Tim made me get back in my boat and try again. The 2nd time was the charm.
After lunch we once again battled the wind back into the harbor. Back at the put-in, several people were loathe to retire so early. So, there was practice. Bob H. practiced being rescued. Rich practiced sculling. I practiced breathing under water while waiting for a boat to save me. Tim, as usual, showed all how to roll a cargo ship.