2012: Post 39 – Last Post for the year

This year has come to its calendar end.  In 2010 and 2011, as part of my kayaking goals, I had decided to be in my kayak(s) at least one-hundred times for the year; this would include paddles on the ocean, on a river, in the pool, on ponds, and practice/play days in the cove at St. Philips. 

  

Although I achieved the one-hundred numbers in both years, I had found that by the end of 2011 that in reaching my numbers goal I was sometimes going out just for the sake of hitting my target at the expense of setting aside other non-kayaking activities.  This is not necessarily a bad thing; sometimes you have to do what you have to do in order to meet set goals… and all the time spent in the kayak served me well to become a more relaxed, and therefore a more improved, paddler. 

When 2012 started I decided I was not going to set any goals other than to keep up my numbers for my ocean paddling (typically on weekends), and to get in as many summer camping trips as I could.  One problem that had become apparent was that I was sharing my vehicle more and more with my daughter, so my ability to get to pool sessions and St. Philips practices during weekdays was diminishing.  So I decided to go to pool sessions and practices when I was able, but to give weekend paddling the higher priority. 

Despite lesser access to my vehicle, a few poor weather days, and the usual bouts of cold and flu during the year, I still managed a respectable sixty-six times in the kayak for 2012.

My totals for this year are:

43 days paddling on the ocean

14 times at St. Philips

9 times at Tuesday pool sessions

Compared to the last couple years, I only managed to get to half as many outings at St. Philips and only a third of the pool sessions. But my ocean paddling remained on par with the last two years (41 in 2010, 44 in 2011).  My ocean paddles have totaled 725 kilometres this year (687 in 2010, 802 in 2011).  But in order to keep up my weekend paddling adventures I often had to rely on the generosity of paddling friends to transport me and my gear for paddles; a big thanks to Clyde, Hazen and Neville for the rides…  

I was blessed with three memorable camping trips this past year; a two day trip to Great Sandy Harbour, a three day trip to Irelands Eye, and a six day trip around Merasheen Island. 

Some of the people I paddled with during the year of 2012 include:

  

Tony

Clyde

Hazen

Neville

Gary

Tobias

Sean and Cheryl

Gerard

I am not setting any goals for 2013.  I intend to just continue my paddling efforts as I had done during this past year… I am just going to get out there when I am able and will have to see where it is that I will find myself in my kayak.

But I do think it will be a good year as I will be able to spend the latter part of 2013 in a new kayak… a few days ago I placed my order with our local Valley kayak dealer for a Nordkapp.  Yeah!