The cold is hard on my camera battery and so I have not been taking many pictures... I have to tuck my camera inside my cag to let it warm up and then I take it out now and then to snap a picture here and there. I also find it difficult to use the camera with my neoprene mitts on, especially in more bouncy waters... But here area few pics from Tuesdays paddle...
We had a good bit of snow on Christmas Day to add to the usual festivities. I wish I had taken a picture in the morning of the clean, white snow that had fallen. But anyway...
I woke up this morning (Boxing Day) and looked out the window. It was a clear sunny day. I had my breakfast and checked the weather forecast on my computer. Not too much wind called for and it was supposed to drop a bit in the afternoon. I piddled around in the basement at this and that and then looked at my kayaking gear that was hung up. I decided I wanted to be on the water.
So I went out and loaded my kayak on the car. It was a chilly morning and I decided I would slip a plastic bag over the car seat so when I got off the water I wouldn't have to take off my drysuit in the cold, and could just jump aboard and drive home. Then I came inside and put on my drysuit, neoprene boots, and skirt, and even my tow bag. I threw the rest of my gear in my plastic tub and headed for St. Philips.
Once there it was just a matter of unloading the kayak, grab my paddles, pull on my skull cap and cag, lock the car, pull on my neoprene mitts and hit the water. I paddled out of the cove and turned toward Topsail Beach (it has been almost a month since I have paddled up to TB).
Again, it was a chilly day, and a little bouncy in places, and so I did not take too many pics; here are almost all the the ones I took....
When I got back to St. Philips it was just a simple matter of pulling off my ice-clad cag, take off my fairly dry PFD, skirt, and tow-bag (kept dry by my cag), and toss my other gear in the car. No need to take off the drysuit in the chilly air with the plastic bag on the seat...
But before loading the kayak on the roof I noticed someone had placed a knob of snow on top of my foam saddle; I thought it was an odd thing for someone to do. Then as I was attaching my bow line I noticed someone had written a message on my windshield, which simply said "Sneaky. I knew it". I am pretty sure I know who the author was, and I had a little chuckle to myself. Then I hopped in the driver's seat and headed for home.
How chilly was it? Well, here is a pic I took of some knobs of ice still clinging to the sleeve of my cag hung up in my warm basement....
I wonder if this will be my last paddle for this year... the weather forecast is calling for some wind over the next few days...
I couldn't paddle yesterday as we were celebrating a deferred Christmas. I cleared snow early in the morning and decided to give one of the cars a run because it hadn't been driven in a week and the cold is hard on the battery.
ReplyDeleteI drove down to St. Philips but I could have driven anywhere. Force of habit maybe? When I arrived at the beach I noticed your car there and left the message. Arnold said you had left an hour ago.
I drove home but decided to check if I could see you at Lauries Beach. You were just going by. I cupped my hands and shouted but you couldn't hear me. I was shouting into a little wind. I knew you were going to Topsail Beach.
I carried on home, boiled the kettle, put some tea in a thermos and a couple of cookies and drove to Topsail Beach arriving just as you came into view.
I waited in the car and got out, took a few pictures expecting you to land at the beach but you didn't stop so I went on home again.
It was an odd feeling watching you go by.
Tony :-)
Ah ha! The anonymous author reveals himself...
ReplyDeleteI guess with my skull cap on and the bit of wind I couldn't hear you shouting... If I had known you were at TB with a snack I would have taken out. I did see some kids sliding there but that was all. I didn't need to land at TB (translation - did not have to take a pee break) and since I was by myself I just kept going up to the headland to watch those waves for a bit and get a pic...