If you just go for a paddle than you can stop thinking about wanting to go for a paddle.

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

2014: Post 42 – Last post for the year

Another kayaking year has come and gone.  When I started out this year I did not have any set kayaking goals in mind except to paddle when I was able to.  Well, that’s not completely true...  I did start the year with intentions to not paddle as much as I did in the previous year. By the end of 2013 I was feeling I had paddled a bit too much during the year.

I had injured my right forearm in September of 2013 while paddling, and then banged my right elbow a week later when getting out (more like ‘falling’ out) of the kayak.  But I kept paddling.  By the end of 2013 my forearm was not much better but my elbow was.  Then by the time summer of this year came around I began to have rotator cuff issues on my left shoulder and my forearm issue lingered.  I kept on paddling though whenever I was able to.  By August my injuries were bothering me enough that I finally sought medical attention; neither my forearm nor my shoulder is completely better at this point but it seems they are nearly there.   

Despite the usual things intervening (work, regular life activities, a few colds, etc...) I managed a respectable 53 paddle days totalling 921 kilometers during the year.  There were also another eleven times that comprised of St. Philips practices, a few pool sessions, and one day on a pond for a total of 64 times in my kayak(s) for 2014.

I guess compared to last year’s kayaking totals some might say this year is a bit of a bust.  But I do not see it that way.  Any amount of time that I can spend on the water in a kayak only adds to the overall experience of my kayaking life.  It’s about getting out as often as my non-kayaking life allows me to, and getting out with my good buddies with whom to share the kayaking experience with.

I was able to get in four kayak camping trips this year.  The first one for the year was an overnight trip to Colinet Island (click here) near the end of June and the next one was a week-long trip to Fortune Bay in July (click here).  The next two trips were club camping trips; an overnight trip to Pinchgut in late July (click here) and the other was a three day trip to Gulch Pond in end of August (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3).   I had hoped to get in another trip in the fall but it just didn’t happen.

In the spring I finished off the all-cedar Greenland paddle I had started late in the previous year, but I still feel I have too much wood left on it, so I will need to shave it down some more whenever I decide it needs to be refinished.  I had enough wood kicking around to make a couple more all-cedar paddles, so in September I laminated them up…  One of them was too small for me so I found a good home for it.  The other one is only partly carved and likely won’t be finished off until next spring when I can work on it outdoors.

The last day I paddled this year was December 13.  After that paddle I tallied up my kilometers and found I was just 79 kilometers short of hitting a thousand for the year.  I started to think I just might break a thousand two years in succession…. just a few decent day paddles in the rest of the year could put me there.  But my non-kayaking life and a good ‘ol dose of cold/flu over the Christmas season conspired to keep me off the water for the rest of December.  Oh well… good thing I did not set a distance goal for this year.

The last three or four times I paddled my shirt has been wet under my drysuit on both arms and on my chest.  I tried to convince myself it was perspiration, but I finally conceded that the suit must be leaking.  A few days ago I sent it off to California for testing and repair.  This may hinder my kayaking life for a while.  I do have a paddling drytop and paddling pants with integrated socks so I could still paddle, but only if the wind is low so the likelihood of being a swimmer is minimal.  I will just have to wait and see what Mother Nature has in store in the coming weeks. 

Well, there it is… my last post for this year.  Now if I can just get rid of this dang cold (I swear it thinks I’m its mother and it just won’t let go of me), and if the weather will be cooperative while my drysuit is on vacation, then I can get back out on the brine.


Hope you all had a good Christmas and have a Happy New Year.  But especially I hope you all have a great paddling year in 2015.



Saturday, December 13, 2014

2014: Post 41 – Another large day on the water


Today Tony, Neville, Terry, and I paddled from Holyrood to Harbour Main for lunch....  


Putting in

Neville and Tony

Terry

Neville

Tony
 
Tony

A good hideaway for a pit stop

Terry

Neville

Fine dining in Harbour Main

Fine dining requires a fine view


After lunch we decided to continue up to Salmon Cove Point...  



The swell made things interesting in the slot.  Neville and I sized things up and decided to leave well enough alone, but Terry and Tony both watched for their chance and each made it through... 


Terry


Back at Holyrood we washed off the salt water in the river before packing up and heading down the road for coffee...

Tony

Terry

Taking out

It was indeed a large day.  It was warm and we had rain, sunshine, and some fog.  The day started with no wind and ended in a bit of a slog.  Along the way there was some swell and an air-born kayaker, eliciting some yee-haw'sbut unfortunately no pics.  

I do have to add that today was Terry's first time trying a Greenland paddle.  



Yep... it certainly was a large day...


Saturday, December 6, 2014

2014: Post 40 – Bell Island, the other way...

Today the weather was favorable for a paddle around Bell Island.  I've paddled around Bell Island before, but only counter-clockwise,  so I was pleased when Tony suggested we paddle it in a clockwise direction. 

We met at the slipway in St. Philips, crossed to Dominion Pier, paddled around the island and back to Dominion Pier, then back to the slipway.

Some of my pics to share...

Looking across the tickle at Bell Island

Tony, Terry, and Brian at Dominion Pier

Brian

Terry


Tony checking out a cove

Terry

At The Bell

Tony and Terry

Terry

There was some surf dumping on our lunch beach

Refueling

It was cool in the shade as we ate our lunch

Time to get back on the water

Terry getting a little vertical

Back at Dominion Pier

Heading back across the tickle to St. Philips

Safe and sound at the slipway

By going clockwise around the island today things had a different perspective... it provided the feeling that I have not done this paddle before...

Thanks to Terry, Brian, and Tony for sharing the day.