2016: Post 30 – Last post for the year

The 2016 paddling season is now closed. It has been open for 365 days.  I've had a very good paddling year and have added a new activity to compliment my kayaking life..

If you look at the numbers,this year I only managed 44 days on the ocean totaling 736 kilometres, with another 10 days at St. Philips, the pool, river, and pond.  My numbers are down when compared to previous years.  Last year my butt was in my kayak 61 days, totaling 1018 kilometres.  In 2014 I totaled 921 kilometres over 53 days, and 2013 had me at 1190 kilometres in 69 days.  There were another 53 days spread out over 2013, 2014, and 2015 that were spent in the kayak for practice, river, pool or pond days, plus more days while I completed the Safe Kayaking Level 2 course in 2013.  So yeah, compared to other years my numbers are down. 

On the other hand, I got in six kayak camping trips this year; five of them were over-nighters, and one was a four day trip in July.  This is the highest number of kayak camping trips so far in a year since I started kayaking.

I successfully passed the Safe Kayaking Level 3 Assessment that was offered in early July, which allowed me to do the Level 4 course during the first week of August...  We camped for five days in the area of Burgeo, Newfoundland, where the course took place, adding another camping trip to my tally this year.  [If interested, click HERE for my post on that trip.]  

In late 2015 I decided that I just wasn't doing enough walking, and so I took up hiking this past year.  I have found hiking to be a very good compliment to paddling; on days that are too windy for sensible paddling, or if I just feel a need to get out and get my legs moving, I take to the trails.  My first hike this year was on February 27, and my last hike was on December 29.  My hiking tally has come to 292 kilometres over 29 days, which included four overnight camping trips. 

A couple pics of me... 

A hike day

A paddle day

If I add my kayaking days on the ocean and days on the trails together, I have paddled and walked 1028 kilometres over 73 days during the year, and got in 11 camping trips.   But those are just numbers to tally up and do percentages with.  What these numbers really mean to me are many fun days on the water and the trails, and lots of nights around campfires, shared with some good friends.  

Thanks to all those that have paddled and hiked with me this year; we've had some fun trips in 2016.  And I especially want to thank those that picked me up so I could get on some of the paddles, hikes, and camping trips that I would have otherwise missed... I've been car-less on a lot of weekends this past year, and would have missed some really good times if it were not for them. I'd name names but am apt to leave someone out... but they know who they are, and I really appreciate them going out of their way for me.

So that's it then. Another year is in the books.  I hope everyone reading this has had an enjoyable year in their outdoor pursuits.  Be safe out there on the water in 2017, and on the hiking trails too... and do always try to remember that we are all in this thing together when we are out there...

Happy New Year  

2016: Post 29 – Here in the real world...

Shane sent out an e-mail looking for people to go to St. Philips to play. The forecast for the weekend called for Level 4 + wind from the north and he wanted to get into some more intense conditions.  

Six of us met at the slipway in St. Philips this morning....

Shane and Cathy admitted to me that they were apprehensive about the conditions, especially getting out through the channel.  But all went well and once out into the cove we paddled into the wind and waves for a while.  

A few of the bigger waves were as much as three metres from trough to crest and after a little while we turned around and surfed back into the cove for a little break.

After some more paddling around, Brian and I decided it would be good for Cathy to do a rescue " here in the real world."  I gave Shane my camera to get a few pics, but discovered he had taken a little video of the rescue as well.  Cathy had a bit of trouble getting hold of my kayak and it finally got away from her in the wind...  

She sent Brian to retrieve my kayak while I hung on to her bow.  I was dressed for immersion and the water wasn't as cold a I thought it might be.  While we bobbed in the waves, waiting for my kayak, we had a little discussion about how a rescue 'out here' was not like doing rescues in the pool or on the pond, and that this is where people really need to learn to do rescues... 

Before too long Brian was back with Jenny and once I was safely back in the cockpit we had a little discussion, as usual, about what we might have done better or different...

We paddled some more into the wind and waves, turning around and trying to catch surf rides back into the cove.

I followed Shane and got a couple pics of him rolling in the waves... 

I took a little video to try to capture the sea state...

After a while we figured Cathy should have another go at doing a rescue, but this time Shane was the swimmer.  I think this rescue went smoother.  We had pre-discussed things and decided Shane should flip his kayak upright so it would be easier for Cathy to get a hold of it in the waves...

I was taking a few pics of the rescue and the wind gusted and blew me transverse to the waves.  I picked up my paddle and as I tried to turn myself into the gusty wind I pushed hard on the upside of my paddle and snapped it in two, almost putting myself over in the process!!  I had one piece in my hand and had to retrieve the other as it tried to float away from me.  I got the pieces stowed under the bungees and pulled my spare off my deck.  

By this time a couple hours had passed and the wind has picked up a little more.  We decided it was time to call it a day and we headed back into the marina.  We had to time the entry into the channel as some of the waves were bigger, some actually a little higher than the wharf itself.  

One by one we entered and as I came in I noticed an elderly couple standing on the wharf watching us.  The lady was pointing to each of us, and I could see her mouthing the words... "one, two, three..."  I guess they must of been watching us and she wanted to make sure we all made it back in...

With the kayaks loaded up we all went for coffee and conversation at the nearby restaurant.  I was watching Shane and he couldn't wipe the grin off his face the whole time.  I think the morning's fun just may have changed his life...

It was fun.  It's been a while since we played in the wind...