After a couple of weeks of bad weather from excessive heat, combined with excessive rain from Tropical Storm Debbie, on August 14 Janet and I were itching to go on another kayak paddle. We were compelled to avoid the creeks and rivers due to flood conditions and the associated dangers, such as floating logs, downed tree strainers, whirlpools, strong currents, eddy lines, and snakes.
We were still getting used to our relatively new boats, so we did not yet feel competent to paddle in saltwater estuaries, bays, or sounds, with their wind, tides, waves, and currents. So, back to Smith Creek Park Lake we went for about the fifth trip in a month or so.
This paddle was productive for Janet, who made her longest trip to date with three circumnavigations of the lake. I also did my longest paddle to date with two round trips. Yes, Janet is a stronger and smoother paddler than me. But at times, I can go faster. We will keep paddling together and hope to both improve.
As usual, I was working on several equipment upgrade projects at the same time, including a new life jacket with relocations for my whistle, knife, phone and GPS. Plus I was using my older European paddle, to compare to my newer Greenland paddle that I have been using for about a year. Janet is familiar with my constant experimenting and pointedly asked me if I was relaxed and having fun. I said the life jacket was working great, then I reluctantly admitted that did not like the Euro paddle and I was having a hard time keeping balanced.
Lately, I have been watching many Internet videos published by Online Sea Kayaking about paddling techniques. I found that if I quickly tried to introduce one of those procedures into my strokes, then I got bumfuzzled and had to slow down to keep balanced. But, if I introduced one of those procedures slowly and carefully, then it actually worked. For example, I started using my feet and legs to "pump" the footpegs in time with my arms, and help my torso muscles paddle. I could tell that I was getting a different kind of workout because the next morning my thighs were mildly sore.
The special news was that for the first time in about 10 months, Janet's eight-year-old Golden Retriever Gracie paddled with us. See the photos. A good time was had by all.
