One of my goals from last winter was to increase my paddling stamina so I can go on 5 - 6 mile trips comfortably. Since then, I have been on three trips at that length with no problem, so I guess that goal is accomplished. The next step in my plan is to paddle 10 – 12 miles, so I can handle more committing trips, like from the Beaufort waterfront to Shackelford Banks. I am still working on this step
To get some mileage, one morning in early May, I went on a practice paddle to Smith Creek Lake near Wilmington. My intentions was to make 8 circuits of 1.25 miles each. Unfortunately, I only made it 2.5 miles before my old pinched nerve sciatica pain flared up and stopped me. Fortunately, I have an appointment with my surgeon on May 12 to schedule a second surgery to complete the repair.
While on the water this day, I took advantage of the situation to try a few paddling experiments. First, I used a wheeled kayak cart to move my boat from the parking lot to the lake. I had the repeated problem that the boat’s sharp V hull does not sit firmly on the cart. It tips over to one side, making it hard to tie on the cart. Then I remembered Bill Webb coaching Janet Smith when entering or exiting her boat, to avoid the same problem by not leaving the bow on the shore, but instead putting the entire boat in shallow water. Then the boat will float level and not fall to one side when she puts her weight on the seat. So, I floated my boat in the edge of the lake and more easily tied on the cart. Thanks, Bill!
Second, it was a warm but not hot day. I tried for the first time wearing my NRS Hydro-Skin shirt and pants, thinking they were thin and not very warm. Instead, in the steady sunshine, I got sweaty hot. What I learned is that Hydro-Skin is close to as warm as a 3 mm wetsuit, and should be saved for actual cold days.
Third, I did another test comparing my European paddle with my Greenland paddle. The European paddle has slightly more blade surface, and is curved in a concave shape on the power side. So, the European does grab the water more firmly, and can move the boat further and faster in a hurry. But I choose to keep the Greenland most of the time because: (1) since it is less grabby in the water, then when I start moving from a stop or want to move faster, I don’t jerk the boat as much and it keeps me from getting tippy. (2) the Greenland has a thick, solid wood handle. Most European paddles are in two pieces connected in the middle of the shaft by a fiberglass collar. I have broken one paddle doing a self-rescue with a paddle float on one end and putting all my 200 pounds of weight on the shaft. (3) I often stow my paddle under rollers on the front deck bungee cords, which fits the Greenland blade nicely, whereas the European blade does not go under the rollers well.
Fourth, right many years ago I owned a cheap plastic kayak which I did not know how to handle. I placed the foot pegs too close to the seat, which was difficult getting my feet onto when I entered the boat. It made me feel claustrophobic. Soon the pegs froze in place from salt water and rust, so I could not change them. Then when I got my current Eddyline Sitka XT, I went in the opposite direction and put the pegs too far from the seat. It stressed my leg muscles to keep reaching my toes too far to the pegs. Then, today for no particular reason, it occurred to me to move the pegs to an in between position. So, I moved them, and now they work fine.
Fifth, I used my Garmin Montana 750i and my iPhone app Paddle Ways to track the route. For the first time, they both worked correctly. They showed the waypoints, the route taken, speed, time and distance.
Sixth, for a while today I was in a fairly strong wind blowing directly onto my port beam [my left side]. I tried to use the skeg to keep the stern from drifting down wind, but that let the bow drift sideways and made the boat turn. I also tried paddling without the skeg, which kept the boat pointed straight ahead, but then the whole boat moved sideways. From among my readers, does anybody have advice which method is better?
