Navigation Challenge
Since joining the Boy Scouts at age 11 years, I have been trained to be prepared. For most of the intervening 61 years, when I took an outdoor trip that involved moving across water or terrain, such as canoeing or backpacking, being prepared included knowing where I had been, where I was located and where I was going. At the beginning, I used a map and compass. One of the drawbacks of a map is that the most commonly available types of maps covering the whole country are the US Geological Surveys 7.5-minute series. These maps cover so much area on such a small scale as not to be helpful on a short trip. Further, the map does not tell you where you are without many slow, tedious observations and calculations. Lately, I have learned that a GPS will faster tell you where you are and where to go.
Since I moved to the NC coast a couple years ago and took up kayaking, I have usually used my GPS on outdoor trips. But it’s use is hindered by several factors. First, water drips off the paddle handle onto the. GPS screen. The screen reacts as if I have touched it with my finger. Then the device goes to another function that I don’t want.
Second, I have tried using plastic waterproof cases, but they lead to the problem of looking through another transparent layer which reflects the sun and makes the screen un-discernable.
Third, when I try to input data, the icons and keyboard, are so tiny and delicate that I cannot get the data input correctly.
Finally, the water on which I am kayaking is rarely still. There are almost always waves, wind, currents and / or tide. Whenever I stop to fiddle with my GPS, then I am often blown off course. Or, since I have to stop paddling, I usually fall behind the group I am following which increases the chance of getting lost.
The attached photographs are from my last paddling trip on September 11 to Smith Creek Park lake to work with my GPS. I encountered a 10 knot wind. Whenever I stopped to work with the device then I was blown into the weeds surrounding the lake.
When paddling with the TRPC group, I have not noticed anybody, even the leader, using a map, compass, GPS or other navigational aid. How do the paddlers know where you are located and where you are going? I assume most of the trips are to where the leader and most of the members have already been and know the route. But since I am new to the area and do not know most of the routes., then I need some assistance to navigate. Even if I'm with a group and following a leader, still have the responsibility of protecting myself. If a problem develops with the group or the leader, or if I get separated from them, then I will be responsible for getting to the take out.
I would enjoy receiving from TRPC members or friends suggestions for how I can best. function in these circumstances. How do you navigate? Suppose it is a new route?
336-984-6860.
Have a great day. Your friend, Bob Laney.
After most of the week’s fairly cool mornings and blazing hot afternoons, Janet Smith and I [Bob Laney] needed a paddling fix. In the late morning of Saturday, August 31, we tried to access Badley Creek. We saw advertised in a year-old Wilmington tourist magazine a new Bradley Park with a kayak dock and a handicapped roller launch. We followed my Jeep’s GPS through remote neighborhoods on small, winding dirt paths leading to the Creek. Then at the end of a narrow, rough, steep track, we came up against a power pole making the track a dead end. The pole overlooked a footpath down to the creek. I slowly and carefully backed out between two steep drop-offs into the water for about a block. We talked to several neighborhood persons who had never heard of Bradley Park. Finally, a nice young lady walking her dog on one of the dirt paths informed us that the Park and kayak launch had never been built.
Janet and I debated several other local paddling locations and settled on Greenfield Lake Park. We had paddled there once before and had trouble with dense beds of water weeds hindering our paddle strokes. Sometimes we had to jerk our paddles so hard to free them from the mass of plants that we nearly capsized. Another problem is that the lake is a swamp full of cypress trees, Spanish moss, and no marked trails. A paddler cannot tell where he is on the lake and cannot see across the lake; making it difficult to find the take-out. Janet graciously acquiesced to my plan to circumnavigate the lake sticking to the shore.
Along the way we spotted what looked like a log floating in the distance. Upon closer examination, we determined it to be an alligator. As we paddled further, we came upon a group of about five alligators chasing a school of fairly large fish, which caused the intended prey to repeatedly jump out of the water and create a 30-yard-wide boil. Janet got the closest and took a good alligator photograph, shown below. It looks like a long, thin, bumpy log floating just barely above the swamp surface.
Best of all, Janet spotted a snow-white egret on the bank hunting for fish. She slowly, quietly, and expertly glided up to the bird without spooking it. After being subjected to a couple of pictures, the bird flew off across her bow. Janet got an excellent photograph of the egret with wings extended in flight.
After getting to the far end of the lake, we followed our paddle route back to the put-in where we started. I used my Garmin Montana 750i GPS and iPhone app All Trails to trace our route. They both showed a line on their screens marking our watery path. I occasionally checked our location. On our return route, both devices helpfully showed me the narrow water trails between swamp islands and boggy isthmuses to the take-out. Janet sometimes makes fun of me for playing with my electronic devices too much, but I get comfort in knowing where I am and how to get where I am going.
When we returned to the take-out and loaded our boats on the Jeep roof rack, we brought home dirty hulls covered in swamp muck.
A good time was had by all.
The Twin Rivers Paddle Club on August 21 paddled from Beaufort’s Fisherman’s Park into Taylor Creek. Then we crossed the Creek to Carrot Island and Horse Island, part of the Rachel Carson Preserve. The time and location were based on tide researched done by Club Vice President Carolyn Borgert. The Park is located at the corner Front Street and Gordon Street. After unloading the boats, we parked on Gordon Street. Everybody helped each other unload and re-load their boats from the vehicles.
The paddlers were Suzanne Blais, Michael Murrie, Dan Malik and Bob Laney. Dan and Bob both had the same boat model the Eddyline Sitka XT. Suzanne had the same boat model as Bob’s girl-friend Janet Smith’s Wilderness Systems Tsunami 135. Several of the boats were purchased from the esteemed and highly regarded kayak purveyor Bill Webb. We recommend his services.
Upon arrival at the put-in we found we had no leader. The scuttlebutt we heard was that the first trip leader developed a conflict and found a second leader. The second leader received a message early that morning from somebody in the Club that the trip is cancelled. The second leader sent a message to the signed-up paddlers of the cancellation. Unfortunately, the four present paddlers present did not receive either message.
Three of us paddlers had never been to this location, and Michael had been there but did not have the route memorized. We huddled over the map attached to Carolyn’s original announcement and pieced together a truncated route. We shortened the trip by not circling Carrot Island. We took The Cut in between the islands and explored around the sea grass beds and beaches in the estuary.
Much of the trip we faced a 12-knot wind coming variously from in front, the side and behind us. Taylor Creek also had a strong current to the northeast. Everybody was able to handle the conditions without a problem.
We had great luck when we came upon three horses on Horse Island grazing right at the beach that we were paddling past. See a few of the following photos.
Our first difficulty was we had a couple of false starts paddling into small bays off Taylor Creek before we found The Cut. The second difficulty was finding our way back through the myriad sea grass beds with shallow water past Carrot Island to Taylor Creek. Dan served as our fearless leader in these searches.
We skipped the Beaufort Channel and did not stop to eat lunch or play on the beach. Then we returned the way we came (out and back) to the put-in where we performed our take-out.
This trip was my first paddle in salt water with my almost new Eddyline Sitka XT, and my first paddle in saltwater in any boat in about five years. I adjusted my seat back to raise it about 2 inches from the factory setting and it felt good. I felt comfortable and balanced throughout. The residual sciatica back pain from my recent spinal surgery did not make an appearance. I am really looking forward to my next salt water trip.
I am sorry all my photos of other paddlers are from the side or the back so you cannot see anybody’s face. I had to stay behind the group because I could not get in front since I did not know where we were going. On future paddles I plan to get out front more and take some better pictures of everybody else’s smiling faces.
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.
Occasionally when somebody posts an Internet question or concerns about navigating outdoors, I reply by recommending that they acquire a Garmin Montana Mapping GPS 750i. The downsides are that this device is about the largest, heaviest, most complicated, most difficult to learn, and the most expensive GPS on the market.
The upsides are that this is the most powerful GPS on the market; with the most features and functions; a large, color touch screen like a smart-phone which displays a map of the countryside where you are and a precise pointer with your exact location on the map; an automatic tracking function which you can follow back to your trip beginning; a built-in camera to avoid carrying another device; all the course, route and bread-crumb trail navigating functions that you can imagine; 911 signal generator to rescue agencies; and the ability to directly communicate in real-time texts with agencies and your own friends.
The features are too many and too complex to cover in this message. However I have learned a few tips not documented in the Garminn manuals. Here are a couple tips.
Before a trip, plug the Montana into your computer. On the computer open the Garmin BaseCamp program which comes with the device. In the left column open the Montana Memory Card (computer Drive F). Then open the TOPO US 24K Southeast map which you must download from the Garmin website. Zoom into the nearly lowest elevation. In the upper navigation bar select the mouse pointer arrow (not the cartoon hand mouse pointer). Place the pointer on the location of the trip. Then click the mouse. See a pop-up information box with the relevant USGS quadrangle map name. Click on the quad name to show a colored outline of the whole quad location. Now you know which paper USGS map to take on your trip. If you keep notes about the trip somewhere, you can add the map quad name to your notes.
After the trip, plug the Montana into your computer and the computer screen automatically opens to show the data in the Montana. From here you can move your trip photos to the computer to save, share or publish.
After the trip, turn on the Montana, and in the Home screen open Waypoints. Choose a waypoint from your trip. Click to open. Read the Latitude and Longitude to add to a published article or to share with a friend needing directions to that location.
On July 28 Janet Smith and Bob Laney took a nice paddle on Rice’s Creek in southwest New Hanover County. As usual, I was testing another of dozens of configurations of kayak gear, deck bag, PFD, GPS, cell phone, knife, whistle, paddle float, self-rescue stirrup, pump, drinking water, map, and what seemed like nearly endless pieces of necessary equipment. I knew that I wanted each item with me, but I was having a hard time figuring out where to attach them to me or the boat.
On this trip I was trying out two Army surplus pack pockets, one each attached to the front straps of my PFD. Occasionally my gear ideas work brilliantly. Most of the time the practice does not match the theory. Just like Thomas Edison tried over 1,000 elements for the filament of a light bulb before one worked, my dual pocket invention was a bust. They flopped around badly, stuck out too far for me to swing my arms to paddle the boat and made me frustrated.
Janet could tell that my paddling experience was causing me stress and suggested I try to enjoy the trip. In desperation, I yanked the pockets off my PFD and clipped them to the top front of the deck bag. There they worked well until it came time to exit my boat at the end of the trip. The pockets blocked my feet from pulling out of the cockpit and swinging over the sides of the boat to the ground. Sigh…Back to the drawing board.
Oh, well, while still on the water Janet and I had a nice trip. We paddled upstream a mile or so. Due to the many recent rains, the creek current was flowing abnormally fast downhill. In Janet’s sleek, efficient Wilderness Systems Tsunami 135 and in my sleek, efficient Eddyline Sitka XT we sliced through the water and easily moved upstream. When it came time to head back to the launch ramp it was a casual float with the current.
The happy campers had a good time.
On the mixed sunny and cloudy day of July 18 Janet Smith and Bob Laney went paddling kayaks at Smith Creek Park Lake between Wilmington and Hampton. It was Janet’s third trip in her Wilderness Systems Tsunami 135 Pro. It was my first trip in my Eddyline Sitka XT 155. All went well. A side benefit was that this trip was the first time in many months that I came home with a dry shirt and pants, because I did not fall in the water when exiting my boat!
Janet’s boat tracked, glided, and turned better than her prior boat. My seat, especially the seat back, was considerably more comfortable than my previous boat. It was a satisfying experience.
The blazing hot temperature late in the day in the unshaded sun while loading the boats on my Jeep roof racks caused me to get a little light-headed and skirt with heat exhaustion.
A good time was had by all!
Over the hot, sunny and mostly windless days of Friday through Monday on June 14 - 17 the Twin Rivers Paddle Club and New Bern Outdoor Adventure Clubs jointly sponsored a camping and paddling trip to Goose Creek State Park near the town of Washington, NC. Approximately six club members camped. About another ten members drove up separately Saturday morning to paddle.
Bob Laney and Janet Smith waited too late to reserve their campsite and were left without a place to put up their tent. Terry and Becki Rich graciously shared their site.
On Saturday morning when Bob and Janet arrived, they set up their equipment for the first time camping together; and the first time using most of this new equipment. Bob did not pace himself slowly enough and started to get heat exhaustion. After sitting in the shade with some ice water he recovered fine.
Terry, Becki, Bob and Janet shared their respective homemade desserts, including Becki’s delicious brownies and Janet’s scrumptious carrot cake with cream cheese icing.
Saturday morning the kayakers were led by a TRPC club member and paddled several miles up Goose Creek. Bob, Terry and Becki did not paddle due to the men’s recuperation from medical issues.
Sunday was casual with several short hikes within the park done by several members. By Monday Bob and Janet were mostly acclimated to the conditions and had a relaxed, enjoyable morning sipping coffee under the shade of a tarp; or sleeping late. The rest of the morning was spent packing up camp by the 12-noon checkout time.
The main down side was Janet being bothered by many chigger bites, some mosquitos and a couple ticks. The Rich’s were kind enough to tell us their preferred bug repellants for clothes and skin that we will purchase for future trips.
A good time was had by all.
When I moved from New Bern to Wilmington a few months ago, I brought with me a sleek, long, narrow ocean-going kayak named a Nigel Dennis Romney Excel, made in England. It was used, extensively renovated and sold to me by my good friend Bill Webb. It is 16 1/2 feet long and 23 inches wide. Janet likes to paddle as much as I do, and often initiates the trips. She has a Perception fishing kayak which is short, wide, slow and not good tracking.
When we paddled together, I would take two strokes and glide 15 feet. She would take five strokes and fall behind. I made it my goal to get her a higher class, seagoing kayak like mine. But it would have the trade-offs of being narrower and more tippy. Janet did not warm up to that idea well, because she had never fallen out of her kayak, and she sternly wanted to keep it that way.
It took several months of me wheedling and debating to get her to agree to me buying her a sea kayak. We bought from Bill Webb a new Wilderness Systems Tsunami 135 Pro, which Is 13 1/2 feet long and 23 inches wide, which is about a foot narrower than her Perception and my canoe. This boat is considered to be at the small end of sea-going kayaks. After several more months of Bill’s work outfitting and renovations, including giving Janet a very plush and comfy seat, we took delivery a few days ago.
Janet and I were both nervous about how she would fare with the sleek boat. Over the last few months, Janet made several comments throwing cold water on using the boat. She wanted to know my plans to sell the boat if she did not like it. My concern was that she would capsize several times quickly, get frustrated, get mad and not want to use the boat again.
But after we took delivery, she became more excited about paddling, so we planned a trip that day to Smith Creek park, which has a small lake and a convenient dock with a boat ramp. We made detailed plans for me to be standing about thigh-deep in the water while she was paddling. I was supposed to stay close enough to keep a hand on her arm or deck safety line.
With considerable enthusiasm, Janet helped me get the boat afloat in a few inches of water. When she got into the boat, which is a somewhat technical, multi-step process, I changed our plans and did not hold her arm or the boat She methodically eased into the boat with no trouble. I expected her to paddle around me in a little circle and not get more than about 10 feet away. After a few minutes of circling, and doing a few low and high braces, she surprised me by pointing the bow towards the other end of the lake about three-quarters of a mile away and started paddling. As she moved there was no boat wobbling, no errant paddle splashes and no hesitancy. Just smooth, strong progress across the lake.
After a while she returned and said she was doing fine and really liked the boat. I asked her if she was ready to get out and head home, and she said “no.” Instead, she pointed the bow to the other end of the lake and took off again. This time she went out of sight several times behind some stretches of land surrounding some small coves. When she returned again, she expressed no problem with balance or any other insecurity. She was tired enough to head home, but wanted to go paddling again soon.
So, three days later on May 16 we went back to Smith Creek Park lake and this time she paddled the full circumference of the lake, going around the outside and into and out of all the coves. I estimate it was about 2 miles. This trip may not sound like a large escapade, but I remember my first half a dozen paddles in my Romney Excel being paranoid and feeling unbalanced the whole time. I needed about six trips under my belt before I felt confident that I could stay in the boat without capsizing.
I have learned from experience in my later paddles this past winter and spring that these low-slung, narrow boats actually do better in difficult conditions, like wind, waves, currents and tides. The next step in Janet's development will be to try some of these stronger conditions sometime soon.
On the cloudy but warm afternoon of April 17, the Twin Rivers Paddle Club convened at the New Bern YMCA. Several experienced members of the club lead a kayak rescue clinic. The club has conducted several clinics in the past and plans to conduct one or two more clinics this summer. Each class has a different focus, such as safety procedures, self-rescues, tandem rescues and others. Today's class was about tandem rescues. It was well attended with about 10 persons in the water and 15 persons observing. I was previously scheduled to work as an in-water assistant, but because of a recent hamstring injury I went as an observer.