[Paddlewise] Old trip report - part 1

This could also be titled Trials and Tribulations of an Dumb, Old
Rookie.

Last year was my first year sea kayaking.  After a couple of 4 day trips
between the Kennebec and Sheepscott rivers in Maine, USA and many day
trips, I headed to Acadia National Park in Maine by myself last
September.

After a 6 or 7 hour drive I arrived at Seawall State (I think) Park
Campgrounds which is located at the far southeastern tip of Mt. Desert
Island, across the road from the Atlantic.  While setting up camp I
noticed my hearing aid was missing.  After a thorough search of the
truck I gave it up as lost.  I only stopped twice on the way up, once
for gas and once to whiz.  I guess I whizzed it away along the side of
the road somewhere.

The first morning awoke to a really heavy mist.  The kind where you wish
it would rain and get it over with.  With the heavy fog, I figured I'd
head out to Seal Cove, 10-15 miles away and just hug the coast.  All I
had was a guide book and a little map of the island but I found my way
without too much problem.

Seal Cove is a small harbor with about 15-20 small sail & lobster boats,
maybe a couple of power boats.  As I was unloading the 'yak, it started
to rain and then it started to pour.  I happen to like paddling in the
rain, as long as those jagged flashy things in the sky don't bite me.
As the rain came down, the fog started to clear a little so I took off.

I paddled up past Hardwood Island to Bartlett Island.  There's a salmon
fishery over there I wanted to take a peek at and the wind and waves
were moderate so I headed out into the ½ mile crossing.  Halfway across,
the waves picked up to 3-3 ½  footers and I spent a lot of time surfing.
I paddle a FG Looksha IV and don't use the rudder much.  I would have
liked to use it there but didn't feel stable enough to reach around and
drop it.  After getting knocked sidewise a couple of times I started
using my paddle for a rudder and didn't worry about how fast I was
getting to the other side.

There were people working out on the fishery so I bypassed it and kept
going on up to the far end of Bartlett, stopping for lunch and to watch
some harbor seals.  The fog was completely gone now so I decided to go
on around and come back on the outside (exposed) of Bartlett.  About
half way back, the wind and waves picked up for an hour or so and I was
heading directly into them.  I also like this kind of paddling
(sometimes).

The wind died down and the fog moved in and I'm hugging the shore.
About 2/3 of the way back I decide to take a break on a rocky beach.
The tide's about ½ in.  I pull the kayak up, take off my rain gear and
PFD, drop the jacket on the kayak, and take the PFD up the beach a
little way to sit on.  I have some water and cheese, head back to the
'yak, put my jacket on and take off, leaving the PFD, with my car keys
in it, behind.

I get to the end of Bartlett Island and I can barely see Hardwood Island
across about a ¼ mile channel and head for it.  The fog is really heavy
now and Hardwood seems to be much longer than I remember 'cause I keep
paddling and paddling and it doesn't end.  I 'm starting to doubt myself
so when I finally get to the end, I decide I better come back up the
other side to see if I recognize anything.

About this time I see a lobsterman pulling traps and paddle like hell
towards him.  He's reset his trap and is getting ready to move on when
he sees me.  I wave at him and he waves back and prepares to take off.
I wave a little (ok, a lot) more frantically and he waits for me to come
out to him.  I ask him where Seal Cove is and he points into the solid
blanket of fog and says "Land's over thata way.  When you get there turn
right and Seal Cove is a couple of miles down the coast." and takes off.

So now I'm sitting there.  I can barely see the outline of Hardwood
Island behind me and nothing but a solid wall of gray mist in front of
me.  My first thought is if I miss land, the next stop will be Spain or
Portugal.  I thought it might be a good idea to look at my deck mounted
compass and saw I was heading almost due east.  I knew I should hit land
in 15-20 minutes or so and figured if I didn't, I'd turn around and head
due west and (hopefully) hit Hardwood Island again (or North Africa).

Well, after 5-10 minutes of paddling I start to see a dark streak in the
fog that turns out to be the coast and I paddle a couple of miles back
to Seal Cove.  I pull the kayak up on the beach and go to take my PFD
off when I finally realize, it ain't there.  What a feeling that was.
Bummer.  Following that came the realization that my only set of car
keys are in the PFD.  Double bummer.

I get back in the kayak and head back out the harbor in total fog.  When
I get to the harbor mouth, I finally stop and think.  I've got to paddle
an hour or so to some point I'm not sure of.  Make the ½ mile crossing
again in total fog, hope to hit Hardwood Island, paddle up the outside
of the island, find the spot I took my break in, all before the tide
comes in and washes the PFD away.  Then I get to come all the way back
in the fog and the dark.  I've been out all day and am already pretty
tired.  Does that seem like a really good idea?  Well, maybe not.  But
now what am I going to do?

The saga continues - I'll try to post the rest tomorrow.


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