[Paddlewise] TCSKA Trip Report&Overloaded Kayak Garbage Scows

The Twin City Sea Kayak Association had their first official
trip on Lake Superior this weekend - although it should be
noted that many club members have been up on the lake
dragging their boats across the ice pack since March on
unofficial trips.  This weekend was the Apostle Islands
cleanup trip where club members walk the beaches to pick up
all the trash and debris left by the rag baggers and
stinkboaters.

Only myself and Rick Wright showed up so we limited our
quest for garbage to Sand Island.  The beaches were in good
shape and we only found about 5 trash bags of garbage from
the entire shore of the island.  Rick was designated our
group Archeologist.  Any items too difficult to carry on a
kayak (old tires, cast iron parts from wood stoves, anchor
chains etc.) were immediately classified as artifacts of
great historical significance that must be left for future
generations to enjoy.

Our greatest find was one of those giant orange highway
marker drums which had been partially flattened by a fallen
tree.  Rick of course classified this as a relic of
antiquity, but I decided to give carrying it a shot.  After
loading about three trash bags of garbage into the drum we
lashed it on the aft deck of my Romany and headed back for
the dock.  Paddling into a headwind was managable but at one
point a 20 knot gust hit me sideways and dumped the load to
the side nearly capsizing me and filling the garbage and
drum with about 100 pounds of water pinning me on my side
while I did a sculling brace.

Rick quickly rafted up and we got the garbage scow back in
good sea worthy condition and made it back to the dock with
our lovely prizes.  Ricks boat only had about two bags of
garbage on it but it was better balanced both physically and
asthetically.  He had a big trash bag aft, a large plastic
jug on the rear grab loop, a giant foam water toy as a
lovely bow sprite, a nice orange ring throwable PFD and a
lovely little bouquet of plastic flowers.

I guess paddling with a 30 pound drum of garbage on the back
deck must feel a bit like Don Starkles boat did with all
those lovely canned goods on deck!  Don't worry we had
drysuits, the weather was calm, we were following shore on
the island, and most of the garbage was somewhat bouyant.
Paddling with a mountain of crap on your boat on a windy day
makes you really appreciate why gear belongs in your boat
not on your boat!

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