Re: [Paddlewise] Amusing sighting

>    We should be careful that we don't allow ourselves too much enjoyment at
>the expense of our draft-challenged brothers on the sea. The tides might find
>themselves displeased with our snickers and exact revenge when we least
>expect it. And who knows, someday a floating-beer-cooler-with-engines might
>just mean the difference between getting home on time or writing copy for
>some near death paddling experience.
>
>Jed  (just happy to be on the sea,.... in any craft)


nowww that you mention it.....we went off on a bit of an adventure 
last weekend...*ahem*.....3 of us decided to put in off of a small 
bridge that had a path leading down to the edge of a small cove in 
somes sound, bar harbor ME.  we went about our way, paddling around 
the islands that abound and playing with the seals who found us more 
fun wet than dry (they will swim up rather close to the kayaks, and 
flip, making a huge splash that has the capability of soaking the 
unwary paddler) as the sun began it's descent, we began a leisurely 
paddle back to our starting point. (mind you *I* am the novice, and 
my friends have kayaked for several years so i rely on them a great 
deal...)
the long and short of it is that we had miscalculated the tide.  our 
cove was a large mussell flat.  we were able to get fairly close to 
shore by walking, but we had to put much of our weight on the kayaks 
(enough water for that but not enough to float)and moving rapidly so 
as not to lose shoes and get too deep.  once we got to shore we had 
to take turns portaging the kayaks back to the path (quarter to half 
a mile)  we were one filthy smelly crew....lesson learned though. 
and it was fun it's strange way; we knew we weren't in danger, so 
instead of allowing the situation to cause frustration, we found 
merriment to the point where my sides STILL hurt.
The next day we relied on the trusty boat landing for a more sedate 
trip that was punctuated by the sounds of porpoise blow holes as they 
arced all around us.  my first time seeing porpoises from a kayak.  i 
was mesmerized.
-- 
    ~
   (">  weebee
  {( )} "Time spent laughing is time spent with gods."
   ¾ „ ~~~~~~~~~{_at_;
   /|\

   

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