[Paddlewise] things that I had forgotten

I thought that I would write this while I am still elated and
before the pain sets in.  I have had problems with an old shoulder
injury, so I haven't been paddling for about 4 weeks. Since the
last time that I paddled, winter has arrived.  Here are some
things that I had forgotten, both bad and good.

-I had forgotten awkward it is to walk to the boathouse through
knee deep snow while dressed in layers of fleece under my dry
suit, and feeling like the Michelin Man.

-I had forgotten how cold even a wooden paddle could feel after
being in the boathouse at -15 degrees C (4 F) for several days.
I'll have to get back to storing it in the house.

-I had forgotten how hard it it to pull the second hand's pogie
over your drysuit wrist once the first hand is in its pogie.

-I had forgotten how a favourite narrow passageway between two
islands gets even narrower at this time of year as the water level
drops.  It is time to avoid that spot, or put away my cedar strip
boat, I guess.

-I had forgotten how cold spray in your face can be when it is
below freezing.

BUT, most of all I had forgotten how absolutely wonderful it can
be to paddle in the winter.
-I had forgotten how beautiful and peaceful it can be to paddle
close to the islands where the pine trees are heavily laden with
snow.

-I had forgotten how interesting the rocks on the windward end of
the islands can be as the waves spray water on them.  The spray
freezes and gradually builds up into "hats", while icicles hang
down from the higher rocks.
 
-I had forgotten the pleasure of being able to paddle along the
shore following small animals' tracks, which are in the snow.  I
even saw one set that stopped suddenly in the middle of an open
area.  I could see where a large bird's wings (maybe an eagle, but
more likely a hawk) had hit the snow right where the animal's
tracks ended.  Such is nature; everything has to eat.

-I guess that mainly I had missed how peaceful it can be to be
paddling through the absolute quiet that you get in a scene where
there are none of the usual sounds of civilization, and the snow
deadens almost all other sounds except for the occasional bird
call or the warning chatter of a squirrel who doesn't like someone
too near his territory.  Life is good!

John

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