[Paddlewise] New Paddler

Today was my first ever kayak trip. I have just purchased a 1986 Klepper
Aerius II and I took it out into the Potomac and C&O canal for a test
run. With the strong and unusual southwesterly breeze and the opposing
current full with the force of the recent rain I had no trouble going
across the river and back, seeing how far over I could lean and
desperately trying to remember all the lessons I have learned here -
push with the upper paddle arm, rotate the torso, keep the elbows
straight, push with the opposite foot, don't think about slippage...;)

What Fun!

I have a solo seat and the original Klepper paddles, someday I'll get
some nice shorter, light, ones...maybe even a greenland type to try...

The fish were biting for the local anglers, I watched as they pulled in
20" catfish and a nice striped bass, the blue herons were all out, as
were gulls, swifts, the ever-present Canadian geese, and black vultures,
seeking errant paddlers unwise enough to attempt moves beyond their
means.

I will be venturing out Monday as well. I am very pleased with the
experience so far and would like to thank the members of this list and
especially Ralph Diaz for providing so much useful information before I
ever got wet.

I found that one of those 6' foam pool tubes cut in three makes it easy
to roll the boat up the shore...and that it takes longer to tie the boat
to the roof than it does to take it apart!

Thank you all very much, Happy Paddling
peter


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