[Paddlewise] Not 100 Miles, but ...

First there was the meeting with Arthur and Larry on their way to
circumnavigate the Gulf of Mexico, then there was Duane's 100 mile
non-stop paddle, and then the reading references describing all those
great kayaking feats.  I was inspired to go out and accomplish one of
those amazing journeys.   I arrived at the launch on the river at 10:00
am.  This was the first time I had actually met my paddling partner and
 we were both a little unsure of how this was going to turn out.  Despite
our concerns we climbed into the kayak being furnished by Texas A&M.  We
were using a Perception Jocasse.  Its about 16 ft long and has one large
open cockpit with two seats.  It is kind of a cross between a canoe and a
kayak.  Its not your usual vessel for great adventure, but I was
confident in it because it was PLASTIC and the air bags were at least
half inflated.  We waved to the crowd as we were pushed off into the
river.  We turned downstream for a short warm up and worked on the usual
coordination and communication problems that new partners have.  We
reached the point where the river was blocked and turned to head upstream
for the real paddle.  We worked our way around the downed trees along the
river, watched for birds, alligator gar, and the water moccasins that had
been reported.  Gradually we began to work a little better as a team. 
Maybe this was going to work out ok.  I was not keeping track of time.  I
was just concentrating on one stroke at a time hoping to be able to get
to the end.  Then before I knew it we came to the barrier that was our
turn around.  We were halfway done and now only had the downstream leg to
go.  It went great and we arrived back at the launch to meet the crowd
that had gathered there.   We had done 0.5  miles in 10 minutes,half of
it against a 0.2 mph current, and had not even come close to turning over
once.  They dragged the kayak up onto the launch ramp and my partner
jumped out and ran over to her mother.  The smile on her face told me
that I had done good with this 10 yr old.   Now you might wonder why I
thought this was going to qualify as any kind of accomplishment.   Well
it was just the start of 6 hours of taking kids for short kayak rides as
part of the local Earth Day/Bay Day festivities.  That is 6 hrs of
paddling a heavy, hard to maneuver barge up and down a narrow river with
downed trees on each side with kids who had never been in a canoe or
kayak before.  It was 6 hrs of dealing with the kids "unique" paddling
techniques.  There was the one with the perfect trailing low
brace.  Unfortunately it was the only stroke he used (no forward strokes
at all) and it was always on the same side and placed precisely to keep
me from getting my blade into the water.  Others used a nice quick 2 in
stroke that made it almost impossible for me to get my paddle in and out
before they were stroking on the other side.  Of course they were getting
the blades just far enough back that we crashed paddles if I did not stay
in synch.  Then there were the really tricky ones.  They appeared to know
what they were doing and allowed you to get in rhythm.  Then without
warning they would suddenly paddle 2 or 3 times on one side.  Or maybe
they just dropped stroke rate in half.   On the positive side, at least
50% did know their right from their left.  It was so nice to get a really
young child who just went for the ride without trying to paddle.  And
finally there were the expected drenchings from water thrown off paddles
and the occasion paddle blade to the head as someone came in or out of
the crowded launch area.  I endured all this while resisting the urge to
give "paddling instruction", maintaining a cheerful attitude,  holding
interesting conversations with 8 - 12 yr olds (actually some were
interesting), promoting the sport of kayaking and the importance of the
environment, and doubting my sanity for having volunteered to do this for
the 3rd year in a row.   As the subject line indicates, it was not a
dramatic 100 mile physical challenge or a heroic circumnavigation, but I
think it was an accomplishment of some note.  Mark Arnoldmjamja_at_earthlink.net 
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