Went out today on my longest paddle ever. Now don't sneer, it was a shade under 15 miles. I launched from Balboa Island and headed south. I paddled behind big arch rock to play in the swells for a while, but it was pretty rough in there so I headed back out. I saw Abalone Point in the distance and figured that would be a good place to shoot for. When I rounded the point, I figured I might as well go on to Two Rock Point. Then I decided to go see if there was anywhere good to land at Heisler Park in Laguna. I picked a small cove at the north end which turned out to have about two foot dumping surf, but I went in anyway. This was only my second surf landing, but I got out without any trouble. I ate my lunch and contemplated the 2 foot dumpers that looked more hazardous from the shore, especially as I'd never made a surf launch before. I called a friend and told her to be handy in case I couldn't make it out and needed a ride home. I timed it right though and paddled out through a couple small waves without too much trouble. The only problem was that while jumping in my boat in a hurry to get ready for the waves, I broke my backband. I knew it was going to be a uncomfortable paddle home. I remembered Duane's treatise on the superflousness of back bands and leaned into my forward paddle. I soon came to the conclusion that proper form is over rated and tried to get comfy against the back of the coaming. Perhaps some day I'll have my belly fat sucked out and enough skin taken in to put me into a permanent forward lean, but till then I'll fix my backband. I'm afraid that at 270lbs, my boat fits me like a sausage casing. Paddled home with seals, dolphins, jellyfish and waterskiers. Don't really know how long it took me as my Casio fogged up in '86 and I just never bought a new one. As I paddle alone 98% of the time, I never have to keep up with the Jones', so I'm afraid I probably lollygag more than I should. Had a nice time and feel like I'm finally getting used to 'real' kayaking. Mark Sanders *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Its not the length of the paddle. Its how you use it. Giddy from sanding, Jim et al ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Sanders" <sandmarks_at_attbi.com> > Went out today on my longest paddle ever. Now don't sneer, it was a shade > under 15 miles. I soon came to the conclusion that proper form is > over rated > Mark Sanders *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
<trimming performed by moderator - please remove excess when replying> Interesting report Mark, It is always good to read about someone´s challenges, even if they are not the ultimate Guiness records. Encourages other people to try new challenges and to try writing about them. Keep writing and paddling. Best Regards, Rafael. Quoting Mark Sanders <sandmarks_at_attbi.com>: > Went out today on my longest paddle ever. Now don't sneer, it was a shade > under 15 miles. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Being a guy with a very long paddle, I have to disagree -----Original Message----- Its not the length of the paddle. Its how you use it. Giddy from sanding, Jim et al ************************* *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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