http://www.sandmarks.net/PierPressure.html Pier Pressure I did something today that I've never done in a kayak before. It may shock you. I headed north out of the harbor!!! That's right, all these years. The north end is just beaches and houses, nothing to compare with the rocky southern section. But I had a picture in mind today, and besides it was so beautiful it didn't matter which direction you headed. When I hit the mouth of the harbor and started to head north, I felt a little guilty. I took a glance to the south toward my usual route. The hills and cliffs were as clear as a bell. Sorry old friend! The ocean today was closer to what I usually expect for ocean paddling, confused and choppy. The sky was filled with all manner of clouds. I passed by the ol' sand surfin' site and kept paddling. The dark clouds that had been way off shore were soon getting closer and I wondered what kind of weather I might be in for. The plan was to head for the pier and hang out and wait for sunset. I guess I didn't realize how early I had started, because when I got there, the sun was still high in the sky. There wasn't even any real surf hitting the beach, so I didn't have much to do but wait. No matter how long I stared at the sun, it just didn't seem to move. Of course, when your bored and cold, the only real thing to do is eat, so I got out my bag of peanuts and tried to shell them as an increasing surf came my way. I don't own a paddling jacket; haven't ever really felt the need to wear one really, but I learned today that hangin' out for hours without really paddling on a windy day can get a little chilly! The sun popped out of the clouds once for a short time to warm me up, but when it left again it sent more wind in its place. Finally, the sun had had enough started to sneak away and I started taking some shots in earnest. But the sunset I was hoping to see never really showed up; darn smog is never there when you need it. I decided it was time to head home and started paddling gingerly. The wind and sea had picked up and I had a steepening rear quartering sea to follow me home. The light was starting to fade and I heard a sound I hadn't been hearing for quite a while: the sound of cresting swells. I was glad I was at least warming up as I battled the swells that shook me around a bit. As I came nearer to the jetty, the swells became even more challenging. If it had been a warm sunny day out with friends, it would have been a fun challenge, but seeing as it was cold and Great White feeding time, it was a little daunting. It felt good to make it to the mouth of the harbor. Once inside the channel, I had the harbor pretty much to myself. Most of the wispy sunset had faded and paddling in the dark was a real change with all the lights that I never usually really notice: red right returning. My boat seemed to fly through the harbor, as if only my paddle blades were touching the water. I could see no wake coming from my bow. I had started the day a little before 3 and hit the beach at 6:45. I didn't get the picture I wanted; had to settle for these. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> Pier Pressure > I did something today that I've never done in a kayak before. It may shock > you. I headed north out of the harbor!!! > Thanks Mark, Nice narrative. As the old saying goes a ship is safest in the harbor but then ships were not meant for the harbor but for the open sea. Bob *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Bob Carter wrote: >> Pier Pressure >> I did something today that I've never done in a kayak before. It may >> shock you. I headed north out of the harbor!!! >> > Thanks Mark, > Nice narrative. As the old saying goes a ship is safest in the harbor > but then ships were not meant for the harbor but for the open sea. "Ships are safe within the harbor, but that's not what ships are for..." Thanks, Bob. Now I've got that song in my head for the rest of the evening. Anyone remember who sang it? Steve -- Steve Cramer Athens, GA http://www.savvypaddler.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
At 5:36 PM -0500 2/13/07, Steve Cramer wrote: >Bob Carter wrote: > >"Ships are safe within the harbor, but that's not what ships are for..." > >Thanks, Bob. Now I've got that song in my head for the rest of the >evening. Anyone remember who sang it? The song is "Ships" performed by Michael Lille & Tom Kimmel on the CD Middle Child: http://cdbaby.com/cd/lille2 *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Brian Curtiss wrote: > At 5:36 PM -0500 2/13/07, Steve Cramer wrote: >> Bob Carter wrote: >> >> "Ships are safe within the harbor, but that's not what ships are for..." >> >> Thanks, Bob. Now I've got that song in my head for the rest of the >> evening. Anyone remember who sang it? > > The song is "Ships" performed by Michael Lille & Tom Kimmel on the CD > Middle Child: http://cdbaby.com/cd/lille2 That's a nice song, and he has a nice voice, but I've heard it done by someone else, too. It'll come to me, probably around 3:00 AM. Steve -- Steve Cramer Athens, GA http://www.savvypaddler.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Wasn't that by the late great Stan Rogers? Glenn *************************************************************************** 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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