[Paddlewise] 2 Rides--$125

Mind you they were pretty good rides, the biggest if not the best I've ever
had in a kayak.
I think kayaking has turned me into a 'the glass is half full' guy, because
today was not the best of days, but I find it hard to complain. However, I
will explain...

Showed up at San O at about 10 this morning and decided to go whole
hog--bought an annual pass for $125. Got to the kayak zone and got the last
parking spot in the area. The beach was crowded, but there were only about
3-4 kayakers surfin' the OK zone. As I'm putting on my gear, I realize my
helmet is broken! Don't know how it happened, but a big hunk was missing
from the side. Too much money and time to get here, so I'm going out anyway.

Waves were a little bigger today than they've been on my other two visits
and getting through the white water was tricky. I headed outside for the big
waves where it's deeper in hopes of saving my brain cells from any
collision. Catching a wave today wasn't much of a decision-if you were in
the right spot, you found yourself traveling down a steep wave face and the
ride was on. The waves were steep enough that I had to lean back to keep
from purling, but when the wave broke, my low volume rear end would start to
dive bringing up my nose and making me almost lose the wave. Had to do a
little sea-sawing till I was fully up to speed in the white water. Great
ride.

Coming back out for more the main weakness of my boat got me again. The bow
jets over the white water, but the stern lacks volume and I find myself
flipped upside down. A failed roll left me swimming to shore. Of course,
without my helmet, my prescription sunglasses although on with a strap
became another price of admission. Not fun to have to make a long swim after
just your first ride, especially when the carnage didn't happen from the
ride! I rested a bit and went out for more.

I didn't really like being out without a helmet, so I decided just to take
one more big ride into shore and call it a day. It didn't take long before I
was on another big wave and heading into shore. Because of the rocky
shoreline and shore break at San O, I like to wet exit off shore a bit and
walk in, but I thought I'd try a bit of roll practice before heading out.
That's when I discovered the big crack in my paddle blade, probably from my
attempt at an extended roll in my earlier swim. So that was it for the day.

I wonder if perhaps my misfortunes are nature's way of telling me I'm
kayaking a bit too much. It's clear from the state of my house I'm ignoring
some chores. It seems if I'm not kayaking, I'm recovering from kayaking and
the house has suffered. I'm not dumb though, I sprayed the whole front lawn
with RoundUp so I won't have to mow that for a while. I tell people I'm
waiting for the perfect time to resod!!! Well, I think I'll take a break
from kayaking at least till Monday and improve my karma with some home sweat
equity. Besides, I can't have too much fun without a helmet. So on the day,
two great rides vs. $125, a broken paddle and helmet and lost sunglasses. I
still feel I came out even. Might be time for an extra night job to finance
this hydronomic endeavor. Anyone know of any openings for kayak videographer
with a modicum of writing talent? That's the problem, neither do I.

Mark Sanders
www.sandmarks.net
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