1/27/08 Got up at 6:30 and checked my email to see today's Newport paddle was cancelled. Something about cats and dogs and gale force winds! I was happy to go back to bed. But when I got up at 8 and looked outside, the only reason I could see to cancel a paddle was too bright of a sky or perhaps the far off clouds were just too beautiful! Well, maybe I was in the eye of the storm, but it seemed no reason not to try out my new Greenland paddle. Despite all the things I could have done around the house yesterday, I spent it whittling down a redwood 2x4 into a GP. It's still a bit heavy--a work in progress, but it was ready for a try. At the harbor, the clouds didn't seem so far away and the same steady wind blew down the channel. There wasn't much chop, but I could see some rather large waves cracking on the ends of the jetty. Pirate's Cove was awash--a heavy peaked three or four foot swell was rolling in to slam into the rocks and wet the balconies of the houses above them. A large wave would echo back to greet the next swell and create some impressive clapotis. At the harbor mouth, I could see a 5 person outrigger and a surf ski playing in the swells. Not to used to GPs lately and this being this one's first outing, I decided to take it easy and try to get used to it in the churning water of PC. Even though the blade is narrower than I'd like, bracing seemed to go well and I had a reasonable hope I could roll with it if I wanted. After a while the large swells were too much to resist and I head out to the harbor mouth. The outrigger was having some success riding in the swells, but I never seemed to get set up right. We were joined by 4 more single outriggers and I managed a couple pathetic rides. The waves seemed to form so well, but just never really peaked. I decided to head back in the jetty to try another area. Half way down the channel at the outcropping of rocks there were 3 surfers. When the big swell came in and curled around the rocks, they could get a nice ride. I hung out outside of them and got one really nice ride, but headed back to PC to see if conditions had changed there. Last year, I had had a great couple hours surfing at PC with the right conditions and finally they were back. I had to slip in pretty close to the rocks to catch the break, but then it was a great ride. The only problem was that the ride stopped at those afore mentioned rocks. I had to pull out or risk dislodging a house with my kayak. It was tough fighting the wind to get set up in the right spot to get a ride and I only managed 4 waves before the conditions seemed to disappear. It was fun while it lasted though. I headed home dodging pathogens happy so far with the new GP. Considering how bad Steve says it is to just to paddle after a rain, I thought I might as well try a roll as well, but demurred. I had hoped the rain would fall figuring it's acid nature would kill any nasty bugs, but never got a drop on the day. Mark www.sandmarks.net *************************************************************************** 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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