[Paddlewise] Day # 18, Duane's Sunday Paddle

3/2/08

Lugged myself out of bed in time this morning to join Duane's first Sunday
paddle in a long time. When I pulled in to the beach at Dana Point, Henry
and Kathy were already there talking with George M. We all had our boats
down by the water by the time Duane strolled in. Treasure Island was the
destination, although H&K had other engagements on the day and could only go
about half way.

Compared to yesterday's miserable weather, we had it pretty nice. The sun
was out and the sky was clear and once out of the harbor, Abalone Point was
quite clear in the distance. I was a bit worried we might get too warm, but
the breeze kept us comfortable all day. The sea was mild which let everyone
paddle close together and gab while keeping a leisurely pace. It seemed too
early when H&K decided to turn around.

On my rolling practice yesterday, I tweaked a chest muscle, so today I
decided to only use my GP. I figured with Henry still recovering a bit from
his shoulder troubles, the pace wouldn't get too high. Trying to eliminate
clutter and simplify my paddling style, I left my Onno in the car. We fell
into a good rhythm and soon were closing in on TI. There to greet us was
Dave O. who had left early to get in some extra miles and join us on our way
back.

On our landing at TI, I was able to provide the only drama on the day. This
was my first time landing at TI and despite George's warning earlier that
things could get tricky, I just plowed right in. Those who have paddled with
me know I often utilize a modified wet exit on beach landings where I just
sort of roll out of my boat on shore and get all wet and sandy. I'd timed a
wave just right to leave me on the beach, but found the shore to be a bit
steeper than I expected. So when I rolled out, my boat and I got sucked back
into the water. I was floundering about in the rocky shore, no worse than
most of the indignities I have to endure, but my real worry was the new VHF
radio I had stored in my snack bag in my cockpit. Sure enough, it got sucked
out along with all its contents and now my radio was at the bottom of the
rather shallow sea. George had a dive mask with him and lent it to me, but
the search didn't go well. The water was so cold I could barely stay under
to look and the receding waves would suck me past the area I was searching
in. I had to hold on the copious sea weeds to keep my place. But the water
was too roiled with sand and the rocks and sea weeds to plentiful to see
anything and I soon gave up hope. But ladies and gentleman, Poseidon smiled
on me today and George saw the radio spinning about in the shallow sand. It
became a mad electronic grunion hunt as he grabbed for it in the fast moving
water. George really saved my bacon on this trip.

The guys were nice enough to give me a bit more time to recover from my
ordeal. We talked about every paddle always having some excitement, but I
said that was most true about landings. Always seems to me there is always
something to be learned in even the easies surf launches or landings and I
usually always enjoy them! Soon we were heading off and the same conditions
that gave me trouble on landing sucked my right out for an easy launch.

Now Dave is usually out ahead setting the pace, but today he was chatting it
up with George, so Duane and I had the lead. I was soaked, but despite the
cooling conditions felt warm under our steady pace. I learned something else
today though--an unfinished Greenland paddle can get hard on your skin
during a 13 mile paddle. I had 5 blisters on my hands that soon lost all
there skin to become gaping open wounds. I figure by the time we made it
back, my hands would be bloody stumps. Not something I thought of when I
decided to leave the Onno in the car.

Finally Dave had had it with our lollygagging and took the lead to get us
home. Even he had to rest a bit to catch his breath as we turned into the
harbor, but then he had quite a few more miles in than we. My fingers held
up during the slow paddle back to the beach. We loaded up and then chatted a
bit and then everyone went home to get ready for the next paddle.

Mark Sanders
www.sandmarks.net
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