My last paddle of the year, just out from the boat launch at Steilacoom (just south of Tacoma, WA). Some wind, some waves, some rain. For some reason, a bunch of big sea lions had hauled out onto the docks at the old Steilacoom Marina. I thought there might be a sea lion tangled in a net or lines by them, as an odd looking mass of things sticking out of the water kept meandering against the current, but it turned out to be two large sea lions, one somehow swimming upside down with two fins? legs? flippers? sticking out of the water, right behind the other. Maybe it was drafting? I went up current of them and drifted back down, but found the ones on the shore or dock made a horrid racket when I got closer. So, having determined that no one needed rescue (not that I would know how, but I could have called the marine Mammal protection line), I made a wide perimeter around them and returned to the boat launch. There, a power boat had just tied up, to unload one fellow to get the track and trailer. Since I have to disembark in the same spot, a launch cleverly sited under the RR tracks and cramped at high tide, as today, I waited. Unfortunately, when the Bayliner tried to motor over to the trailer, it had no power. Zip, none, nadda. So I offered to tow him over! They were surprised I had no trouble at all (no wind by then, so I looked good) and I could hand the rope directly to the fellow on the trailer, then back up and aim the boat right into the trailer. No problem! This paddle put me over 200 recorded miles for the year (I wanted to make 200 nautical miles, but a cold and the snow ruined my plans). So, a successful conclusion to the year! I'll send the photo of me towing the Bayliner to Craig, and see if he can post it on West Coast Paddler. Best Wishes to all in the coming year! I'm waiting to hear people post New Year Kayaking Resolutions! Pam in Washington State **************One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail, Gmail, and Yahoo Mail. Try it now. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000025) *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Pam's photo of her towing the Bayliner can be seen at: http://www.westcoastpaddler.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=2559 Craig Jungers Moses Lake,WA *************************************************************************** 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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