[Paddlewise] Trip Report: Dolphin Paddle (Bethany Beach)

(Posted earlier today on NYCkayaker.)
B 
When I had inquired last year about
paddling on the Delaware shore, I received a 
reply about bdumpers.bB  The
surf then was indeed rough, so I abstained.
B 
This year, I found a sanctioned
kayak launch just north of the townbs center (N 
38 deg, 32.6 min & W 75
deg, 3.6 min), and last Friday (8/20/10), the waves were 
one to two
feet-high, which was relatively calm when compared to earlier in the 
week.B 
I paddled easily through the surf, and headed south, towards the 
high-rise
towers of the Sea Colony resort.B  As the sunrise burned off the 
morning fog,
I paddled farther from the shore, hoping to sight one or two 
dolphins from
the cockpit of my kayak in the deeper waters.
B 
Instead, some of my
relatives, who were vacationing with me, spotted me as they 
walked on the
beach, and they waved their arms.B  I returned their greetings, 
slightly
disappointed that I could do no better than spot a few humans whom I 
could
otherwise see -- at home, upon demand.B  But at least I witnessed a 
beautiful
sunrise over the Atlantic.
B 
After a half hour, I stopped for a drink of
water.B  Then I heard what sounded 
like a bit of a splash from behind me.B  I
turned and saw a slight swirl of 
water, as the kind you might see near the
submerged rocks in the shallow parts 
of the Long Island Soundb&but there
were no rocks here!B  Then, about 30 feet to 
my right and front, a dorsal fin
and arched back briefly emerged from the water, 
followed by another.B 
Thrilled to have achieved my modest goal, I raised both 
arms and cheered
before heading in that direction.B  

B 
Suddenly, I found myself surrounded
by a pod of bottlenose dolphins.B  Most of 
them came from behind as I
paddled, announced by the loud puffs of air they 
exhaled while emerging from
the ocean.B  I witnessed four breaching the waters in 
synch, followed
immediately by another four.B  Individually, dolphins emerged 
from both sides
of my kayak, near the stern, almost within the range of my 
extended paddle.B 
Each time they emerged, I could see their large, dark eyes 
focusing on me,
checking me out as it were.B  I was thrilled.
B 
When I paddled backwards to
get a better look, they figured out my plan and 
dispersed, as if they knew my
face.B  I turned around to paddle normally, and 
found a curious exception,
who headed towards me from about ten to 15 feet 
away.B  Maybe he thought I
was still paddling backwards.
B 
Wasnbt I scared?B  These massive creatures
could have easily knocked me over.B  
But they were amazingly beautiful with
their shiny, grey skin, and they 
maneuvered through the water gracefully.
Their large eyes and slight smiles gave 
a friendly appearance.B  And they
demonstrated a playful nature:B  one jumped out 
and slapped the water with
his tail, then repeated himself.B  Another jumped 
straight up, completely out
of the water, and landed in a huge splash.B  I felt 
like I was in the middle
of a dolphin show at the aquarium, but these performers 
were happily at
home.B  A few came close enough that I could see scratch marks on 
their skin,
or a small tear at the back of a dorsal fin.B  And when they emerged 
from the
water for air, their movement seemed to take place in slow motion.
B 
This
must have lasted for about another half hour or so before I decided it was
time to head back.B  (No surf landings were allowed after 10:00am, and I
hadB other obligations.)B  Sorry, no photos.B  I donbt have a
water-resistant 
camera, and I find it hard enough to keep track of safety
gear for paddling solo 
in the ocean.
B 
Happy kayaking,
B 
Emile
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