I've been kayaking regularly for about 13 years now. I'll admit sometimes it's a bit hard to drag myself down to the beach. And right now the home grown tomatoes are ripe and I'm swimming in fresh salsa. I've got 72 hours of Olympic coverage recorded to digest--and that's just since yesterday! It would be so easy just to veg in front of the HDTV and eat chips all day. But I convinced myself getting out for a short BAR paddle this morn would assuage my guilt and make those chips and salsa taste so much tastier! It was time to take Knudsen out for an easy RG day, so off to BAR I headed. The swell was running at 2 feet, but the 20 sec period could still create a bit of trouble. But with just a bit of timing, it was easy to avoid any fuss. The Z handled well during my play as I closed in on BAR. A bit of time in the arch and then at Brace Alley and it was off to TCB hoping to get a couple of easy rides to see how Knudsen handles the waves. The beach at TCB was pretty empty, despite the manned lifeguard station. I was bummed when I headed in to find the crunch zone completely filled with sea weed that had been mulched by the surf. Still, I planted myself inside to punch the bigger waves and broach in the smaller stuff. I'd had quite a bit of fun, when a wave came in that I deemed a bit too big to broach into. I didn't really think I need to punch through it too hard, but found I'd miscalculated. It hit me and sent me back surfing, but I was happy at how well the Z handled the churn. I was able to get turned around in the white water and was ready to head back out, when I realized my skirt had imploded, so I let myself get washed up to shore. I pulled my boat up on shore and settled down for a bit of a rest. I was already a bit tired from my activity on the day, being as I've been such a slug of late. One of the best things about being on the beach is getting to nosh on some tasty snack, but unfortunately, I hadn't brought any! I was happy to find I'd left a small bottle of water in my day hatch at least. My breakfast on the morn had consisted of coffee and a banana, because I was tired of thinking I needed to fuel up for a silly paddle to BAR. All too true, but sometimes things happen. I'd almost thought with my rather rude landing on the beach, the lifeguard might think me in trouble--wouldn't be the first time. But it wasn't till I was about to launch again that he walked by checking out some kids climbing up on the rocks. On his way back, he kind of sheepishly asked me if I had needed help on my initial landing! I told him no, that I'd just been playing, but enlisted him to watch the kids while I launched. I got off the beach without incident, but noticed a bunch of boats congregating out to sea I mile or two. I thought they might be sitting on a whale, so tired though I was I started paddling out. I figured it was probably a WGC, but if I saw something on the way, it might be worth it. After quite a bit of paddling, I hadn't seemed to close the distance too much and hadn't seen anything to give me any hope. Then, as usual, I thought I saw a spout on the horizon that turned out to be the typical mirage against the haze. But wait, there it was again! Three more spouts out past the boats and then the tell-tale tail of a diving Blue. I figured I'd never make it out past where the boats were, but thought I might get at least one more sight, so I continued on. The boats wandered off further out to sea, so I lost my reference point, but just kept paddling. Finally, I saw it come up again closer than she'd been before. It was enough to keep me going hoping for a better view. The next time it came up, I counted 10 spouts before it dived again with a distant but distinctive tail shot. Already happy with my whale encounter, I paddled on slowly hoping for at least one more view before heading home. Though I'd seen a lot of spouts, I hadn't heard any, so I moved my hat off my ears hoping to hear one off in the distance. The distance ended up being about 75 yards off my starboard bow! I've held the belief over the years that the Blues like kayakers and like to check us out, which seems to me the only reason this Blue would show up so close to me when I thought she was so far off on the last view. Regardless, she was now moving in a path to pass right in front of me. I'm calling it a female, because it didn't seem as big as some I've seen in the past, but it's hard to judge seeing how close it came to me and how dwarfed I felt! She came by and I could easily see her blow holes. I've heard the exhale of many whales, but I think this was the first time I could distinguish the sound of an exhale from an inhale! As always, it was amazing! Down she went again, so I figured I'd wait one more time to see her take off in the sunset. I figured another 15 minutes and I'd see where she was heading on her journey. But her journey once again started right off my starboard bow! She was moving at an angle to me, so I paddled up hoping to maintain my close distance. She turned a bit and was worried a second about whether I was going to be T-Boned by a Blue. But she surprised me with how quick she could turn and head in a direction back to shore. It was probably closer than I've ever been to a whale and I was backing up to give her some clearance. Once again, she dove with a wave of her tail. I was starting to get a bit worried. Though I was floating in the wind and the tide, twice this whale had come up right off my side and I wondered if next time she might be too close for comfort! But I couldn't believe it could happen again and stayed for one more encounter. She didn't disappoint and it was a repeat of the last two visits. Once again I was surprised as she rose swimming at an angle in front of me and turned quickly right in front of me to swim off my beam. And once again it was me making sure to keep a respectful, albeit short distance! She dove again and I headed home before another visit could make me stay even longer. Man was I tired! The Z is not the boat I would intentionally go hunt whales in, but that's where I found myself. The sea had become quite choppy and I had a brisk wind to fight on my way home. The wind and tide had taken me even further than my paddle out, but there didn't seem to be any remedy other than constant paddle strokes! Though I'd launched on a pleasant fall morning, I now found myself on a mild summer day with the last of my water drunk on the beach. I was in my wetsuit ready for RGing, not for a whale chase. It was a long, long paddle home! It was when I could finally clearly make out the Red Right Return sign on the end of the jetty, when I officially declared myself the hungriest I've ever been in a kayak! The closer I came to the jetty, the more it became perhaps the busiest day I remember on the water. Boats were flying out, not seeming to care about a hungry, fatigued kayaker trying to make his way back to the harbor. The combined chop and wakes had me flopping all around, but I admit I loved it! The hustle and bustle made me reflect. I'd just spent over an hour all by myself, visited by the largest creature to ever inhabit our planet. I'd even hoped towards the end that another boat would show up to enjoy the show with me! Now all these folks heading here and there, did they even know of the amazing encounter to be had so close by? Such is our lives! I almost missed one of my greatest encounters with these amazing creatures in order to watch someone else having a life in jolly ol' England! But I feel old and tired, even after replenishing with a large bottle of hard apple cider! I guess if I can still kick my lazy self out on the water on occasion, I won't be too hard on myself. Mark *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Wow! What a day, Mark...sounds like it rivaled your fantastic blues photo day except that perhaps your camera was at home? Glad to hear that the "Z" is rock garden and surf worthy. Deb On Sun, Aug 5, 2012 at 4:59 PM, Mark Sanders <marksanders_at_sandmarks.net>wrote: > I've been kayaking regularly for about 13 years now. I'll admit sometimes > it's a bit hard to drag myself down to the beach. And right now the home > grown tomatoes are ripe and I'm swimming in fresh salsa. I've got 72 hours > of Olympic coverage recorded to digest--and that's just since yesterday! It > would be so easy just to veg in front of the HDTV and eat chips all day. > But I convinced myself getting out for a short BAR paddle this morn would > assuage my guilt and make those chips and salsa taste so much tastier! > > It was time to take Knudsen out for an easy RG day, so off to BAR I > headed. The swell was running at 2 feet, but the 20 sec period could still > create a bit of trouble. But with just a bit of timing, it was easy to > avoid any fuss. The Z handled well during my play as I closed in on BAR. A > bit of time in the arch and then at Brace Alley and it was off to TCB > hoping to get a couple of easy rides to see how Knudsen handles the waves. > > The beach at TCB was pretty empty, despite the manned lifeguard station. I > was bummed when I headed in to find the crunch zone completely filled with > sea weed that had been mulched by the surf. Still, I planted myself inside > to punch the bigger waves and broach in the smaller stuff. I'd had quite a > bit of fun, when a wave came in that I deemed a bit too big to broach into. > I didn't really think I need to punch through it too hard, but found I'd > miscalculated. It hit me and sent me back surfing, but I was happy at how > well the Z handled the churn. I was able to get turned around in the white > water and was ready to head back out, when I realized my skirt had > imploded, so I let myself get washed up to shore. > > I pulled my boat up on shore and settled down for a bit of a rest. I was > already a bit tired from my activity on the day, being as I've been such a > slug of late. One of the best things about being on the beach is getting to > nosh on some tasty snack, but unfortunately, I hadn't brought any! I was > happy to find I'd left a small bottle of water in my day hatch at least. My > breakfast on the morn had consisted of coffee and a banana, because I was > tired of thinking I needed to fuel up for a silly paddle to BAR. All too > true, but sometimes things happen. > > I'd almost thought with my rather rude landing on the beach, the lifeguard > might think me in trouble--wouldn't be the first time. But it wasn't till I > was about to launch again that he walked by checking out some kids climbing > up on the rocks. On his way back, he kind of sheepishly asked me if I had > needed help on my initial landing! I told him no, that I'd just been > playing, but enlisted him to watch the kids while I launched. I got off the > beach without incident, but noticed a bunch of boats congregating out to > sea I mile or two. I thought they might be sitting on a whale, so tired > though I was I started paddling out. I figured it was probably a WGC, but > if I saw something on the way, it might be worth it. > > After quite a bit of paddling, I hadn't seemed to close the distance too > much and hadn't seen anything to give me any hope. Then, as usual, I > thought I saw a spout on the horizon that turned out to be the typical > mirage against the haze. But wait, there it was again! Three more spouts > out past the boats and then the tell-tale tail of a diving Blue. I figured > I'd never make it out past where the boats were, but thought I might get at > least one more sight, so I continued on. The boats wandered off further out > to sea, so I lost my reference point, but just kept paddling. Finally, I > saw it come up again closer than she'd been before. It was enough to keep > me going hoping for a better view. The next time it came up, I counted 10 > spouts before it dived again with a distant but distinctive tail shot. > > Already happy with my whale encounter, I paddled on slowly hoping for at > least one more view before heading home. Though I'd seen a lot of spouts, I > hadn't heard any, so I moved my hat off my ears hoping to hear one off in > the distance. The distance ended up being about 75 yards off my starboard > bow! I've held the belief over the years that the Blues like kayakers and > like to check us out, which seems to me the only reason this Blue would > show up so close to me when I thought she was so far off on the last view. > Regardless, she was now moving in a path to pass right in front of me. I'm > calling it a female, because it didn't seem as big as some I've seen in the > past, but it's hard to judge seeing how close it came to me and how dwarfed > I felt! She came by and I could easily see her blow holes. I've heard the > exhale of many whales, but I think this was the first time I could > distinguish the sound of an exhale from an inhale! As always, it was > amazing! > > Down she went again, so I figured I'd wait one more time to see her take > off in the sunset. I figured another 15 minutes and I'd see where she was > heading on her journey. But her journey once again started right off my > starboard bow! She was moving at an angle to me, so I paddled up hoping to > maintain my close distance. She turned a bit and was worried a second about > whether I was going to be T-Boned by a Blue. But she surprised me with how > quick she could turn and head in a direction back to shore. It was probably > closer than I've ever been to a whale and I was backing up to give her some > clearance. Once again, she dove with a wave of her tail. > > I was starting to get a bit worried. Though I was floating in the wind and > the tide, twice this whale had come up right off my side and I wondered if > next time she might be too close for comfort! But I couldn't believe it > could happen again and stayed for one more encounter. She didn't disappoint > and it was a repeat of the last two visits. Once again I was surprised as > she rose swimming at an angle in front of me and turned quickly right in > front of me to swim off my beam. And once again it was me making sure to > keep a respectful, albeit short distance! She dove again and I headed home > before another visit could make me stay even longer. > > Man was I tired! The Z is not the boat I would intentionally go hunt > whales in, but that's where I found myself. The sea had become quite choppy > and I had a brisk wind to fight on my way home. The wind and tide had taken > me even further than my paddle out, but there didn't seem to be any remedy > other than constant paddle strokes! Though I'd launched on a pleasant fall > morning, I now found myself on a mild summer day with the last of my water > drunk on the beach. I was in my wetsuit ready for RGing, not for a whale > chase. It was a long, long paddle home! It was when I could finally clearly > make out the Red Right Return sign on the end of the jetty, when I > officially declared myself the hungriest I've ever been in a kayak! The > closer I came to the jetty, the more it became perhaps the busiest day I > remember on the water. Boats were flying out, not seeming to care about a > hungry, fatigued kayaker trying to make his way back to the harbor. The > combined chop and wakes had me flopping all around, but I admit I loved it! > The hustle and bustle made me reflect. I'd just spent over an hour all by > myself, visited by the largest creature to ever inhabit our planet. I'd > even hoped towards the end that another boat would show up to enjoy the > show with me! Now all these folks heading here and there, did they even > know of the amazing encounter to be had so close by? Such is our lives! I > almost missed one of my greatest encounters with these amazing creatures in > order to watch someone else having a life in jolly ol' England! But I feel > old and tired, even after replenishing with a large bottle of hard apple > cider! I guess if I can still kick my lazy self out on the water on > occasion, I won't be too hard on myself. > > Mark > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________**_________________ > Info mailing list > Info_at_list.ckf.org > http://list.ckf.org/mailman/**listinfo/info<http://list.ckf.org/mailman/listi nfo/info> > -- *\* Debra dbk92675_at_gmail.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Wow great whale encounter. I would love to see a blue someday congrats. Bob On 8/5/2012 3:59 PM, Mark Sanders wrote: > I've been kayaking regularly for about 13 years now. I'll admit > sometimes it's a bit hard to drag myself down to the beach. And right > now the home grown tomatoes are ripe and I'm swimming in fresh salsa. > I've got 72 hours of Olympic coverage recorded to digest--and that's > just since yesterday! It would be so easy just to veg in front of the > HDTV and eat chips all day. But I convinced myself getting out for a > short BAR paddle this morn would assuage my guilt and make those chips > and salsa taste so much tastier! > > It was time to take Knudsen out for an easy RG day, so off to BAR I > headed. The swell was running at 2 feet, but the 20 sec period could > still create a bit of trouble. But with just a bit of timing, it was > easy to avoid any fuss. The Z handled well during my play as I closed > in on BAR. A bit of time in the arch and then at Brace Alley and it > was off to TCB hoping to get a couple of easy rides to see how Knudsen > handles the waves. > > The beach at TCB was pretty empty, despite the manned lifeguard > station. I was bummed when I headed in to find the crunch zone > completely filled with sea weed that had been mulched by the surf. > Still, I planted myself inside to punch the bigger waves and broach in > the smaller stuff. I'd had quite a bit of fun, when a wave came in > that I deemed a bit too big to broach into. I didn't really think I > need to punch through it too hard, but found I'd miscalculated. It hit > me and sent me back surfing, but I was happy at how well the Z handled > the churn. I was able to get turned around in the white water and was > ready to head back out, when I realized my skirt had imploded, so I > let myself get washed up to shore. > > I pulled my boat up on shore and settled down for a bit of a rest. I > was already a bit tired from my activity on the day, being as I've > been such a slug of late. One of the best things about being on the > beach is getting to nosh on some tasty snack, but unfortunately, I > hadn't brought any! I was happy to find I'd left a small bottle of > water in my day hatch at least. My breakfast on the morn had consisted > of coffee and a banana, because I was tired of thinking I needed to > fuel up for a silly paddle to BAR. All too true, but sometimes things > happen. > > I'd almost thought with my rather rude landing on the beach, the > lifeguard might think me in trouble--wouldn't be the first time. But > it wasn't till I was about to launch again that he walked by checking > out some kids climbing up on the rocks. On his way back, he kind of > sheepishly asked me if I had needed help on my initial landing! I told > him no, that I'd just been playing, but enlisted him to watch the kids > while I launched. I got off the beach without incident, but noticed a > bunch of boats congregating out to sea I mile or two. I thought they > might be sitting on a whale, so tired though I was I started paddling > out. I figured it was probably a WGC, but if I saw something on the > way, it might be worth it. > > After quite a bit of paddling, I hadn't seemed to close the distance > too much and hadn't seen anything to give me any hope. Then, as usual, > I thought I saw a spout on the horizon that turned out to be the > typical mirage against the haze. But wait, there it was again! Three > more spouts out past the boats and then the tell-tale tail of a diving > Blue. I figured I'd never make it out past where the boats were, but > thought I might get at least one more sight, so I continued on. The > boats wandered off further out to sea, so I lost my reference point, > but just kept paddling. Finally, I saw it come up again closer than > she'd been before. It was enough to keep me going hoping for a better > view. The next time it came up, I counted 10 spouts before it dived > again with a distant but distinctive tail shot. > > Already happy with my whale encounter, I paddled on slowly hoping for > at least one more view before heading home. Though I'd seen a lot of > spouts, I hadn't heard any, so I moved my hat off my ears hoping to > hear one off in the distance. The distance ended up being about 75 > yards off my starboard bow! I've held the belief over the years that > the Blues like kayakers and like to check us out, which seems to me > the only reason this Blue would show up so close to me when I thought > she was so far off on the last view. Regardless, she was now moving in > a path to pass right in front of me. I'm calling it a female, because > it didn't seem as big as some I've seen in the past, but it's hard to > judge seeing how close it came to me and how dwarfed I felt! She came > by and I could easily see her blow holes. I've heard the exhale of > many whales, but I think this was the first time I could distinguish > the sound of an exhale from an inhale! As always, it was amazing! > > Down she went again, so I figured I'd wait one more time to see her > take off in the sunset. I figured another 15 minutes and I'd see where > she was heading on her journey. But her journey once again started > right off my starboard bow! She was moving at an angle to me, so I > paddled up hoping to maintain my close distance. She turned a bit and > was worried a second about whether I was going to be T-Boned by a > Blue. But she surprised me with how quick she could turn and head in a > direction back to shore. It was probably closer than I've ever been to > a whale and I was backing up to give her some clearance. Once again, > she dove with a wave of her tail. > > I was starting to get a bit worried. Though I was floating in the wind > and the tide, twice this whale had come up right off my side and I > wondered if next time she might be too close for comfort! But I > couldn't believe it could happen again and stayed for one more > encounter. She didn't disappoint and it was a repeat of the last two > visits. Once again I was surprised as she rose swimming at an angle in > front of me and turned quickly right in front of me to swim off my > beam. And once again it was me making sure to keep a respectful, > albeit short distance! She dove again and I headed home before another > visit could make me stay even longer. > > Man was I tired! The Z is not the boat I would intentionally go hunt > whales in, but that's where I found myself. The sea had become quite > choppy and I had a brisk wind to fight on my way home. The wind and > tide had taken me even further than my paddle out, but there didn't > seem to be any remedy other than constant paddle strokes! Though I'd > launched on a pleasant fall morning, I now found myself on a mild > summer day with the last of my water drunk on the beach. I was in my > wetsuit ready for RGing, not for a whale chase. It was a long, long > paddle home! It was when I could finally clearly make out the Red > Right Return sign on the end of the jetty, when I officially declared > myself the hungriest I've ever been in a kayak! The closer I came to > the jetty, the more it became perhaps the busiest day I remember on > the water. Boats were flying out, not seeming to care about a hungry, > fatigued kayaker trying to make his way back to the harbor. The > combined chop and wakes had me flopping all around, but I admit I > loved it! The hustle and bustle made me reflect. I'd just spent over > an hour all by myself, visited by the largest creature to ever inhabit > our planet. I'd even hoped towards the end that another boat would > show up to enjoy the show with me! Now all these folks heading here > and there, did they even know of the amazing encounter to be had so > close by? Such is our lives! I almost missed one of my greatest > encounters with these amazing creatures in order to watch someone else > having a life in jolly ol' England! But I feel old and tired, even > after replenishing with a large bottle of hard apple cider! I guess if > I can still kick my lazy self out on the water on occasion, I won't be > too hard on myself. > > Mark *************************************************************************** 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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