08's first paddle

An excellent day out on the water yesterday - temperatures were forecast for around C13 degrees or so (mid-F50s), but it was much warmer, with a clear blue sky. Even had to take my jacket off not two minutes from the put in.

A paddle for three purposes: to shock the heck out of myself with nigh on 20 miles (32kms) to ensure that, yes, indeed, I did need to get my training act together for the upcoming Everglades Challenge - and that sure worked. It was an excellent sail down the lake, and I knew I'd pay for it with headwinds all the way home. Took two hours down, and two-and-a-half back. And my arms were a wee bit weary by the time I hit the beach. So, yes, it's panic mode training levels now.

Second, another test for the SPOT tracker - I'd had it on the top of my PFD, where my strobe normally goes, but that was still not enough line of sight to the heavens. So this time I had it clipped on to the back of the boat. But more on that later. I'm still not 100% convinced that this fun bit of equipment is all that it's cracked up to be, particularly for hikers who are in and out of bush etc.

And, third, a test of the new base I'd bought some months ago for my Pacific Action Sail. Wind pressure had been causing my precious for'deck to implode, thus I'd had to bring the sail feet further aft near the for'ad hatch, where the deck was a bit stronger. With this new base, I can put the sail back in its original position, get a better sail shape, and not worry about my deck. Thoroughly recommend it. You can order them from Greg at Xstreamline on 310-514-9514 - and all up, it's around $90 or so. Greg will ask you for the camber angle on your deck, where the base will sit, and he'll cut the foam to fit - or you can cut it yourself.

All-in-all, an excellent day out. And no pain the next morning.

Winter paddling

Excellent couple of hours paddle out on the lake yesterday (“You’re only back a week and you think you’re going paddling?”), partly to test out my new SPOT satellite tracker, courtesy of my fabulous Everglades Challenge sponsor, BubbaGirl. But more of that when I'm done testing.

Cool air temps around C10, but flat calm to start off with. Trouble is, when you’re dressing for immersion, you tend to cook once you get a bit of steam up. And I have to giggle a bit with the expensive breathable gear we love to buy, and then we throw a non-breathable PDF and neoprene sprayskirt over most of our torsos.

But I’d rather be toasty than hypothermic, so headed off with a skin layer of Icebreaker merino, followed by a Mysterioso M-tech top, Fuzzy Rubber on that, topped off with a semi-dry Rapidstyle spray jacket. For leggings I wore Mysterioso M-tech with a pair of Fuzzy Rubber Sticky Buns pants over that. On my feet, a pair of SmartWool liner socks, waterproof socks over that, encased with a pair of NRS Boundary shoes. Hands wise, a pair of 2mm neoprene gloves from Kayak Tom and, wrapped around my Greenland paddle, a pair of 3mm Rapidstyle metalite mitts. Taking my beanie and Tilley hat off my head did help cool me down a bit. And I drank heaps.

The wind had got up a bit by the time I got back to the put in, and I felt decidedly chilled by the time I had the boat back atop the ol’ 4-Runner, which made me feel a wee bit better. I’m not built for long-term (read: any term) immersion in dang chilly waters, so while I’m winter paddling, dressing for immersion it is.