First things first. I recently had the opportunity to visit my friends back in Southern California. Maureen has taken a couple of "Camino" trips without me and has a trip to Ireland with her sisters planned for July on which I'm also not going. I believe she was feeling guilty and so when, on a lark, I brought up traveling to SoCal for our Corona Host Lions Poker Tournament fundraiser she jumped at the chance to relieve her conscience and almost became insistent that I go. Turns out I was able to practically steal the airplane ticket and if you read my previous blog entry, my "couch surfing" plan went pretty much as described. Only once did I sleep in the same bed two nights in a row and only one other time did I stay more than one night with someone (not in a row). I spent very little on food and only occasionally had to buy my own beer. I took the MetroLink a few times to get back and forth between Anaheim and Corona and I had no agenda and only had to be at a place certain a couple of times so I was pretty free to roam the town. I had a great day riding along with a few of the inspection staff from Corona, now the inspection staff of Jurupa Valley. I had several opportunities to have quiet intimate discussions with old friends. And I played poker in the tournament; badly. Maybe I didn't get cards when I needed them but I played a few "second best hands" too far I'm sure. All-in-all it was a great trip and I'll have to look for an excuse to do it again before too long.
For those of you not following Maureen's Facebook entries, she is on Day 14 (as of 5/6) of her Portuguese Camino walk. Maureen and her friend Barb have made it to Cortica Portugal. Below is a map of her route. Cortica is not shown but it is between Tomar and Alvaiazere. They plan on a relatively easy day today and should end up spending the evening/night in Ansiao.
I think the entire trip is planned for 44 days (including travel and off days) so Maureen is a little better than 1/4 the way through.
Now, "Hold my beer and watch this!"
So early on with our move I'd described our trips kayaking down the French Broad and how much I wanted my own kayak so I could go any time the mood struck. Those were sit-on-top flat water river runners. I also gave a synopsis of my "raft guide school dropout" experience. One of the things I was able to do during my raft guide course was take a "Ducky" (inflatable kayak) through the rapids on the French Broad a couple of times. Sitting down in a small personal boat is a very different experience from sitting up on the edge of a 6 or 8 person raft. That experience planted the seed that I just might like kayaking the rapids even more. You just can't get any closer to the water than riding a wave train in a kayak. You are usually being doused with every wave and the tips of the waves in an active wave train are frequently over your head when you are in a kayak. So with Maureen out of the country I got the bright idea that this would be a good time to dip my toe in so to speak.
Being the analytic that I am I looked at all of the kayaks on CraigsList and researched the descriptions and reviews for all of the available craft in my price range. I bought a nice little used Dagger, Piedra with a little wear on the bottom but otherwise in good shape. I signed up for a two day Intro to Kayaking class on the James River with RVA Paddlesports. I'm in Richmond visiting my mom for Mother's Day and found this course kind of by accident, it was half the price of the NOC course southwest of Asheville, and I was able to leave Buddy at mom's house so dog sitting was handled. The class was Saturday and Sunday 8-12.
I show up Saturday and there are seven students. I could spend half my blog describing how none of the other six even remotely appeared to have the disposition to spend anytime upside down in a kayak. As you will see soon, I spent quite a bit more of my time than I wanted in just that orientation. I was the oldest there and I'm sure they had a similar assessment about me. Before we got on the river, in order to be able to use a skirt with your kayak, which is essential to keeping water out of your boat in the rapids, each participant was required to demonstrate a "wet exit" from their kayak. Of the seven of us only two agreed to even make the attempt, the youngest (a thirteen year old boy) and the oldest, myself. A wet exit is simple. You are in your kayak, legs wedged under braces, and a skirt tightly secured around a rim with a bungee cord about a size and a half too small. The instructor rolls the boat over so you are upside down in the water. You then have to free your legs and pull/release the bungee, exit the kayak under water and come to the surface. The kid goes first. The instructor flips the kayak and the kid panics and taps out without even trying to exit the kayak. My turn. The instructor Loren, a cute young woman, early twenties if that, maybe 98 lbs soaking wet, holding the front of my kayak looks into this 170 lbs old man's eyes with cautious concern and asks, "are you ready?" I'm like; "let's rock-n-roll" (I actually said that) and then I flipped the kayak myself. Less than 3 seconds later I popped up beside the kayak as the only participant allowed to use a skirt (bet you never thought you'd here me say I was happy about wearing a skirt).
It turns out, despite all of the reviews and Dagger's declaration that the Piedra is suited for beginners, it's one of the most difficult kayaks to learn on. Loren informed me that "if you can learn on that boat, you'll be an expert on any other kayak you get in." I said; "yes, it's just like my frog theory." (Huh?) My frog theory is; "if you eat a frog first thing in the morning, nothing worse will happen to you for the rest of the day!" That was my experience with my Dagger. It was like trying to stay on top of a 55 gallon drum in the middle of the river. Like one of the lumber jacks on a log but you don't even have the advantage of running on the barrel as it rotates under you. You just sit on top and take what you get. Actually, the kayak worked great in the rapids. It's nimbleness, round bottom, and tapered stern were designed for just that. Where I had problems was after exiting the rapids. Imagine riding a motorcycle at 50 mph. With the forward momentum the motorcycle practically keeps itself upright. Now try riding it at 5 mph. The motorcycle is very unstable and at the slow speeds you have to be more concerned with loosing control and toppling over. That was how I felt in the Piedra.
On the first day I only rolled upside down once on the river. It was a little embarrassing because I had just navigated the rapids fine and was just paddling around waiting when all of a sudden, for no apparent reason, I'm tipping beyond the point of no return. I executed my "wet exit" perfectly. However, I was the second one through the rapid and both of the instructors were still up top with the rest of the group. I had the presence of mind to hold onto my paddle when I exited and when I came to the surface I was only about 5 feet from my boat. The shore on the other hand was roughly 40 yards away. So in one hand I had the paddle and using the same hand grabbed the front handle on the boat which was still upside down. With my feet and other arm I started my lifeguard side swim to the shore across the current. I'm a reasonably strong swimmer but I have to admit, with the drag of the paddle and boat, that was a tough swim. The rest of the morning was uneventful (which means I managed to stay in the boat). We ran a few more rapids and Loren began the process of showing me how to execute a roll (when you tip over there is a method for recovering, righting yourself and your boat without having to exit and climb back in).
Day two: Only three of the initial seven signed up for the two day course. And of the three only two of us showed on day two. And of course, I'm the only one they can begin showing the neat kayak maneuvers to because I'm the only one with the skirt to keep the water out of my kayak. Because of overnight rain the river had swollen a bit and even though we were to run the same stretch of river it turned out to be a different run. One of the things we worked on was aggressively entering an eddy behind obstacles (rocks, bridge supports, etc...) after a rapid. With almost every attempt, my 55 gallon barrel of a kayak rolled me off. I was in the river at least four, maybe five times. That may not sound like much but swimming a swift moving river is a lot different from swimming laps in a pool. By that last time out of the boat I was exhausted. Again, my kayak ran all of the rapids like a champ. But every time I tried to cross an eddy current to enter calm water over I went. Day two our instructor was Jacob. He was patient with my repeated dunkings, helping me retrieve my kayak and getting me situated for the next run. Jacob also spent a good deal of time helping me progress through the rolling routine although I'll need considerable more practice before I can take that skill to the river.
I still like running the rapids best down close in the water (but while still in the boat). However, I'm better suited for a floating brick, not a 55 gallon barrel. Not aircraft carrier stable but maybe more destroyer class stable. Something that can take a near miss from a shore battery and remain upright. I think my Dagger Piedra is going back on CraigsList to be replaced with something more suitable for my age and skills. For now, I'll take back that beer and start my research again a little wiser for the wear.
Yeah, that's not me, just a stock photo from RVA Paddlesports website. Maybe next time!
Until next time, I hope everyone is having as much fun as I am.
Rick
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