The Water Is My Friend

The lake is a lot quieter these days. Of course the serious fishers are still there, but their numbers are low.

So on the days that I do go out for an hour or two for practice, I usually am the only one. No need to worry about rental doo's.
Anybody on the lake these days is familiar with water.

The water is my friend. I am starting to get comfortable, upside down, under water, strapped into a kayak. I am able to concentrate on the job at hand down there now.

Here is a short video from my first trip in the kayak back on August 11:

It was a very nice day with a bit of a wind that built some small waves on the water. It was very invigorating to get the splash and spray while cutting through the waves. Of course the return trip was a lot quieter while being pushed and blown in a following sea. Still for a novice like me, any time on the water is worthwhile. 

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Ladder Self Rescue

This is a good example of this type of rescue.

Key points are to get as much of your chest on to the stern point when initially mounting the kayak.

Second point is very important: Keep your legs as far apart as practicable.
The legs are the outriggers or floats that maintain balance.

Thirdly, keep your torso low; this keeps your centre of gravity low.

And lastly ... enjoy the ride!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCC-oX-OsWg

This rescue is fast and simple compared to the Paddle Float Rescue. The ladder is my preferred recovery while practicing kayak rolls.

More Roll Practice

The weather is supposed to be sunny with occasional cloud cover but no rain. The boat activity on the lake should be somewhat less now that the long weekend is over.

Yesterday's efforts were worthwhile learning. The first 7 rolls were without the diving mask which I had forgotten in the car. That was just as well for the practice. Yesterday's evening practice I did have the mask.
Today I will wear my contact lenses and use the mask, so hopefully my being able to see will help me when keeping my sight on the active paddle.

I have 3 days off now so I have time to establish a roll and practice it.
Having a good ladder self rescue is a real energy & time saver. It makes the practicing much more convenient.

I am not concerned that I have made 12 roll attempts and still need to be successful.  I have been a late bloomer and I welcome it. Hopefully the time spent learning will pay off in good performance.
I will persist. I only started kayaking last July 14. It has been less than 60 days and I recognise the accomplishments so far.
The Paddle Canada certification process is based on learning and experience ... practicing what you learn. So that is the concept that I am paying attention to.

It is a simple process: practice until the goal is met ... and then never stop practicing.
Self rescue's and their practice is a part of kayaking life.

So the plan for today is:
adjust the thigh braces
get in the set up position underwater
move the paddle and my body into position
"catch" the water and hip flip
keep my eyes on the active paddle blade, while
leaning back

It may not happen on the next try but that is not important. It is vital to learn and execute the steps.

When I am good enough I will do it.

I am becoming comfortable underwater, upside down, in a kayak.

Good luck to you today working on your projects!

Practice, Practice, Practice!

So the total for today was 12 roll attempts. I am accomplishing 4 out of the 5 steps. On my 12th attempt I performed all 5 steps and it should have been a successful roll except that the spray skirt is dislodging. It is difficult to hip snap a kayak onto the surface with the cockpit flooded with water.

I will adjust the right thigh brace on the boat. I will also try to be a tad more gentle. I have had a tendency to "over" hip snap in the past. The result being that I roll past upright and submerge on the other side.
That being said, now I have enough practice to practice well, to practice effectively. Rolling practice is dependant on boat activity on the lake. Few boats, lots of practice. A lot of boats, very little or no practice. I prefer less than great weather because then the boaters stay away in droves.

So my focus will be to: keep my eye on the active paddle.
Hip snap slightly gentle, only after feeling the "catch". Concentrate on good position.
If I adjust the thigh brace and pay attention to the timing of the execution I should have more success.
Learning to roll the kayak reminds me of learning to ride a bicycle.
"Getting it" was elusive initially, but once I "got it" then I "got it".

After all is said and done, I am enjoying it immensely, and I now have 12 correct ladder rescues under my belt.

Here we are at the Rideau Ferry Yacht Club Conservation Area on the Lower Rideau Lake.

 

One thing that I have got in the habit of doing before each roll attempt is to measure the depth of the water with the paddle. The 230 cm length of the paddle is equivalent to just under 7' 6".

It is easy to become complacent when concentrating on doing the task at hand. I am glad that I am paying attention. 

Kayak Dreams Two

My kayaking career continues to paddle forward.

Since I started with the July 14 Flatwater Kayak course I have spent about 30 hours on the waves.
July 23, 24 & 25, I had the rental P & H Cetus MV 177 to learn in.
I repeated the Flatwater Kayak course on July 28 in order to gain more practice time.

Last Sunday and Monday I paddled two new lakes: Big Salmon Lake at Frontenac Provincial Park and on Monday it was Upper Rideau Lake ... Narrows Lock to Westport and back, round the lake.
This evening was a relaxing hour long jaunt on Lower Rideau Lake at Rideau Ferry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are pictures of my first boat! It is a used 2012 Wilderness Systems Tsunami 145. I really like it. This is the same model that I use in both kayak courses. It was also the model I rented last week.

 

Needless to say ... I am very happy!

Kayak Dreams 1

So this week coming up I'll be on holidays! I'll be off to Frontenac Provincial Park for a 4 night kayak trip! Then on Sunday it is back to Frontenac Outfitters to take the Paddle Canada Flatwater Kayak Paddle course. This is the course I took a week ago. I think it will be a good follow up and re-cap of the trip I will be venturing on this week. This weeks trip may give me some questions to ask the "pros".

The weather is supposed to be mostly good.

Two years ago I took a 5 hour Kayak Familiarisation course there. I also did a 3 night canoe/camping trip in June of '11 at Frontenac. This will be my fourth time overnight camping there and my second paddling trip.
This week will the will be the start to fulfill the prerequisite for the Level 3 Kayak Skills course. The requirement is 3 separate kayak/camp trips totalling no less then 10 nights.
I also plan to do a 3 night trip in early August. That will give me 7 nights. Then one more trip in September for 3 nights will give me the required 10.

I also hope, (if my budget allows) to take some private instruction on one very important safety lesson: Kayak rolling.
Once I have learned competent rolls then I will have that important tool in my kayak skill set. Then I can try out the 'yaks on my short list.

So far the list is comprised of the following boats:

Delta Kayaks 17s.
Current Designs Solstice GT.
Current Designs Isle.
Wilderness Systems Tempest 175 Pro.
Current Designs Caribou.

There is also the necessity of a Standard First Aid course, and;
The very important Wilderness First Aid Course.
Also under consideration is the Bronze Medallion.

My walking exercise is being maintained. My left knee issue, (that I acquired by running too intensely without doing the necessary training), has resolved itself. However that poor decision will delay my running program until next year at the earliest. Or I may just remain a walking "warrior".

Through all this progress, I have been lacking in my Spanish study. So  need to focus on the study and treat it with the respect and commitment that it requires.

Photography will come back into my daily life again.
Then I will have to make a decision about the guitar.

I will have the option to retire in less than 30 months.

Wow! Then what?