Newport 25-29

Looks like you guys had a pretty good time while you were here - I saw you out there bobbing around.  I'd have joined up but am getting over bronchitis.

Next time.

<sorry for the 'jack but can't resist>

well, hello there.. good to see you back here online..

<returning to thread>

Alrighty I just got back home this afternoon, took a nap and now getting ready for another week of work. 

Stairs suck!  I had charlies in both calves and both shoulders from carrying the Tubberware up those damn stairs. 

Pelagic Paddler - you are correct, this was my first time on the salt and won't be my last.  I did have fun and will absolutely do it again. 

I'll admit this trip in the salt was rough on me, and probably sucked for Jeff as I had to call it a day way earlier than he was ready, (he's a freaking monkey on a log out there  ). 
A couple of things that made my day uncomfortable was the fact I was awake from 4pm Tues 24th, till 10pm Wed 25th and slept like crap overnight thinking of all the fun to be had on Thursday morning.  I think I pushed myself a bit too hard all day just getting home from work and down to Newport.  Had an annoying dry cough, that I think the face full of salt water fixed.  And last the Dramamine I took that morning was the "Not as drowsy" formula.   Holy crap I was literally knodding off out there.  And with the drowsy feeling, I felt like a bobble head which made me chum a few times.  I felt more weak and unstable as time progressed, until I "hulied" on the way in. 

Jeff took the course along the wall that we took on the way out, and that turned out to be the dry route.   I challenged the local surfers to a dance and I lost,



......my shoes, my cheap sunglasses and one of the blades off my spare paddle. 

The upside is that I was dry, warm and VERY awake now.  Jeff recovered my shoes (next time I'll stow them and my glasses), lost the glasses, and will have to replace the paddle.  My dry top, and waders with several layers of fleece under were tight and dry. 

Now the funny part! Jeff doesn't even know the whole story behind.

When he said "GO" on our way out he took off like a sprinter, and I hopped on, tangled my stupid sand shoe lace around the foot rest adjuster.  Crap!  The damn thing would not let go.  Finally got the lace lose, and foot rest adjuster in place and out I go (using my wifes paddle, wrong choice).  Beingst that I was now behind on the race, and paddling with seemed to be a Q-tip, I was not moving very fast and got rolled right there in the surf.   I hopped back in no problem (first self recovery BTW) and paddled myself straight.  Paddled my arms off using my Q-tip to get me over the last wave and out in the "flatter" water.  There I swapped paddles and was able to recover lost ground between Jeff and I. 

I mentioned earlier that Jeff is a monkey out there.  Dude was all over his kayak with hatches open everywhere getting poles and such out.  I think he even changed his socks while standing in the front hatch.      He definitely has his sea game on, and is a solid buddy.   Thanks Jeff for putting up with my "newness".  You have given me a lot of valuable knowledge, mostly by just watching and seeing how it's done, and by the salt in the mouth approach. 

PC here we come bro!   

Oh, and Depoe Bay this morning....  I wouldn't take a power boat through that hole, hell no!  Waves were slamming the sea wall.

Glad I could help on your first trip out on the salt!

Dude was all over his kayak with hatches open everywhere getting poles and such out.  I think he even changed his socks while standing in the front hatch.     

Probably the best thing I like about my X-Factor - nice and stable!

Anytime Craig! That was a lot of fun!

Great job Insayn!  You will be at ease out there in no time.

 I get sea sick, always have. The best advise I got when I used to run my big PB offshore was to get a prescription for Scopace.  The patch is nice but ask for the pills.  The only drawback for me is dry mouth. The good part is I have never been sick since.

INSAYN,

The story of your first trip into the blue brought tears to my eyes, I won't say which kind! Thanks for sharing your adventure. Now you know just how much this sport can get into your head, and why it only gets better. Looking forward to sharing an adventure with you in the future!

I can't sleep worth a darn the night before either!

hey, Yar? does this story of mega stairs sort of remind you of the 800 yd. [ ok, 500 but it sure felt longer]  drag  we had at Idyllwild Park last year??

INSAYN:
Great post, and thanks for sharing all those "lessons."  I'll be learning the same ones first-hand ASAP.
Just how many stairs are there at this put-in?

Pelagic: I'll be asking for a Scopace prescription when I see my doc in the morning. I've had really mixed results, mostly negative, with Dramamine, Bonine and Marazine ... phew! The idea of being truly motion-sickness free on the ocean might change my life. Heck, might even be able to do an albacore charter someday.

Wow, how many stairs? I lost count after ten! Enough that my calf muscles are STILL a bit sore.    I can't believe I didn't take a picture of all of them.

FishSniffer - might you be able to take a pic for us if you find yourself down there sometime soon?

The stairs are sick.  There was like 15 steps per flight, and there were 6 or 7 flights that were nearly straight up.   I GUARANTEE any jock that claims to be in shape would only volunteer to sprint up the them once!   I'd be surprised if he wasn't heavily gasping for air at the half way point, and falling on his knees at the top. 

Now, slow it down a bit and drag a fully decked out kayak up, and then go back down and get the other one!   My calf muscles are on strike still.   They scream ELEVATOR!

Other than that, the stairs are a piece of cake.   

Good Report & congrats on your intro to the salt! I been down & back up those stairs with yak in tow. Not that bad if two people pack the yaks one at a time.
http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,2050.msg17361.html#msg17361
You should try packing yaks out of South Cove, Cape Arago if you want a real workout. 

Yeah, I agree....two people should haul the kayak up the stairs. 
Those can be any two people, but not include me. 

D'oh!!

On Thursday, I found a paved path going down to the water, on the other side of the point. The swells were nasty everywhere that day, so I don't know how good of a launch site it would be in better conditions. I did take some pictures and I'll post sometime next week after I get home.

Finally got the pictures off the camera from this trip.  I was not comfortable enough in the salt to pull out a non waterproof camera to take pics, so you'll notice they are all from steady ground.

The unforgiving stairs!   





The battle wagons.






Our launch site going out.




Same place after we came back in.  Notice the surfers?