Adventure #2

After a week of stormy weather, I decided to wake up early today and take the Kayak out.  I went much further then I had planned, and tested myself a bit more then maybe I should have.    After dropping the kayak into the lake, I decided to head west from the launch along the shore.  It was nice and glassy smooth.  I went down a bit and crossed to the other side at a narrow part of the lake.  Unfortunatly for me, I was now pointing straight into the wind with no protection from the shoreline.  While it wasn't super windy, it did manage to stir up a fair bit of waves that I'm not really used too.   

I ended up paddling hard for about 20 minutes to get to the boat launch on the opposite side of the lake from the boat launch that I originally launched from.  While I didn't appear to have any stability problems, the small choppy waves made me nervous.  More so because I have yet to try a deep water re-entry.  I took a break at this boat launch, had a snack and a Gatorade, and spent 10 minutes deciding how to get back across the lake.  Paddling straight across meant the kayak would be taking the waves directly to the side, which I didn't want to do.  So I was faced with going upwind on the shore and cutting back across the deepest, widest part of the lake, or backtracking for a bit and cutting across at a more narrow portion, and using the opposite bank for protection from the wind.

I ended up choosing the latter.  Paddling with the wind and waves was kind of odd.  I didn't really like the feel of it, as the waves would sometimes push my boat from side to side as multiple waves passed underneath.  I'm guessing this is a product of the boat rocker, where the middle of the boat was up on a wave and the bow and stern where in a trough.  Anyway, I didn't like it very much.  I crossed at a less narrow portion, that ended up being very shallow.  There were a few little islands and some logs sticking out.  I tried to go between them, as it looked like it might make a good place to fish, but it turns out that in the middle it's currently less then 2 inches deep, and I couldn't get through.  Once on the other side it was back to a smooth glassy surface and no wind all the way back to the original launch point.

This was my second time out with the Kayak, and my first time out with several items.  My STS Tallback seat was comfy, but did cause my PFD to ride up.  The Economy Leash from KFS I used for a paddle leash, and it was rather unobtrusive.  I bearly noticed it.  I threw a small cooler in the back with some food and drink.  I also got to use my NRS Paddle Shoes, which are rather cool.  I wore them from the time I left the house to the time I returned.  They do make a funny squishy noise when they have a bit of water in them and you start walking on pavement. 

My biggest problem was my paddle.  I had a hard time getting it put together, and I simply couldn't get it to come apart when I was done.  I ended up having to put it inside the kayak when I transported it back to the house, and then removed it when I put the Kayak in the basement.  Any solutions for this?  WD-40 or something?  It's an aluminum 2 piece shaft.

Keep at it Phynix, the more you learn your yak and how it handles in various situations, the more comfortable you'll be on it.  Luckily it doesn't take too many trip to get to that point.

-Allen

Yah, keep on practicing and someday you'll laugh about your apprehensions.

Aluminum is notorious for that sort of thing. Set it in a corner so that the female ferrule half is on the bottom, and liberally apply oil. Let it soak, then try twisting the sections apart. Good luck.