Archive for April, 2005

Insert an insightful lyric from “Consolation in E Major” here.

On April 3rd the water was solid. By the afternoon of the 4th leads had opened up to the middle of the lake. Yesterday the 5th, the lake was clear of everything but drift. Gryphon and I spent a couple hours walking along the shore and watching the loons diving for long forays under the water and then coming back to the surface a good distance from where they went under. Last year we had an ice island floating on the center of the lake for days on end. Today, I have to try to get my work done by 4 pm so I can get the boats loaded and be out on the water by 5. It’s great to think of getting out on the water in terms of minutes again. Joy! Rapture!

Everyone wants to get out and paddle this time of year. If you are a water person it’s only natural. But again it’s time to review the effects of hypothermia. Something very obvious to us year-round folks but often is forgotten on a 70 degree spring day in Wisconsin. Don’t forget that water is cold! I’d like to see everyone have a nice swim in the gear they plan to go paddling in before they go out. If after spending about 10 minutes in the water in your gear and you still feel like paddling, then jump in your boat. No one “plans” on falling out. I’m always amazed when some one says to me something like, “well, I’m not planning on getting in the water.” Yikes! I’m not planning on ever getting in a car accident either so let’s skip the seat belt and airbags. . . .

Sorry, just nagging again. For review, see the Hypothermia Table and Symptoms of Hypothermia in the Handout section of the site. Even though I think I know this stuff I still review it myself.

cheers!

A Hydro-field cuts through my neighborhood,
Somehow that always just made me feel good,
I can put a spare bulb in my hand, And light up my yard – Bare Naked Ladies

Saturday I had a quick paddle on Lake Columbia with another local kayaker. We had not really met before so there is always that funny space where you try to find a comfort zone with a stranger, but all in all I think we had a good time of it. Although I’m glad the power-plant is near by and keeps the winter water warm, I ecstatic that I no longer need it to get my fix. See you next year LC!

Sunday it was up early for a quick 2 hr drive south-east to Milwaukee for a day paddle with JB. Now, it was going to be 65 F here at home (our first really comfortable day of spring) and maybe 54 F on the lake in Milwaukee. So it had crossed my mind to stay here and go hiking, but in the end the siren song of the urban shore drew me to the beach. John and I met as we had last time, (in February) near a place called Bradford Beach. For strangers to Milwaukee this is an easy to find destination. You just drive on the interstate until you can go no further. It literally comes to an end at a stoplight along the shore. You turn left and drive past an art museum (why are they always on the water??), past a yacht club (of course), and within a couple miles you find the park. Easy peasy!

Before we had unloaded the boats we met a couple from Michigan who were over exploring the town. Everything in Milwaukee is in a “Ward” just like a hospital so the conversation was all about finding a “ward 3″ which is here, and “ward 4″ which is over there. . . . When I think of “ward” I’m looking for “Walley and the Beav” As it happened, the couple we had met were members of the West Michigan Kayakers group and I hope to see them again at the symposium. One of the great things about sea kayaking is how the web of paddlers is constantly making new connections and everyone seems to be just one connection away from everyone else. That’s very cool.

After a year or so we launched out into the freshwater sea. (It takes me about a year to get geared out.) We paddled south a bit then straight out to a monstrous green bell buoy which was about 3 miles off the coast and about 5.5 miles from our launch. We had a relaxing 2 ft roll out of the north east and an irritating south-west wind just strong enough to mix up the lake surface a bit. As we approached the buoy and the wind turned south-easterly we discussed a silhouette that started out as a kayak, then changed to a fishing boat, then to a canoe as we approached. In the end it was a big brand-new green guide boat. These are sort of like canoes only wider, with oars and whicker chairs. Now if you own one, don’t email me and say it’s nothing like a canoe. C’mon, a kayak is like a canoe with a top on it depending who you ask. I have been getting this feeling guide boat folks are a little sensitive about their watercraft. In my story it looked just like a canoe until we got up close enough to see the owner’s hair blowing in the wind. We had made it within maybe 10 yards of the buoy but as we chatted with the GB, we slowly drifted south east until we were some 75 yards or so from the green bell. Being caught up in a conversation about drysuits and VHS which were notably absent from the guide boat, I was being pulled away from our initial goal.

I’m sure John was at least a little disturbed that I wanted to paddle back out to the buoy instead of turning back, but I needed to “touch” a place I hadn’t touched before. Yes, maybe I’m a bit “touched” as well. So be it! When my oldest kids were little I used to have them stop as we walked through town to touch a tree, a rock, a leaf, or some other object. I wanted them to stop in the middle of the mundane and make a connection, just for a moment with something more meaningful. You often miss a big beautiful timeless oak if it’s growing between a sidewalk and a road. I wanted them to be able to see it hidden in an urban camouflage and think of it there 250 years ago in open oak savannah.

So. . . it’s “STOP, LOOK, TOUCH. Ok, let’s go. . . “

The point is I do this myself all the time. Often when I hike I want to take a moment to make some minor little connection with a rock-face that has stood long before any of us was a “chocolate bar in our father’s back pocket” and will stand long after we’re all ash. In this moment I touch eternity. Then I lift my fingers from the stone, turn away and turn to ash. Life is fleeting. On a much more basic plane touching a big green bell tied 3 miles off shore is still a magnet for me. However, when you are in a bit of a rolling sea you will be content to paddle around at a safe distance! Wow are those things big!

As we paddled back I noticed I was having momentary lapses of vertigo. I think I must not have eaten enough. I would set my focus on the compass and regain my equilibrium but it’s still a pretty funky feeling. Like you could just fall right over. My two big, fattening, frosted, kwikie-mart donuts seem to NOT have been the best pre-paddle snack! I’ve got to watch that next time. I think I will dose up on a little Dramamine next time as well.

So now it’s back to another work week. Maybe later today I’ll paddle. Maybe I’ll go hiking. Then again, who knows what I might do!

- dm

Morning has broken, like the first morning Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird Praise for the singing, praise for the morning – Cat Stevens

This morning I have to load up for what I hope will be the last or nearly last paddling on Lake Columbia for the winter season. It’s due to be 55f and sunny today. Our local lake has about 10 feet of open water on the northern shore and should be opening up quickly now. Great chance to try out my new Palm drysuit. Why Palm? Well, I’ll hold my review until I’ve really tested it. The hanger view is that it’s a nice looking, comfortable, low cost, breathable drysuit. Cost around $400 or so.

I have started work on a Yahoo Group for our local Canoe & Kayak club. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/baraboorcc. Oddly I’m not really a “member” per se, but as everyone with a paddle seems to mingle things just end up a given. Many of the local folks I paddle with are members of the Baraboo group and I can see we need a better way to let anyone know on any given day who’s going out and where. I think if we can get this board as active as others in the state we will doing ourselves a favor.

Tomorrow I may run up to Two Rivers for a day paddle on Lake Michigan depending on what fate and fortune allow. How crazy is it to get up early for a 3 hr drive to paddle a couple hours and drive back? Well, I did say kayaking fanatic didn’t I?

I went on a Bungee Net search today online with no good result. I want to create a bungee net/bag type thing to hold my camera on deck as suggested to me by Jon Walpole. Great idea if I can find that darn stuff! The upside of a camera with dive case is that you can use it without fear on the water, the downside is that it’s pretty bulky. You can’t stow it or you wont use it, so it’s got to be on deck and not get loose in surf. You also have to be able to get at it and put it away quickly.

Lastly I have to say hi, and give a link out to Adventure Outdoors in Valparaiso, Indiana. I met these guys last year during my ACA instructor training. Good Luck This Summer!!

So, It’s about time I get away from this computer!

Look out for Heffalumps and Woozles!

- dm