Some days you go absolutely nowhere. And that’s ok too. You don’t need to paddle 200 miles to enjoy kayaking. Yesterday I did have hopes of racing around my little lake and playing a bit with my new Werners along the boulders on the western shore. The problem of course was the weather. As soon as I hit the parking lot I could feel that change in the wind and soon a wall of darkness raced in from the north east. I heard one very distant rumble. So is it worth even launching? You just know a storm is coming. Probably be a waste of time if you were determined to do distances. Ah, but plans can change. Soon I had my warehorse out in the lagoon racing back and forth, trying out my bow rudders, hanging draws, and all that other fiddly stuff that can be effected by a new paddle. Yeah, I did get that occasional flutter with the new buoyant blade at first, but I soon had it sorted. I was also playing with some really deep low brace recoveries and it did feel to be that there was a little extra purchase on the blade as well.

There was another crack of thunder. Still off in the distance. No time like now for rolling practice. For the next half hour or so under the darkening skies I just rolled and played with my old warhorse. We hadn’t played in some time and it was pure joy. . As the wind began to pick up I stowed my paddle and hand rolled the explorer for a bit. Wow. . it went well. Usually I have to muscle the big Explorer, but for some reason it was simple and fluid under the clouds.

I pointed the boat out toward the place I had planned to go. Lightning struck out among the trees. I snapped this picture, then turned around and paddled back to the jeep. As my kayak slid on the sand, a small wake followed and crashed along side me. It was a good day. A day where I went absolutely nowhere.