“Now I’ve been happy lately, thinking about the good things to come” – Cat Stevens

Oddly I don’t plan kayaking days, (as disjointed as this post is you can see I don’t plan them either) at least not within a 30 mile radius. It’s just impulsive. In the summer I’m often working on the computer by 6 am or so and by 1pm I have to get away. So I’m either out on a hiking trail or out on the water. I’ve found those spontaneous paddle days are always the best for my head.

When Mary and I first heard Leon Somme comment in an interview that he and Shawna got along better on the water in that there was no bickering about “car keys” and the like, we could relate to that. However, the fact that you have to plan, organize and pack for the trip means there are a lot of “car key” issues coming up before you actually launch. It often takes us an hour or so on the water to get back in touch with our other selves and find that free easy flow again. Some days I think we would be better off to just toss the car keys in the lake and be done with it!

What got me thinking about planning surprisingly was not the summer. Yes, there is much to plan. Over the weekend I received an Instructor Survey from the West Michigan Symposium and I have to think about what I would like to teach. You can tell it’s my first time ’round with this stuff. I never thought before about what I would “like” to teach. That’s a little more democratic than I’m used to. Usually in standard classes you just pack everything into a half day stew. It will be nice to be able to take a little more time on a subject. Time to be sure you are actually teaching and not just “giving overviews”. Hmmmm, what subjects do I want to teach? That will take some doing. But that’s another story, as Owl said to Pooh on a rather blustery day.

We actually planned a kayaking day at Lake Columbia, our only liquid water play spot this time of year. Spending the first day of spring on the water seemed like a good idea. First it was just us, then another couple then another. Great! Then we had a ton of snow, life conspired and soon it was back down to just us. Then again the tables turned and my oldest son decided to come. When we got to the launch there were other kayakers on the water and in the time it took to unload our gear other paddling friends we hadn’t expected joined us as well. So we were back up to a group again. Pretty darn cool!

We paddled about 50% of the horseshoe lake and rolled back into the rocky launch all feeling a bit out of shape as spring tends to always point out. I took a bit of time to roll and play. (Just for fun I added a sloppy roll video from the day to the gallery. See the bottom of the list) In fact this was the first time I had tried a scramble recovery in full drysuit and winter gear. Well, the first time I was right over the back side. Second time I found I could get up easily but sliding back into the cockpit in my normal way was not happening with all the extra gear. I bailed. Third time I moved more more forward than usual and just plopped it. That worked. Now, how would you approach that in an ocean cockpit? Something to try someday. . .

So I want to get a playboat. Mainly for surf & local rivers but who knows where it will go. . . So I think I’m leaning to either liquidlogic “Hoss” or “Gus”. At the moment the Gus is in first place, but who knows what I’ll think a week from now.

So there’s my hackneyed post. Oh heck, spring is coming and I’m just happy to be getting back out on the water in 40+ degree days. Everything else is CAKE!

-dm