Sunday, April 24, 2005
Jake and Adam
My grandson, Jacob, had his friend Adam spend the night Friday. Early Saturday, the boys bundled up and we piled into the Jeep for the trip to the lake. Don was already there when we arrived, and had brought his Keeowee, a duplicate of Jacob's Fiesta.
So the boys got the ground school safety lecture, the fitting of the boats and lifejackets, and off we set at 9:30 paddling into a 45 degree, 15 knot wind.
Adam performed like a champ on his first time out in a kayak. He got paddling tips from Jacob, Don, and I, and didn't seem to have a bit of trouble. Later in the trip when I stopped to give him some refinement advice, he had already come across some of the ideas on his own.
We paddled in "no neck cove" across the way from us, immortalized in the creepy and mysterious story I had begun telling the boys on the way out to the lake. Then we continued down the rest of our cove to the end.
By the time we had worked our way back to our dock, both boys were ready to get out, which they did with nary a spash nor a spill. Don and I continued to the head of the cove, where the wind was whipping up whitecaps. We exited the cove, but soon discovered that the waves stirred up by the wind were breaking into our cockpits. We of course hadn't bothered with sprayskirts for lake paddling.
We decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and returned to the relative calm of our cove, where we paddled for a short while before continuing our day ashore.
Hot dogs, beans and chips were enjoyed by all, and ground activites were the order of business for the rest of the day. Adam and Jake explored widely, and all were tired and ready to return to town by 5 pm or so.
So the boys got the ground school safety lecture, the fitting of the boats and lifejackets, and off we set at 9:30 paddling into a 45 degree, 15 knot wind.
Adam performed like a champ on his first time out in a kayak. He got paddling tips from Jacob, Don, and I, and didn't seem to have a bit of trouble. Later in the trip when I stopped to give him some refinement advice, he had already come across some of the ideas on his own.
We paddled in "no neck cove" across the way from us, immortalized in the creepy and mysterious story I had begun telling the boys on the way out to the lake. Then we continued down the rest of our cove to the end.
By the time we had worked our way back to our dock, both boys were ready to get out, which they did with nary a spash nor a spill. Don and I continued to the head of the cove, where the wind was whipping up whitecaps. We exited the cove, but soon discovered that the waves stirred up by the wind were breaking into our cockpits. We of course hadn't bothered with sprayskirts for lake paddling.
We decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and returned to the relative calm of our cove, where we paddled for a short while before continuing our day ashore.
Hot dogs, beans and chips were enjoyed by all, and ground activites were the order of business for the rest of the day. Adam and Jake explored widely, and all were tired and ready to return to town by 5 pm or so.
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Sailing the mean, or is it median?
Today was sailboat racing with Bill and Michael. I hadn't visited with M for some time, and the opportunity to chat with him a while was quite rewarding in itself. But even moreso was the robust breeze after everyone feared doldrum-like stillness.
The race was in the ususal course area outside of Moulder Hollow. The quickest race I had yet participated in--the course was set short to accomodate the expected still air. Both races were finished by 1:30, after a 12:15 start.
After a brief orientation and strategy presentation by Bill, Michael and Rick as crew were able to keep things happening without major mess-ups. It was a positively cooperative experience throughout, and rewarding as all get out. Even though our finishing 5th in a field of 9 (both races), wasn't cause for wild celebration, we enjoyed our after-finish Heinekins as much as if we had finished first. (Well, almost as much.)
Kudos to Bill and Michael, who seem to work together with none of the father/son friction one might expect to see. And kudos for Nancy for putting the extra beer in the cooler!
Life is Good.
The race was in the ususal course area outside of Moulder Hollow. The quickest race I had yet participated in--the course was set short to accomodate the expected still air. Both races were finished by 1:30, after a 12:15 start.
After a brief orientation and strategy presentation by Bill, Michael and Rick as crew were able to keep things happening without major mess-ups. It was a positively cooperative experience throughout, and rewarding as all get out. Even though our finishing 5th in a field of 9 (both races), wasn't cause for wild celebration, we enjoyed our after-finish Heinekins as much as if we had finished first. (Well, almost as much.)
Kudos to Bill and Michael, who seem to work together with none of the father/son friction one might expect to see. And kudos for Nancy for putting the extra beer in the cooler!
Life is Good.
Ten Day Looks Bad
Crud. The ten day forcast doesn't look very nice for the Mulberry this week. Intermittent t-storms all during the latter part of the week. That will make for higher water next week, however...
Spent time on the Arkansas Canoe Club website this evening, the forums, especially, for sale, and recreational boating. That is a good link, and one that I will add to the links page once I get it figured out. Ditto for the Riverside Resort, where the Recreational Kayak Class is going to be in early June.
Was looking at info on the Buffalo. Don and Rick are going to do an overnight camping trip in early June, and thus are thinking about which run to make. I like Ponca to Pruitt if the water is up.
Life is Good
Spent time on the Arkansas Canoe Club website this evening, the forums, especially, for sale, and recreational boating. That is a good link, and one that I will add to the links page once I get it figured out. Ditto for the Riverside Resort, where the Recreational Kayak Class is going to be in early June.
Was looking at info on the Buffalo. Don and Rick are going to do an overnight camping trip in early June, and thus are thinking about which run to make. I like Ponca to Pruitt if the water is up.
Life is Good
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Today's Trip
Today we took a nice kayak trip on the King's River, from Rockhouse Road access to King's River Outfitters at Trigger Gap. Tom, Bill, and Rick paddled boats diverse and colorful.
The Rockhouse access has been greatly improved, with the addition of lots of gravel, and today saw many folks there enjoying the site. There were two trucks out fourwheelin' when we arrived, if you take that to mean trying your darndest to get your rig stuck by driving where it shouldn't oughta go.
The water was up and promptly flowing, the trip took about three hours of water time. Not too many eddies and riffles in the water today, as things were just a bit too high. Bill said that the water was cold, but not too cold. He said it twice.
We saw a few more people during the float than we have been seeing lately, guess that means it is warming up. I suppose we saw four other paddlers, and about six campers, in total during our run. Not too bad, but more than I liked.
Got a nice close up visit with a vulture, surprized him chowing down close to one bank. Saw several turtles warming up, but it wasn't that much of a "Wild Kingdom" type trip.
Tom's kayak trailer sure is nice. Great just to plop those boats up there, and to strap them on. Easier than in a truck and much easier than on a roof rack.
Tomorrow looks like a Beaver Lake sailboat race in Bill's boat. And then maybe a Mulberry run during the week if the water holds.
Life is Good.
The Rockhouse access has been greatly improved, with the addition of lots of gravel, and today saw many folks there enjoying the site. There were two trucks out fourwheelin' when we arrived, if you take that to mean trying your darndest to get your rig stuck by driving where it shouldn't oughta go.
The water was up and promptly flowing, the trip took about three hours of water time. Not too many eddies and riffles in the water today, as things were just a bit too high. Bill said that the water was cold, but not too cold. He said it twice.
We saw a few more people during the float than we have been seeing lately, guess that means it is warming up. I suppose we saw four other paddlers, and about six campers, in total during our run. Not too bad, but more than I liked.
Got a nice close up visit with a vulture, surprized him chowing down close to one bank. Saw several turtles warming up, but it wasn't that much of a "Wild Kingdom" type trip.
Tom's kayak trailer sure is nice. Great just to plop those boats up there, and to strap them on. Easier than in a truck and much easier than on a roof rack.
Tomorrow looks like a Beaver Lake sailboat race in Bill's boat. And then maybe a Mulberry run during the week if the water holds.
Life is Good.
