August Bathwater

The water is rediculously warm this time of year. The fish can't turn on the A/C, either. I wonder if they like it? It feels good to just let you hands or feet swim around in it. I've been swimming laps at the pool lately and I'd love to get out there and swim in Graveline, but it's so muddy and shallow, not to mention full of crabs, shrimp, gar, redfish, oysters, and alligators. So yeah... maybe not.

Coming back across the bay we had a big headwind, but it died down as soon as we got back. Got a lapful of a wave! And a pretty good workout.

That's me in the bottom picture (Mom took that one). We wandered around in the swampgrass just south of the boat ramp today -- about a 4 mile paddle. Would have been a nice one to have on GPS track.

Swim training?

A pleasant surprise! I got in the boat just because I was out there, the sun was setting, and the water was calm. Why not? I was pretty tired from a 70 mile bike ride this morning. But of course it's legs that do the work on a bike, so my arms were ready to go. The surprise was that despite hardly kayaking at all lately, my arms felt loose and strong. Could it be the swimming I've been doing lately? I guess that's a lot of the same muscles. It's amazing how tight the shoulders can get when you don't use them through their range of motion... but once a week swimming lately seems to help.

Clouds blocked tonight's sunset, but there was this neat cloud top that put up a nice show.

And, a mullet jumped by, as they do... I caught him on jump #3.

Evening Peace

I'm really just posting this to see if I still remember how to blog. This paddle was this past Sunday evening with Mom, just a quick trip out to the middle of Graveline Bay to see the artistry painted on the sky for this one day. Somehow, it has gotten to be almost the end of July and I don't know how the summer has flown by so quickly. At least I know the water is there no matter what the season, and the skies are just as pretty. When I think about being out there, I feel all the wrinkles in my forehead relax, my eyes relax, my breathing become deep and soothing. It is magical, that water, and the kayak puts me right there on it.

When you are seeking peace, steer yourself to the water.

Saturday exploring

February 19, 2011

Just me and Mom... bottom picture, went up towards Shell Landing and explored a few new waterways. It was a foggy morning as it has been a lot recently. The top picture was from earlier in the day, riding bikes down to Gulf Islands National Seashore. I still would love to kayak in the fog, but have yet to catch it at a good time. Need to remember the GPS or some navigational device, though! But wouldn't it be nice to be lost in the middle of the bay, for example (not fearing boat traffic), in the quiet, blanketed by fog all around?

Testing kayaks

February 12, 2011

Another group paddle, this one inspired by a fellow paddler's interest in trying different boats to see if a sea kayak would be more suited to his type of paddling than the ocean kayak (sit-on-top) that he has been in.

A 7 mile paddle to the gulf and back. This spit of sand is Graveline Beach at the mouth of the bayou. Nice weather for February...

Group paddle

Borrowing from the group bike ride routine, I set up a group paddle and a bunch of folks came out to enjoy the sunny (but cold) day. We had a good time and got in a 6 mile paddle or so. A great variety of boats -- one of them a hand made kayak on its maiden voyage -- the one that looks white in the middle of this picture. A fun day!

Holiday paddle

Free day off courtesy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Thank you for your contribution to society, and thank you for this day!

A very nice paddle west to the causeway. For the first time, I went to one of the little islands. What creatures live here? How many people have been here? It's such a tiny island, but it could be a home.

Nutria were everywhere today. Ugly little beasts. I wish the gators were more active, to thin them out! Quit destroying our marsh grass.