Kayak blogs from Mississippi

August Bathwater

2011-08-14T19:03:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-08-07T18:53:00.000-07:00

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

2011-07-27T18:11:00.000-07:00

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

2011-02-21T17:48:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-21T17:44:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-23T18:41:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-23T18:34:00.000-08:00

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.

Lucy's Revenge kickoff paddle

2010-07-30T20:59:00.000-07:00

July 10, 2010

It was an honor to be a part of Keith and Sharon's kickoff of the Lucy's Revenge Paddling Project. The paddle was the same path as the Battle on the Bayou -- started at Gulf Hills Hotel and ended at the Shed. Doug and I did a shortened version of it, going up halfway and heading back, saving the logistical difficulties of a one-way trip.

I had some thoughts about this intriguing concept that Keith came up with, to embark on a physical journey involving fitness of the body, in order to connect with a mental/emotional/spiritual inspiration involving fitness of the mind. Alzheimer's... a particularly damaging disease of the brain, but just like the body -- can suffer devastating afflictions, or small deteriorizations. Mental fitness is so important. Those of us who get caught up in physical fitness sometimes forget to tend to the mind. Feed it, use it, care for it, nurture it... Your mind and your body need each other and make up YOU.

Related thoughts. Tyler was telling me about adrenaline and how it makes your mind work faster, explaining the slow-motion feeling when you're in the midst of a crisis. Makes me wonder if a lower level of adrenaline is kicking in when I ride my bike, fast pace ride in a paceline when you are so alert at all times. Just afterwards, things seem to move in slow motion. As I'm driving home, everyone is in my way. At home, I trip over the dog... somehow she isn't as quick as usual. I wait for D or T at the sink or refrigerator, why are they taking so long? Everything seems slow. Maybe my brain waves take a while to settle back into a normal pattern.

The mental and the physical. Keith put in his blog "Whatever mental filing or head-work needed to organize a persons hustle and bustle life, it has been my experience that out on the water is not the place to do it. I simply can't. There's too much else to think about. Being on the water strips things down to the bare, meaningful essentials. There is plenty of time for thought, plenty of time for discussion, plenty of time for prayer and meditation. But, no time for false worries, or self imposed problems. It's time for refocusing away from such things." I love this thought and how he expressed it. How true this is of paddling, bike riding, running, hiking... anything where you get away and your activity demands that you focus on it. It's a forced break from what normally weighs you down. I have so many thoughts to keep track of -- things to do at work, issues, lists of things I need to buy, appointments to make and things to arrange, needs of my family, groceries, home care, correspondence, etc. etc. So nice to take breaks from that load.

One more related thought. I haven't seen the movie "The Hurt Locker" but I saw the 60 minutes segment on it a few weeks ago. It's about how the EOD soldier becomes so addicted to the danger and rush of his job that it's the only way he can function. Is it a similar adrenaline-high addictive quality that leads us back to high intensity physical activities? Or is it the shifting of priorities that Keith talked about -- how it pushes the more trivial (but real) priorities and problems aside because it demands that you focus on HERE AND NOW?

Our minds drive our bodies. Experiences and memories are really what the fitness activities are about. The whole idea of the Alzheimer's Paddling Project sounded like a mismatch the first time I saw it.... but the more I think about it, the more sense it makes.

Hope to paddle again with Keith and Sharon as their journey continues.

Occasional Paddle

2010-07-03T20:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, not too much blogging going on from Anna lately. I admit it -- the kayak suffers rejection at the hands of the bike. The blog is ignored in favor of Facebook.

But today -- I must blog today! It is the 5th anniversary of this blog. First entry was July 3, 2005. 5 years ago there was no Facebook, and I did not have a bike. 5 years ago was before Hurricane Katrina. 5 years ago I found kayaking, and through it I found... how do I say it? I found out how to make myself happy and do what I love to do. Really and truly, before that I did not know how to get into an activity and enjoy it. Dale was amazed at how I took to it, looked forward to it, planned to kayak, came back happy... he had never seen that before in me. Not saying I wasn't happy or didn't enjoy life, but the ability to recognize something you love and pursue it, with a combination of indulgence and intensity, enjoying the rewards and allowing it to propel you further into your passion... this is what I was missing, and what I first found through kayaking. It changed my life in such an important way. Like the saying goes, who gets to the end of their life and says "I wish I had spent more time at work"? It's the people in your life and the things you love to do that should fill your available time.

So tonight's paddle was a simple trip with mom across the bay. Not a spectacular sunset, but the evening breeze and the water were oh so nice.

Horn Island

2010-05-15T19:54:00.000-07:00

May 15, 2010

It wasn't a paddle - no kayaks today - but what a place it is to kayak, I think it belongs here. We took the Blazer Bay out this morning to enjoy the island in case it is soon affected by the oil. Went out early and ended up leaving early too, with storms rolling in. Beautiful island, had this area towards the east tip to ourselves.

Stunt kite flying... easy breeze. Absolutely fun and relaxing.

Sunday paddle

2010-05-15T19:48:00.000-07:00

May 9, 2010

Nick and Brent joined me for this paddle and recon mission to check out the boom at the mouth of Graveline Bayou. It is in place, though the oil remains offshore for now.

This trip was 6.5 miles though I always had in my mind that it was 8 miles to the gulf and back. Anyway, it seemed longer and gave me a bit of a workout! Easy for Nick, who had paddled 17 miles the day before.

Just paddling

2010-05-15T19:44:00.000-07:00

April 18, 2010

Catch up blog...

Strange set of pictures, we paddled during the day April 18, yet I was there for the sunset too. I have not seen enough sunsets lately!

Gold Star for me and Marcelle

2010-03-24T18:14:00.000-07:00

Marcelle is the Madone, and she's taken me on quite a ride these last 3 months. I finally finished base training - 12 weeks of cycling training for a large amount of time in specific heart rate zones. I told my Mom I was almost finished and she said, then what? You get a gold star? So yeah, gold star for me.

As I wrote a while back, the idea is to use the heart rate monitor and apply your cycling training in targeted HR zones. For me, Z1 121-140, Z2 142-153, Z3 154-162, Z4 163-174, Z5 175-185. Most of base training is 10% of the time in Z1, 60% in Z2, 15% Z3, 15% Z4. It varies a bit as the weeks go by, but that's the bulk of it. Now for the times - Week by week, it's the number of hours that gets progressively harder with every 4th week a rest week: 5, 7, 9, 4. Then the next set of weeks: 6, 8, 10, 5. Then the third set of weeks: 7, 9, 11, 6.

I'm on that last week now, with the 6 hours, so no problems finishing that out. That 11 hour week was a killer! I rode over 200 miles last week and all on the road. When I started out I had to get a lot of time on the rollers indoors, or in spin class. Now with longer days and daylight savings, I can ride after work. Mile after mile - a few rides by myself, but mostly group rides with great company from my GCBC riding buddies. I'd plan a ride, post it on the message board, and someone was always there. All except the snow day, and one long solo ride on a Thursday. Sometimes, they think I'm crazy.

So now my legs feel like rocks. Still a little fat to spare, but I've lost 8 pounds since New Years and all my clothes either fit or are too big. I have not been sick a single day since before Christmas. My lungs feel stronger and clearer than ever in my life. Here's a big one -- no injuries or overuse problems. Had a hint of trouble with my right knee towards the end, but I think I held it off by paying attention to my position on the bike. I've kept up with yoga and a little Pilates, but not a lot of strength training. Now I need to get back into that.

The rest weeks are the most amazing thing. It's like you're coming out from a load, becoming refreshed, renewed, reenergized. The body takes this progressive stress and adapts day by day, but then to have this period of less stress is so important.

Trusting the training plan... that's an important part and it takes a lot of the mental stress and second-guessing away from what you might usually have. You don't have to wonder, am I working hard enough? Riding too much? Should I rest more? You just plan your rides to fill the zones and times you need, and trust the plan.

OK so now what. I have endurance and aerobic capacity, now I build power and speed on top of that "foundation". Build phase follows base phase - less riding, but more intensity. I should start to see some payoff and get faster, if I do harder rides and more specific drills like speed intervals and hill repeats. I also need to retest my "LT" heart rate - that's what the zones are based on. The highest average HR you can ride and sustain for 3 miles, twice. I measured it New Years and it was 174. Now I need to measure it again, maybe this coming Sunday. As for riding, right now I can ride solo for 50 miles at 18 or 19 mph average. I want > 20. The hard rides and the racing events have started for the year.... I just want to see a marked improvement, and not push myself to injury in trying to get faster. That and get below 150 pounds. I came so close! Saw 150.2 on the scale one day. Now I'm back around 153, but I want to get to 145. I'm patient, though. And happy with where I am now. NEVER so appreciative of my body and health as I am now. It's not perfect, and I have no desire to pursue perfection! I think it can limit you. Spend time trying to be perfect, and you don't have time to be great and find new heights. Perfection has limits, greatness does not.

Mountain Biking at Bethel

2010-03-24T17:47:00.000-07:00

As if I needed a new outdoor activity... made 2 trips lately to Bethel Trails to ride Mountain Bikes with the GCBC. First time, I got beat up pretty bad as I wiped out 3 times, each time when I hit sand and lost control of the bike. Second time no wipeouts and an enjoyable ride through the woods. I like it... I do! Now THIS is something Dale likes to do too, and it's a lot of fun up there with a good group of folks and some Tato Nut donuts. I'm there in the group photo 3rd from right.

Battle on the Bayou

2010-03-24T17:39:00.000-07:00

March 6, 2010

Perfect weather, great starting location, awesome paddle, fabulous time at the Shed at the end. I did well but could have pushed a BIT harder and done it in under 2 hours. I think my time was 2 hours 3 min - 33/125 overall, 10th in my K1>15 class. I was having fun!

I can't believe what a fantastic job the event organizers did for a first time event. Party the night before at Front Beach, all the logistics covered, prizes, halfway point rest stop, GREAT start and end location.

A friend took some neat pictures from the Ft Bayou bridge looking down on the kayaks. I'll upload when I get copies.

Last Serious Training Paddle Before the BB

2010-03-02T19:43:00.000-08:00

Feb 27, 2010

About 8 miles, with a few hard efforts. Actually got in one hard effort in the previous post in the easy 3.5 miles when we sprinted back to the dock. I felt that in my upper body and felt stronger this next time. Training works for paddling too!

We went up towards the otter again but had already gone looking for the birds and daylight was fading. Timing worked out nicely going back into the sunset. I love that.

Buddha said "Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” The moon came up before the sun went down. The moon was one day away from being full. They keep coming back around! Another chance to admire... another chance to appreciate... another chance to feel the shine. Every day, you get to see them again.

Liesure Paddle, Bayou Trois

2010-03-02T19:35:00.000-08:00

Feb 20, 2010

South from the dock to the third Bayou on the west side of the bay... 6 kayaks headed towards the causeway.

Paused for a photo. and went back.

A nice 3.5 miles... fun group.

Another Training Trip

2010-02-15T05:54:00.000-08:00

Very much the same track as the last paddle. Starting out, it seemed the wind was going to be mild and kind, but it picked up in time to provide headwinds on the way back. Coming back across the bay, it was a crosswind, but was every bit as hard as going straight into it. Maybe it seems hard because it's at the end of the trip.

Didn't intend to go 9.3 miles but glad we got in enough to build some confidence that we can go 12 miles in the upcoming event!

Lots of birds out today. This seems to be one of the best times of year to see birds. As I've noted before, they seem to have a sense of entitlement and domination in the winter... like it is their world. In the spring and summer, they take a lesser role and live within the greater diversity. One of the otters showed up again. It's going to be very difficult to get a good picture, but I'll keep trying. It swam ahead for a ways, then turned around and popped its head up, looking at me to determine what I was and which direction I was headed, I think. Then it was gone.

I'm mixing in the paddle time with a lot of cycling and an occasional run. This paddle was Saturday and did that after a 5k run in the morning. Then rode 70 miles the next day, and going out to ride another 50 today. But after this hard trianing week I have a rest/recovery week. I like those - when you follow the plan you really feel like you earn it. And as many of the cycling books describe, it's when you REST that your fitness improves. Stress, recover, come back stronger.

Mud and Otters - 8.3 miles

2010-01-30T17:09:00.000-08:00

What do you get when you go kayaking with an Adventure racer... Adventure!
On the right side of the GPS track at the bottom, you can see a loop. On the way out, we decided to cut the loop and portage over "land". Which turned out to be MUD. Lots and lots of mud. The swamp grass was not actually as hard to get through as I would have thought, and if you keep your feet near the base of the grass, it's pretty solid. There's really not much indication from the surface which mud will hold your weight and which mud will sink you to your knees. Fortunately I didn't sink that far, although David did a time or two. If I had, there's no way I would have got my shoes back. I almost lost them a several times... cheap water shoes. Anyway, it was hard work. At the end, David did a bobsled kind of a run though the mud (see picture), but I couldn't get my kayak to turn and didn't have the upper body strength to wrench it around. So back to the mud/grass for me... and finally, back to the water.

The water was nice enough except for a few places on the way back, fighting about a 12 mph wind across the bay. Brutal! My arms will be sore for a couple of days, no doubt!

I wish I got some otter pictures. First we saw one. An alligator? A nutria? No, this one's an otter! Little head with ears poking up. Back swooping over as it dives back down. Head poking up again. Then it pulled a disappearing act. We paddled down a little further... then, three otters! Swoop, dive, tail flipping up. Head poking up, looking back at us. Two heads. Swoop, dive, flip. Swim, swim, swim... dive. Head poking up. Whee! They swam for quite a while, checking us out. Finally they kept to our right and went back behind us. Could it be a mom and two little ones? They all looked about the same size.

I wasn't cold, suprisingly. No gloves, wet feet. The PFD kept me nicely insulated and I had a windbreaker on with two layers underneath. Grey, cold, windy day... who would have thought it would be a fun day to paddle? But it was.

Cycling Training

2010-01-22T18:10:00.001-08:00

Ah, something nice about a blog, where you can say whatever you want and know that people only read it if they WANT to. Not because it shows up on their "News Feed" or forum or in their email box, and they feel obligated to wade through like so much junk mail. I write, you choose whether to read or not. It frees me up to write! On Facebook, I'm not much of a post-er. I might think of something to say and then think, but all those "Friends" of mine don't want to read that... And I erase it. Facebook is too broad. Here, I choose the topics. I focus on paddling and related subjects. And sometimes, as you may have seen throughout the years, cycling is related.

Last year I started to get pretty serious about cycling. I rode about 4,000 miles, got a new bike, got pretty fast, rode some special events, and built some group riding and general bike handling skills. But I had some setbacks, too. I had intermittent knee trouble and went through two rounds of physical therapy. Had a few challenges with the bike fit. I had problems with muscle knots or trigger points in my quads and learned about massage therapy. Experimented with other things throughout the year also - strength training, plyometrics, core strengthening, Pilates, yoga, bellydancing, running, and indoor spin class. Also got a set of rollers and learned to ride the bike indoors, working on pedaling technique and balance.

I read a lot of books, magazines, and online articles, I talked to the people I ride with, read the forums. It's just unbelievable how much I have learned about cycling. And still there is so much more to learn. It's really the same with my physical progress - it's amazing how much my cycling ability has developed... and yet there is still so much more potential.

I'm on an actual training plan now. Started the first week of the year and just finished my third week. A total of 5 hours the first week, 7 hours the second week, and 9 hours this week. The idea is to ride the majority of the time in a lower heart rate zone than what you typically tend to ride in when you just go out and ride hard. Not easy... just a step down. For me it's a heart rate of 143-153. Lots of time riding in this window. Just ending that hard third week, and I really nailed it. Got the time I wanted, got the heart rate zones I wanted, got the rides I wanted. Off to a great start!

I'm combining it with a low-carb diet and have shed some extra fat already. I still believe in you, Dr. Atkins! I believe the body can get better at using fat for fuel, and that encouraging your body to do this through diet actually combines quite well with a HR training program.

It's amazing to me that muscle can become so much more dense, so much stronger, and gain so much endurance, and yet not really be any bigger. Look at the professional cyclists. Their legs are amazing - hard as a rock, toned, strong - but not huge at all.

I can feel these changes in my muscles. Massage is a wonderful thing when your body is working to build and rebuild the muscle tissue. And it's important to watch for those trigger points and massage them out when they appear. Stretching doesn't work until the whole muscle is relaxed.

Relaxation and stretching... yoga... another area where there is so much to learn. I've learned so much and become much more flexible, but I have not even begun to get into the breathing, the inversions, and the other advanced stuff. One thing I have found is the most amazing power and pleasure from my lower back, with yoga. I thought lower backs were only a source of pain! It's not true. Those complex muscles in the lower back want nurturing and release. They will return the favor and make you feel re-centered... wonderful.

My job is at a desk and a computer. It takes a lot of physical activity to counterbalance those 40 hours a week there in the cubicle, where I engage only my brain and my hands.

The best physical activity brings music and movement together, such as dance or any aerobic activity to music. But a close second is bringing exertion and outdoors together. That's why I love the bike rides, and that's why I love to kayak.

See, I did say something about kayaks in this post :-)

Kayak Race

2010-01-17T21:47:00.000-08:00

http://www.southcoastpaddling.com/Special%20Events.html
The FIRST ANNUAL BATTLE ON THE BAYOU will be held Saturday, March 6, 2010 on Old Fort Bayou in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The 12 mile race for kayakers is sponsored by South Coast Paddling Company and South Coast Kayak Club.

Time to start training!

I miss my kayak. I've launched this cycling training effort that takes a lot of time in the initial base-training phase. Somehow I need to work in some paddling time as well, and this event is before daylight savings time! 12 miles is a real challenge. But I defintely want to do it.

Full Moon Paddle

2009-12-31T19:18:00.000-08:00

Spending the last hours of 2009 in a kayak! A very cool group paddle in Fort Bayou, Ocean Springs with the South Coast Paddling Company.

Blue Moon

Last full moon of the decade

Great weather

Good company

Fireworks going off along the shores

Fun!

Yolo boards

2009-11-29T05:22:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving weekend in Georgia I got to try a Yolo board. "You only live once" = YOLO. It's basically a stand up kayak, but you paddle it more like a canoe. Seems about as steady as a kayak - a little iffy for a beginner, but not bad at all once you get the feel for it. Might get a litte trickier in the wind or current, but probably would be fun in a river. I guess this is getting to be a big thing in the ocean too - I saw boards like these at Ocean Isle in NC last summer.

Tempting... to see over the swamp grass in the bayou!

November Evening

2009-11-29T05:18:00.000-08:00

Like sunsets? Double the view by adding in the reflection on the water.

Jazz and Molly watch from the dock as we head out. Mom and I went over to Bayou Trois to see what we could see, but the gators were not showing themselves today.

Improvisation

2009-11-16T20:16:00.000-08:00

We all get so caught up in getting the best equipment we can get for the given activity. Want a better kayak, better bike, better vehicle, mixer, vacuum cleaner, musical instrument, computer, camera, clothes, sunglasses, electronic devices. I've always admired people that can take the different pleasure from another angle. Putting a higher priority on tradition, or beauty, or frugality than going for the best as far as function. I do it occasionally, but more often I want what I can get - onward and upward. Not that I’m purely materialistic. My stuff has a purpose. I’m not into showy stuff like jewelry or fancy clothes, expensive cars or furnishings. But I like my toys.

So this is a lesson in improvisation, as my new friend David says, "An old windsurf board pulled from a trash heap, a paddle made from a 2x4 and two scraps of plywood and a $10 seat from Walmart. Look Ma, no duct tape." It paddles quite well.

On Sunday we paddled the 7.5 miles or so to the gulf and back. Beautiful day. Sunny and the water was very calm. Had a nice trip and picked up a few edible passengers who were unable to run away, brought them back and fried them for lunch after a little laboring... what I call “part 2 of the upper body workout.”

David’s even more interesting story was the previous weekend, paddling this thing to Horn Island and back in one day. And on that trip he actually used the 2x4/plywood paddle shown in the bottom picture. Walter Anderson would be proud!

So don’t let a lack of the “right equipment” hold you back from life’s experiences. Sometimes it’s a lot more fun and rewarding to improvise.

4 mile training

2009-10-25T18:54:00.000-07:00

I wanted to do a lot more paddling training this past month or so, aiming to be as fast as possible in the race next weekend. This was the second training run I've managed to do for the 4 mile distance, and it looks like all I'm going to get! Time constraints. I did the 4 miles in 53 minutes... at a 4.5 mph pace. I think that's decent; I noted a time of 54 minutes for that same training run in 2007, so I think I'll do about the same... and expecting greater gains on the run, and especially the bike.

The water was smooth and the water temperature was perfect. This paddle followed a fast-paced 33-mile bike ride, but even though paddling can be an aerobic activity, the muscle groups used are smaller than lower-body activites and therefore the heart rate stays lower. Padding steady-state HR avg is in the 120s/130s, bike in the 150s/160s, run in the 160s/170s.

There are a lot of fish in the bay and the bayou. Someday when I have more time I'll get into kayak fishing and bring home dinner. The water is quite a bit cooler. I do NOT want to overturn the boat this time of year. Must be ready though. I think wearing the regular PFD is a good practice, especially when the water is cold.

Back in the boat

2009-10-17T20:41:00.000-07:00

The wind almost chased me off but I went for it anyway and got in a 4.3 mile steady pace paddle today. A north wind is better in the bay and it was intermittent enought to not really build up the waves. Easy going out! Much harder coming back. Enjoyable temperature and a nice sunset. I'm not looking forward to winter. I wouldn't even mind the heat if it would just stay warm longer and the days not get short.

Had the place to myself today. Not a single boat in the bay, by the boat ramp, or in the bayou. Two guys fishing at Shell Landing were the only people I saw on the trip other than Mom joining me at the end and taking that picture of me.

The kayak has to get squeezed in these days. My last two weeks by the day: 100 mile bike ride, rest, 2 mile run, yoga, 27 mile bike ride, rest, 80 mile bike ride, 70 mile bike ride, rest, pilates, yoga and 12 mile bike ride, pilates, 5 mile run, 4.3 mile kayak, and tomorrow a 33 mile bike ride.

New Bike Review

2009-09-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

This is my first weekend with a brand new bike and I wanted to write down my impressions before it becomes old hat. Ever wonder what it's like to really step up to a high-end bike? Well, I'm here to tell ya, it's pretty awesome.

A little history first to lead up to how I got to love riding the bike and to the point of investing a small fortune in a piece of equipment that doesn't even have a motor. I've been through various cycles of fit-to-couch-potato in my life, but as far as the recent history, at the beginning of 2005 I was on the couch-potato end of the spectrum so I started walking at lunchtime and working out at the gym. In the spring of 2006 I started going to spin class. My legs got stronger and I decided to buy a bike. In May of 2006 I bought a Giant FCR-1 and rode that for a couple of years, 12 miles, 15 miles, occasionally up to 32 miles around Ocean Springs and a couple of times on Longleaf Trace (see previous blogs). It was fun but I didn't ride too fast; probably averaging 15 or 16mph. Starting in the summer of 2008 I got more free time and started riding with some other people on easy group rides, as well as some longer training rides leading up to the Gulf Coast Bicycle Club's Southern Magnolia ride in Oct 2008. I rode the 62 mile "metric century" and continued from there with regular weekend club rides. I quickly realized I needed an actual road bike with something other than a flat bar. Bought this used Specialized Allez at the local bike shop for a few hundred dollars. Here's me riding in a charity ride in Baton Rouge in Jan 2009:

I rode that bike from last November up until this weekend. In the last 10 months I've put over 3,000 miles on it as I average close to 100 miles a week. Awesome bike! No complaints. But I wanted a little faster, a little smoother, a little more performance. Started looking into the options and doing a lot of research, and last week bought a 2008 (but brand new) Trek Madone 5.5 from the local bike shop that they had at a special reduced price as an older year model. I'm waiting on a taller seat post so I'm not 100% set up correctly on it yet, but close enough to ride 10 miles Friday, 20 miles Saturday, and a long 75 mile training ride today. The picture at the top is me test riding down my street (looks fast but I was only going about 10 mph).

OK, so is a fancy carbon-fiber-frame bike all it's hyped up to be? I'd say it's a lot like a low-end vs. high-end car or anything else. You can get by with a basic model and if the object's role in your life is small, a low-end item works fine and it's silly to spend the money on high-end. But the differences ARE noticeable. If the object itself or those specific difference are important to you then yes, it's worth it. In my case, I can say I got what I was after. This is how I would summarize it:

Smoother ride -- The roads just feel better. The new chip seal surfaces still felt rough but not objectionable. On the older, worn chip seal, the "rough ride" was just gone. And on the smooth roads and new pavement, it was like riding on air. I had heard that body fatigue is lessened when the ride is smoothed out. Today I rode 75 miles and feel less fatigued than after last week's 61 miles... but with so many variables, that's a difficult thing to measure. I did feel a lot more relaxed on the bike, being in less of a stiffened-up type posture, and my back is less tired. I felt good after the ride and I think I had more energy when I got home than I would have after 75 miles on the aluminum frame Allez.

Lighter -- Easy up the hills. That's where you notice the lightness. At about 7 pounds lighter than the Allez, the Madone just lightens the load. Also it just feels like a hill attacker which is supposedly due to both weight and the frame efficiency. We don't have too many hills around here but for the ones we did, I'd say I just got a 25-30% boost on my hill-climbing ability.

Precision handling -- I had to switch out the handlebars for one my size because this is not a women's specific bike, although the frame fits me. The handlebars and the saddle make it feel like MY bike. That's hard to factor in when you test ride a new bike. Anyway, it handles like a dream. Smooth into the corners and really nice steering. Honestly the steering is not that important on long road rides where you go straight for the most part, but in some riding situations (riding around town, racing, obstacle avoidance) it could be more important. And even though that wasn't something I needed exactly, it is one of the MOST noticeable differences between old bike and new.

Precision components -- Nice brakes. Oh, very nice. WAY better than what I'm used to. The differences in the shifting are more complicated. I went from a triple chain ring to a compact double and that will take some getting used to. I really like it so far. I think that is the right choice for riding around here. It shifts smoothly and easily, although I never had any complaints about the Allez. If it shifts on command and you can do it with one finger, what more do you need? But I do like how the trim can be adjusted with one click and then shift to the smaller chain ring with two clicks of the left shifter.

So those are my initial thoughts. Fun to ride and I'm glad I got it. I think it's a beautiful bike, too.

Her name is Marcelle.

2 Kayak Events on Saturday

2009-09-20T14:04:00.000-07:00

Promotion of kayak trails on the Mississippi Gulf Coast:
http://www.sunherald.com/local/story/1614431.html
This is good news, and I am glad to see South Coast Paddling Company doing business and getting promoted.

Also the Gulf Coast Running Club's Yak-A-Du in Long Beach, MS:

This was a 2m run, 2m kayak, and another 2m run. My run time was OK though I haven't been running much lately. Paddle was easy -- I was taking pictures and cruising along. So many people struggle with the tiny boats, it didn't feel fair to glide by them so fast in the Riot Regency! Took second place in the women's. This event was a warm-up for the Paddle, Pant, Pedal triathlon coming up on Oct 31st. In 2006 I did it in 3 hours; 2007 2:48. Missed it in 2008. Goal for this year? I'm going to say 2:35. Paddle time will be same or a little slower. Run time faster, especially if I run between now and then. Bike time -- way faster!!!

I thought about something while running this event. I used to be disciplined in my breathing while running, always breathing with the running cadence. In 4 steps, out 4 steps in an easy jog. Brisk run - in two, out three. Fast run - in two, out two. And I would stick to it. Need more oxygen? Breathe deeper. Not enough? Slow down. Then at some point recently I broke out of that and realized, why not just breathe what your body wants. It's free, right? Going up a hill, breathe harder. Get what you need. Legs go how fast they can go, aerobic system listen to the body and fuel the effort. One or the other will start to get maxed out and you have to back down, but there's no sense in forcing a limit on yourself. So maybe it was the bike, where you don't pay as much attention to the breath relative to cadence. Or maybe it's the yoga I've been doing lately where you DO pay attention to the breath and you make sure to give the body the air it needs. In any case, being freed up to BREATHE has helped my running efforts.

3 shortcuts

2009-09-02T18:16:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday, the tide was high so we took some of the smaller marsh grass short-cuts through the bayou. The first one on the south side of the bay I have done many times. The one on the right was completely new. I didn't even realize there was a connection through there. I like sneaking through when you hear the boats whizzing by in the main bayou and they have no idea anyone is out in the marsh grass near them. The third one on the northeast side I've done a few times. There are quite a few places to get lost in there, and several places where you wonder, could I possibly be going the right way? It's like a corn maze.

Mom tried one way and I tried another. I could hear her calling me, and right then an osprey was flying overhead (bottom picture) so I yelled "I'm right under the osprey!" Soon enough we found each other and found the way out.

Heading back across the bay was an adventure. Very windy and the waves were about a foot and a half. We dashed back to the house and put the kayaks up in their new rack.

Kayak Rack

2009-08-25T19:30:00.000-07:00

The Fleet now has a custom-made rack designed and built by Dale. Each boat has its own slot with supports individualized for each boat. There are wheels on the bottom of the rack for easy moving and storing. All 6 boats now fit in the amound of space previously taken by 2!

Sunday was beautiful weather. We took the boats out in the bay and I discovered that the Enduro makes a fantastic lounge chair. Paddle out to the middle of the water, kick your feet out the sides, and lean back, lying all the way back on the back of the boat. Verrrry peaceful and relaxing.

Oldfield

2009-07-12T05:27:00.000-07:00

The mission for this trip, other than a re-conditioning of an 8+ mile paddle, was to go out to the gulf and then go a little farther along the shore in Gautier to see Oldfield, which is a house that Walter Anderson lived in for many years. We found the house and pulled up on the little beach out front, then stepped into the yard far enough to look towards Horn Island and think of how he must have seen it, looking out there and longing to be there. It's a long way to row a boat, but a day like yesterday would be a fine day to do it. I don't know what the plans are for the house. It's in disrepair, but I'm sure it would be a huge project to restore it. Next to it (visible in the 4th picture) is a huge house with columns out front that was stopped in mid-construction. Both properties are in a nice place to enjoy the water, the pelicans, the view of the gulf and the islands. Maybe someday someone will again.

The water feels great. Had to paddle a while with my feet in the water. Kind of like water skiiing barefoot, with your own propulsion.

I finally got the kayak adjusted yesterday. Moved the thigh braces forward, pulled the foot pedals back, re-adjusted the seat, and found a power position that will definitely help me go faster, levaraging the whole body to accomplish the pedal strokes. Now in training for the PPP!

Editing note..... Blogger's capabilities are not impressing me these days. Haven't changed in quite some time. Still some awkward aspects to uploading pictures and rearranging text on the page. Usually, if I try to move the text, the pictures delete themselves and I have to upload them again. Now that Google owns Blogger, wish they would put some of that great development brainpower on improving the site.

Take it when you can

2009-07-02T18:06:00.000-07:00

The sun goes down every day. How many days do you watch it? I can say, it wouldn't be a waste of time to watch it EVERY TIME.

Sometimes just the lines and angles of the water, grass, clouds is art in itself.

The water is warm, soft, and pleasant, and the air is benign.

Even if you just have an hour after a long day's work, enjoy it!

Cadence

2009-05-30T20:29:00.000-07:00

I discovered a few things tonight that carry over from the bike to the kayak.

One is core stability. I've been focusing on that with Pilates, and presumably benefiting on the bike although I'm not exactly aware of it. While paddling the kayak if you really focus, you can find that power in the core muscles.

Another is form. There are times I focus on form on the bike -- when I'm working hard and trying to distract myself; when I'm doing a light effort and can spend extra energy on perfect form; when I'm going up a hill and need to use the muscles in concert and entirety. Focus on paddling form, and you get the same benefits.

The third is cadence. All my paddling has been light lately - recreational - just out enjoying the water. I've been expending my aerobic energy running and cycling. Tonight I had a little to spare, and somehow I found my rhythm. The cadence that's in my head threads from bike to run to paddle, and when I get on it, I hit a zone that smoothes all irregularities and just feels right. I heard it and felt it, and the wind and water gave me no resistance as I built that momentum gliding on the water.

Pictures of the sunset with kayak, and Graveline boat ramp after sunset.

Longleaf Trace - 81 miles

2009-05-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I rode the entire Longleaf Trace, just over 40 miles out and 40 miles back, all the way from USM gateway to Prentiss. That was an all-time mileage record for me. The miles were not hard - I could have done another 20 pretty easily, so I'm confident I'll do a few centuries this year. The rain was a bit of a challenge. We got soaked several times. This was a club ride so I was one of many in a pack of red jerseys. We made pretty good time but stopped many times for breaks, flats, etc. I really enjoyed the ride and intend to go back again next month. It's a very pleasant and painless way to get 80 miles in, and the scenery is great.

Longleaf Trace - USM to Sumrall

2009-04-09T16:03:00.000-07:00

Apparently I spelled Sumrall wrong last time we went (Sumrall, not Summerall). It was 2006 - how did we go 3 years without riding the trace? Especially as much as I've been riding the bike lately. Dale and Tyler did great, putting in over 30 miles.

I did a couple of runs ahead for a few miles to see how it would be to ride 18-22 mph for a long way. I think it would be a nice ride. The pavement is a little bumpy, but not enough to be troublesome. The traffic crossings are few. We almost had the whole thing to ourselves today with it being a weekday. It was windy today but most of the time the trail is protected. Beautiful weather, overall, about 70 degrees and sunny.

I used the Garmin 705 as I always do these days on rides. I can look at the graphs for speed, heart rate, elevation, and cadence. For this ride, heart rate and speed are closely correlated, because there are no steep grades on this former railroad track. The elevation does change from 200 to almost 400 ft, but everything is gradual. I captured the track picture from Garmin Connect.

Saw three snakes - a black racer, a beautiful yellow and green specked king snake, and a baby grey rat snake. One turtle on the trail and many on the logs at the beaver pond (in the picture).

Oh yeah, and I mastered "riding with no hands" today! It's a great place to practice.

Must go back soon.

New fins for Hobie

2009-02-21T19:36:00.000-08:00

The Hobie Revolution comes with a standard set of fins, but you can get turbo fins that replace them. Dale wanted more power in the pedal stroke to go faster at high power, or cruise with less movement when fishing. We tried them out today and he says they're exactly what he wanted.

Our dog loves riding in the back of the Hobie. My mom & stepdad's handsome lab Molly is waiting on the dock.

The morning was sunny and nice for a bike ride. Afternoon overcast and cool with a slight breeze, but nice for kayaking. Dale went in early because it was way too cool to be out there without a jacket (and you get splashed more in the sit-on-top than in mine with a cockpit), so I went across the bay and around the south side, then over to the otter home. Not much to see today except a crowd of Buffleheads. It was nice and quiet, just the tiny sound of water ripples from the breeze. Oh yeah, and dogs barking. I swear sometimes on that bay you can hear every dog in St. Andrews!

No really, it's January

2009-01-02T20:57:00.000-08:00

Paddled the 7 or 8 miles to the gulf and back with Mom, short sleeves the whole time. Just a little breeze, nice sun, pleasant air. But the water temperature reminds you that it's winter.

Nice paddle, nothing spectacular to see, but it was nice to see summery clould such as this thunderhead north of us.

My pictures from today came out terrible. Turns out my lens was dirty, with a film over the entire thing that made the pictures hazy, and for some reason, colorless. These two are from Mom's new camera.

I love the way the Riot Regency looks in the water!

I had pain in my right shoulder trouble today, but it eased up a bit when I paddled as Paul taught me, with a paddler's box of keeping the arms straight and pulling with the torso, rather than pulling with the arms. Luckily there are a lot of different movements that get the job done.

We noted the southern position of the sun and how far it moves from summer to winter. 60 degrees? That would be 2 hours on a clock. It may even be more than that. Something to research...

December evening paddle

2008-12-06T19:28:00.000-08:00

There is absolutely no better way to reset the brain and relax than solo kayaking. I did the 7-mile trip to the gulf and back this afternoon and timed it just right. The sun was low in the sky when I started out, and as I got to the gulf at the mouth of the bayou, it was just going down. A guy had come out on the beach on a 4-wheeler and was fishing from the beach. “Is this a good time to fish?” “Sometimes. Just came to watch the sunset.”

The winter birds are out now like they were in my previous post that had so many pictures of them in one day. They have a sense of entitlement in the winter that they don’t have in the summer. They rule, in the winter.

Concentrating on the paddle stroke engages different muscles. It’s like walking. There’s lazy walking, and disciplined, top-form walking. They use different muscles. Paddling in top form uses a larger group of muscles than idle paddling.

Although I feel very secure in the boat, I thought through scenarios of “What if I flipped out of this thing in the middle of the bay?” I can get out of it with no problem, flip the boat back over, get back in it, get the water out, and paddle back. Temperatures in the 60s – uncomfortable, but not dangerous. But then I thought more specifically about getting back in the boat. First of all, I realized I’ve never done it with THIS boat, and the cockpit is definitely smaller than the Millennium. I need to practice with this one in friendly water. I’d really love to learn to roll one. Second, I didn’t take a paddle float and haven’t been carrying one at all lately. When solo and not near any land, I depend on this to get back on and into the boat. Today I brought the bilge pump with me, but not the paddle float. When you go so long not using something, it begins to slip your mind after a while. But I need it. I need to make a basic checklist for both kayak and bike.

I’ve got the Riot Regency seat adjusted much better now but still have not put the thigh braces exactly where I want them. I need to fine-tune the thing for the optimum fit.

Coming back, although I got back before 6pm, it was dark and actually quite a while after sunset. There was no boat traffic. But the sky stays lit up for a long time. When that light started to face, I saw the planet twins Venus and Jupiter, who have been playing together lately, and caught sight of a white light whizzing along beside me off my left paddle, which turned out to be the moon directly overhead. I love how when the light is dim your eyes are wide open. So much of the time we spend squinting, shielding our eyes from too much input. At night there is so much space and so much light, the water reflects the deepening red-blue hues of the sky, and the eyes welcome all of it.

So, I got in some exercise today… but my legs are still fresh and ready for tomorrow’s bike ride.

Pascagoula River and an awesome weekend

2008-11-11T18:03:00.000-08:00

OK I'm fiddling with Picasa and trying to post a dozen or so pictures because I can't pick my favorites from this AWESOME trip up the Pascagoula river on Saturday. But my son who is currently addicted to Roblox is pestering me for the computer and trying to be as annoying as possible so as to disrupt my concentration, not to mention the dog begging for a walk. I'm giving it up for now; here's a few pictures... I'll try again to post the other good ones. It was a great trip.

Sunday cycling -- the cycling doesn't seem to jive with photography as well as paddling, but just as fun.
I'd like to sum up my trips and progress lately on the bike. 42 mi, 53 mi, 62 mi, 66 mi, 62 mi, 45 mi, 33 mi. I like the regular GCBC weekend ride.

Yeah, it's gonna take me a little fiddling to update my capabilities to do all I want here on the blog -- upload the pictures, optimize the template, save the darn thing so it's not lost to never never land, and last but not least, get the GPS tracks going again. Google Earth -- a great and wonderful thing, but I need some lessons on how to get the tracks as I had them on Expert GPS.

Visiting Kaykers

2008-10-18T19:54:00.000-07:00

Family visiting from AZ, NC, and OR went out for some Mississippi Kaying this morning. The day was beautiful! Low tide gave us plenty of mud to look at. Shrimp jumped and fish swirled. The water was clear enough to see crabs meandering around at the water's edge. The two new kayaks did well. It's nice to have a good fleet.

Saw two ibises which was a first for me. Peggy sees them all the time in Florida, but these are the first I've ever noticed here. They look like they could get some critters out of the mud.

The mullet were jumping today... they must have known the Mullet Festival was going on in Gautier! I spent some time there at a booth promoting the Gulf Coast Heritage Trails Partnership. The web site should be up soon: www. gulfcoasttrails.org. They promote hiking, cycling, horseback riding, kayaking, walking, etc. Hope to see more good stuff out of them in the near future.

Cycling

2008-10-16T19:45:00.000-07:00

OK I'm a cyclist now.... I did a metric century (62.5 mi) last weekend. Although I've heard you're not a real cyclist until you do a centry (100 mi). I'll get there! This event was great. I could defintely get hooked on doing this type thing.

I'm enjoying the bike a lot, although the only problem is... its so time consuming.

Back to paddling, soon. Fall is the perfect season.

Maybe if I just quit work, I'll have more time for the fun stuff. The next elected U.S. President will take care of me. (ha!)

Fay, Gustav, and Ike

2008-09-14T19:41:00.000-07:00

Hurricane season so far has brought us small adventures, but happily no large adventures. Tropical Storm Fay blew winds from the west and pushed water out of the back bay, showing us the lowest water line that I've ever seen on Front Beach. In this picture you can see the brown part of the beach, which is always covered by water, and above it the lighter color sand which is normally the only beach. Fay brought gusty winds but no rain or bad weather.

The sunset picture was taken right around that time (8/20/08). It was a blah sunset, and then for 5 minutes everything lit up from below. Like I said, you just never know...

anyway, Mom and I went out (here's me in the new kayak) that weekend and had some wind to contend with but overall, nice conditions.

Gustav brought a surge, tropical storm weather, and a big tide line to clean up. It also tore up the dock. Could have been worse...

Ike brought a surge and wind, even here. I can only imagine what it was like in Louisiana and Texas.

Overall, I'm feeling lucky.........! But it's not over yet for the year.

New kayaks

2008-08-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

Bought a pair of new kayaks last weekend! They are one year old, actually, found on Craig's List and being sold by a nice young couple in Pensacola who has a baby on the way, which as I remember tends to to perclude other pursuits. They are both Riot - one is a Riot Regency and the other Enduro. They are a very pretty blue and white. The Regency has the features I wanted compared to my Old Town Millenium - smaller cockpit, sleeker design, and thigh braces - and a few nice features I hadn't even thought about - paddle rest, cargo net inside over your feet, good storage and handle design, nice look. The Enduro is good for kids, beginners, and anyone who wants to go for a liesurely stroll around the bayous. The Regency will be good for distance runs and I can't wait to take it out for one. I've been in it twice for quick paddles and so far I love it.

Stunt Kite

2008-07-07T19:06:00.000-07:00

Here's me out on Ocean Springs Front Beach flying one of our newest stunt kites, the HQ Symphony 2.7. Barely a breeze and still that thing has a pretty good pull. I love the parafoil kites because there's nothing to break and they fold up to a flexible pack. They catch the breeze really well, too. Anyone who wants to learn to fly a stunt kite (hold a string in each hand and steer it around) should definitely start with a parafoil. They're very forgiving. It's a lot of fun. There are SO MANY things I love about living near the water!

This past weekend wasn't a big paddle weekend, but I did get in a couple of quick paddles, plus a nice 5 mile run, 22 mile bike ride, a few other various workouts, some tennis one day last week and today at lunchtime. Tomorrow I do a spin class at lunchtime and play racquetball after work. Variety is a wonderful thing when it comes to exercise. I've spent plenty of years being a couch potato so I'm just really enjoying being relatively fit where I can DO all this stuff. Speaking of tennis - how about that Wimbledon! Awesome. Both Women's and Men's finals were spectacular and inspiring to watch.

Continuous Canvas

2008-06-27T20:29:00.000-07:00

YOU JUST NEVER KNOW when the sky will come up with some new painting. It's random (Tyler's favorite word) and spontaneous, and when you least expect it, the most interesting lights and clouds appear. This morning there was an incredible rainbow as I crossed the Biloxi-OS bridge. This last few few weeks have been scattered and isolated thunderstorms. The best part of that is there is plenty of room between them to be able to see the tops from near and far away.

Still can't believe that awesome bay, always there to glide around in, sometimes just inviting you to bump around crossing from shore to shore like a ball on a pool table. That was about the size of this evening's paddle.

Early Morning Storm

2008-06-26T19:33:00.000-07:00

I saw this storm building Wednesday morning before 6:00am. Called Mom to see if she could see it from the bay. She saw the storm building and a little later saw this waterspout in the gulf in the picture below.

There are a lot of thunderstorms these days. Last night I paddled the 8 miles to the gulf from Graveline Bay. There were storms in the area but none too close. Just enough to keep most boaters home; only one boat passed me the whole time. It was quiet and calm... the usual jumping mullet in the water... birds fished the shoreline... rumbling thunder in the distance... air temperature was perfect and the water was nice. Most amazing --- absolutely NO BUGS! Not one single mosquito or gnat. What in the world were those bugs thinking, missing a night like that?

Every now and then I think about a new boat. I want to get an optimum glide through the water... to be ONE with the boat. Smaller cockpit, good thigh braces, long and sleek design for fast and smooth travel. Something with good gas mileage : -). I've been happy with mine, but you know, life is short! I've had it for 3 years now. Might be time to try something new.

Summer Thunderstorms

2008-06-22T17:19:00.000-07:00

It's raining intermittently again today and I've filled up the day with other things, so unfortunately another weekend goes by without paddling. But, no worries, I will go a day or two after work this week, if the weather cooperates. Today we had the proud parent moment of dropping the kid off at camp! I sure hope he has a good time. I know we will. Anyway, for lack of a paddling trip from this weekend, I've uploaded some pictures from an evening paddle a few days ago. Never assume it's too late in the day, just because the sun is on its way down. There is still time! Especially on the bay where there is no boat traffic after dark.

I went out by myself this particular evening and the water was perfect, the sky was beautiful, and the frogs were loud.

Another evening I went out with Mom, and we watched the sky turn all its different shades of orange after the sun went down. We wondered, "Where's the moon?", knowing it was due to rise as a full moon. We were headed west back to the dock and I looked back at the most amazing sight -- a RED full moon rising over the water. It slowly changed from red to deep orange to orange to yellow, and finally white as it got a little higher in the sky. I've never seen such a thing. It was awesome. Didn't have the camera with us though.

I love these shades of blue and pink on the water when it looks like polished metal.

I thought as I always do how much BETTER it is to be 1) outside and 2) mildly exercising, than sitting at home on the computer (like I am now) or watching TV. The body craves that, the mind craves it, it's what we are supposed to do. Unnatural things happen when we don't live the life we are biologically meant to live - a life filled with frequent activity, fresh air, rhymic movement, physical labor, exposure to the elements, natural light, and sounds of nature. Then we spend our time addressing the problems that come from the symptoms of this unnatural state we tend to create for ourselves. I think that regular doses of the things that made up the life of our ancestors for thousands and thousands of years would do us all a lot of good. And speaking of that, what makes people these days think that we have the right to drill up, and USE UP, all of the oil in this earth? What's so special about US, NOW, that makes it all ours to use? That's about as close to political as I'll get here, and generally I don't even take it into politics -- I just see it from a historical perspective and marvel at how narrow of a view some people have of our dependence on oil and lack of any inclination to reduce it. I'm not radical, but I a willing to suffer a little pain at the gas pump to get me thinking about how to use up less gas, and I'm glad to see everyone else thinking about it.

Since I'm on the subject, let me add one more FASCINATING thing I saw in the newspaper. When thinking about a fuel-efficient vehicle, don't just look at MPG. It's more important to think about gallons per mile. For example, 2 families driving 10,000 miles per year go out a buy a more fuel efficient vehicle. Family A goes from 25 mpg to 50 mpg (Prius, or whatever). Family B goes from 10 mpg (Excursion?) to 15 mpg. Who saves more -- Family A by increasing mpg by 25? Or Family B by increasing mpg by 5? You sure would think it's A, but no....

10,000 miles/25 mpg = 400 gallons
10,000 miles/50 mpg = 200 gallons; Family A saves 200 gallons per year.

10,000 miles/10 mpg = 1,000 gallons
10,000 miles/15 mpg = 666 gallons; Family B saves 333 gallons per year.

That sure makes you think.

Happy paddling...

Magnet

2008-05-21T18:49:00.000-07:00

Why do some things in life just draw you in? My left brain tries to make an equation out of it; you are drawn to something, you add up the benefits (fitness, relaxation, learning about your environment, gaining experience), subtract the costs (minimally or nothing in money, costs to relationships, work, etc.), decide if it's worthwhile in terms of what you gain. My left brain is in overdrive right now; a sign of over-efficient mode induced by continuous drive and too many hours at work. Even in this mode, the time on the water brings me relief and happiness. It's really neat how those right things in life just fit in, no matter what your mood or mode, and bring you positives. So kayaking is a no-brainer and definitely deemed worthwhile no matter what the equation. I like the "Life is good" motto on all the T-shirts and stuff:

DO WHAT YOU LIKE.

LIKE WHAT YOU DO.

Finding that balance is key. It's very difficult in mid-life when so many things are competing for your attention. What do you do? Cover the basics, let time work in your favor, build your foundations, keep the essential elements strong... and give yourself time for what you enjoy. I guess that's my self-help book.

So, kayaking trips... When you set out without a plan, it gives your mind a chance to make decisions along the way based on many input factors, but mostly just what you feel like doing. That's a nice exercise in itself.

But anyway, besides all the philosophy, I had a nice kayak trip Sunday evening that ended with the sun going down and the moon coming up. I love it when that happens! I have had a few other good trips lately. One was at high tide, going through the marsh trails to Old Shell Landing. Another few trips with the dog on the Hobie. Several times I've been out with wind and waves that were sort of fun.

Also biked a few nice trips, including the wonderful new Ocean Springs-Biloxi bridge with its pedestrian and bike path. That's about the best thing to happen around here in a long time!

Spring Green

2008-03-30T19:42:00.000-07:00

It's 76 degrees and beautiful! I aimed to to spend the whole day outside today, and came pretty close to it. My to-do list didn't get any shorter, but it will have to wait... Spring doesn't last long.

Rode the bike around OS and over to the kayak. Kayaked to the gulf, a trip I haven't done in a while. I was going against both the wind and the tide going out, so going back was easy. As you can see the azaleas are in bloom. The trees have the young green leaves out and there are new shades of green everywhere.

5 miles or so

2008-03-16T06:03:00.001-07:00

A strange hazy-humid and very warm day yesterday invited me out to stretch my paddling muscles (in need of more exercise) and visit the bayou as it goes into springtime. The water is still cool, but the birds are making a lot more noise, and the air feels great.

The tide was high and I was able to explore a new place in the bayou, in past what I call redfish cove, branching out from the fishing hole, which is a big open spot in the bayou as it goes out to the gulf where you often see several boats. It's amazing how many new places there are to find! I came back after sunset, not even noticing the partial moon straight above my head. I thought it was the glow in the western sky that provided the small bit of light that I needed.

Once again I noticed how un-scary the water is, in daylight and in dark. But I need to remind myself to be prepared for any circumstance, such as always having all supplies (paddle float, pump, flashlight, small spare paddle, etc.) with me. It is definitely nice to have full storage facilities back where the kayak lives. I should keep a set of shorts/t-shirt available so EVERYTHING is there to go by on a whim and paddle at any time... after work, morning, evening... the days are much longer now and there is more time available. Yesterday was a gloriously long day! I feel like today is a bonus day for the weekend.

Quest

2008-02-16T19:36:00.000-08:00

I went out today in trusty blue
On a quest for creatures (that remain nameless)
Like the water sparkles that adorn the shorline
They linger and lie, sunning and swimming
Steadfastly sticking with their choice of location
Never thinking of buying up to a better neighborhood
They quietly enjoy their place on earth.

Sometimes social, sometimes solitary
The old and the young
The wise and the foolhardy
They often have friends that accompany them
And occasionally, a serious challenge to take on
Chipping at their armor and implicit integrity
But they stand fast, still, against all invaders.
They know they are well protected.

When partaken, they offer variety and intrigue
A pleasant and mild salty tenderness
And endless ways to be enjoyed.

Pause to appreicate that they did their job so well.
They had purpose. They had pride.
They did not write this last chapter of life.
But in the end, we realize, at that end
We all will serve some final purpose,
Just likely not one of our own choosing.

Rather be Kayaking

2008-02-09T17:04:00.000-08:00

I'm blogging these pictures and outing from last weekend because I have to work this weekend and this is what I'd RATHER be doing. I wonder where I can get an "I'd rather be kayaking" bumper sticker for my car. Or my forehead. I did receive a great pair of kayak earrings for Christmas that look very nice and seem fitting. I've also been taken with Jake, the "Life is Good" character, and his representations on T-shirts and other attire. Yes, life is good. Campfire, kayak, dog... what more do you need?

The oysters practically begged us to take them back and eat them on this Saturday outing. MMM...

I want to get back to a kayak routine, and challenge myself to some distance runs. Seems there's never enough time...

Smooth & Sparkly Water

2008-01-27T17:37:00.000-08:00

I haven't figured out this Picasa posting yet, but here goes another try. Looks like you can upload the pictures like before on Blogger, or you can initiate the process from Picasa by clicking on a folder and "Blog this". Then it brings in your pictures automatically and opens up a blog edit window. Oops, I just lost a picture.... got it back by re-uploading it.

Nice break in January. After a rainy, lousy Saturday, the sun came out for Sunday and it was mild and pleasant. We went for a short trip around the bay and bayou.

Look how much the birds enjoy the dead trees by the water. So many vantage points. Impressive, impassive red-tailed hawk. There was also a group of pelicans catching a ride on a thermal; it reminded me of a group of vultures circling above a roadkill.

We took the shortcut through the marsh back to the bay. That shortcut is shallow at high tide, and just mud at low tide. Thought the tide was high enough, but we just barely made it; you can see the mud piles where we pushed and scooted through by pushing with the paddles in the mud...

One of my favorite things about being around the water is how the sun sparkles on it. Who needs diamonds and such? An endless, priceless supply of jewels is always there for everyone on a sunny day by the water. Water covers 2/3 of the earth and the sun lights up half of it all the time... I think that's enough to go around.

Kayaking Past Sundown

2008-01-19T20:23:00.000-08:00

I downloaded Picasa and this is a first attempt at linking directly to the blog. I've been putting photos on photobucket, but the advantage here is it may be easier to upload the pics, and you can click on them for a better view.

This photo is from last weekend when Mom and I went out in the evening. January in short sleeves, even after sundown. We commented at how comfortable we were out in the water even as it got dark. Boats hardly ever come into the bay, especially at night, so it feels safe and comfortable, though we wouldn't have thought of doing it two or three years ago when we started out. Wow, it has been three years since we bought the first kayak. To think we didn't own that world before! Now it's like imagining not being able to walk around your block. There are always more dimensions to the world that's right around you. When you're ready, you just reach out and grab a new perspective on life. Not to CHANGE all you know and love, just to add to your experience of it. Living near the water, kayaks bring that to you.

The weather is cold now... time to endure our few days of winter. Before we know it spring will be here. And in the meantime, we'll get some warm days. This is one of the reasons I love Mississippi.

Last of Summer

2007-10-28T19:46:00.000-07:00

I'll just bet this was my last paddle of the year in short sleeves. The water is cool and the air is warm today, but not for long... the fish know the cold weather is coming soon and they are finding their way up into the bayous for the winter. Crowding up into the bayous, I would say. Of course the mullet are always around, flying through the air like skipping stones. I caught one in mid-jump!

An egret fished along the edge of the grass. Mom wonders why they are white. What advantage could they possibly have, to be white in this environment...?

The sun seems really out of place as it drifts by day to the south. Prior to watching the sunsets regularly from Graveline, I would never have guessed that it travels so far between the summer and winter solstice.

And I've learned never to assume the sunset is over, just because the sun is out of view beyond the horizon.

+1YR, -12 MIN

2007-10-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

Cool weekend - a nice recreational paddle on Saturday in Graveline with two visiting friends from Texas, and the PPP race on Sunday. Couldn't ask for better weather! It was beautiful both days, with sun, slight breezes, and about 80 degrees.

The race was a lot of fun and I'm happy with the results. I knew my running would be better (7 1/2 min faster for the 5 mile run) but I'm surprised with the much quicker paddling time (4 min faster for the 4 mile paddle). Made up a mere 30 seconds on the bike. The course was exactly the same as last year so I must just be faster.
I'm in the water in my blue kayak:

I got to see a lot of kayaks, and appreciate how challenging kayaking can be for those who aren't that familiar with it. Again the GCRC did a great job putting on the event.

I'm enjoying all three these days -- the kayak, running, and biking. How cool is that to do them all together in a challenge like that! So what's next... I want to go back to Longleaf Trace again soon. Can't belive it's almost the end of the year. How time flies. Well, at least these days I'm feeling pretty sure that there can be an active life continuing after the old age of 40, which is coming up quick, before Christmas this year.

Training Run

2007-10-12T11:06:00.000-07:00

With 8 days left before the PPP event, I replicated the entire race today for a big training session.
PADDLE - 4 mi paddle (blue line) - 54 min. Last yr time 45 min.
PANT - 5.1 mile run (red line; one way) - 47 min. Last yr time 52 min.
PEDAL - 22.6 mile bike (yellow line; two ways) - 1 hr 21 min. Last yr time 1 hr 22 min.

My goal is to finish under 3 hours and the GPS said I finished in 3 hours exactly. I think I can make up time in 3 areas: transition time, the length of the run, and a better bike path. I was a little long on the run, and my bike path was on some less than ideal roads, so there's a little time. The transition time is key - if I have everything really ready to jump in and go, I can save several minutes. Anyway it went well; I feel pretty good, but like I need a nap. My lower back was tightening up at the end just like during last year's race. Nothing I can't get through. I'll push it more than last time since now I know for sure I can finish. My running time is definitely better. My paddle time was not as good. Possible I was in better paddling shape last year, but could be just that I had some wind today. I think the Wolf River course will be easier.

The weather was GREAT and it's a spectacular time of year to be outside end enjoying things. It's a rare day off and I intend to make the most of it.

Short Evening Paddles

2007-10-03T19:28:00.000-07:00

I haven't had time to do long paddles lately, but I try to get out on the water at least once a week, even if for a short trip before dark. Mom gets credit for this picture; I edited it for paint effects. Another paddle a couple of days ago was a real lifesaver. I must have had stress built up, because I sprinted across the bay without stopping and never ran out of energy. It felt awesome and definitely restored my sanity.

There are a lot of fish in the bay, and the water has cooled considerably. There's a feeling of fall in the air and the water.

2 1/2 weeks until this year's PPP event. I haven't trained at all on the bike but have been going to spin class regularly. I'm confident I can run the 5 miles. Even without specific training I think I'll do better than last year, because I'm 20 pounds lighter. But I'll try to get in a few training runs this weekend and next, to make a good show and meet a good challenge.

Horn Island

2007-09-03T14:42:00.000-07:00

Finally - the Horn Island trip!

I've been talking about paddling to Horn Island since my very first blog post and practically since I first got a kayak. The logistics, planning, weather, and free time just never seemed to come together, especially since Katrina. Things were looking pretty good this weekend. With today being Labor Day I wasn't sure how crowded the boat ramps and waterways would be, but there was plenty of room at the ramp and I didn't encounter much traffic.

The original plan was to paddle TO Horn Island from Belle Fountaine Beach. I plotted the route along the blue dotted line going to the dock out there on the north side of the island. However the weather was a little iffy so we decided to take the Blazer Bay plus kayak all the way out there, for me to paddle BACK. We put the kayak out as close as we could get in the boat. I went to the island first, took a few pictures, then headed straight north all the way to the beach in front of St Andrews golf course. The red line is my paddle trip - 6.75 miles straight from the middle of the island.

I could see Belle Fountaine beach the whole way. Dale says I wasn't too visible except the yellow PFD so that's definitely a recommended item. He fished a bit here and there, and visited me a couple of times along the way. He got this picture when a pod of dolphin were swimming nearby.

The water was very calm. "Smooth-to-a-light-chop" as they say on the weather radio station. It was great paddling conditions. I didn't see a lot of fish, but did run into three patches of these jellyfish, each about a foot and a half in diameter. Each time there were over a hundred of them around me in view. I knocked into a few of them with my paddle.

It's so quiet out there. It's a neat place; the water only 15 feet deep or so, far from shore but yet in protected waters on the north side of the islands. This is where the shrimp and so many other sea creatures live and breed. I saw a blue crab swimming up at the surface of the water. Just coming up for a look?

Pelican came by to check out the kayak.

At the end of the trip I approached the beach at the same funny round house I've seen on bike trips. And more pelicans... the pelicans just love Belle Fountaine beach.

It's so shallow in there I could only paddle in to about 100 yards from the beach. Turned around and met Dale in the boat and we loaded the kayak back on and went around to Graveline (blue line) to head on home.

The preparation was good, getting to know the route was good. I'm ready to do it again sometime soon. The sense of adventure will be more in heading the opposite direction, towards the island. I could go farther than just the 6.75 miles, but I don't know about all the way there and back. Maybe out there in the morning, back in the afternoon? There's always the weather to worry about. I don't want to paddle in rough seas. The kayak could handle it and the waves themselves don't scare me, but any more than 2 foot seas makes me seasick, even in a kayak. Anyway, today was two big accomplishments -- the Horn Island kayak trip, and getting the kayak to Horn Island, which holds big promise for exploring the lagoons and paddling around out around the island for fun.

Awesome Mississippi Kayaking!

Shell Landing - 10.8 miles

2007-08-18T14:24:00.000-07:00

Took me a while to post this, but this trip a couple of weeks ago was a milage record - 10.8 miles up the bayou to the Shell Landing golf course. Here's a picture in the bayou on the edge of the golf course.

It was a hot August day, but not too hot on the water. I like going up this way because it seems so far from civilization, though it's not actually that remote. The long trip was enjoyable though Mom and I were pretty tired by the time we got back. Paddling is a lot like walking; it's a long way between tired and totally spent, so you can actually go much farther than you might think.

We noticed the breeze is strong in some parts of this bayou, as I noticed once before in "Against the Wind" post, so maybe the sea breeze is actually funnelled through this part of the land.

Beating the Heat

2007-08-12T12:23:00.000-07:00

Man, is it summer or what! I thought it might be way too brutal out today to kayak, but I went out between 8-11am and caught a breeze now and then. Even as hot as it was, it was great. I haven't been out nearly enough this summer, from being busy with one thing or another. Happily I found that this 9 mile trip was not too difficult, so I seem to be staying in good paddling shape even without too much paddling.

I got a lot of bird photos today. I have a new camera but haven't got the nerve to take it out on the water. These pictures are all with the Canon S2IS, which fits in the front pocket of my "jerk-to-inflate" style PFD. I tried another neat trick today - I took the camelback water bag that I use for biking and put it behind the kayak seat (out of the sun). This made a great water supply.

It's been a while since I posted pictures, so I've got a lot of them today.

The fish were nuts out here today. Something huge swirled behind me as I headed towards the beach. A gar? Monster redfish? Who knows. They were all up in this area, where the houses used to start going west from the mouth of the bayou.

See all the old house remains; piers standing empty? Yes, a whole lot of the Mississippi Gulf Coast still looks like this, for people who think that Katrina is long overwith. It's still very much a fact of life.

Anyway, it was peaceful out here, and fun with the popeye mullet jumping everywhere.

Here's my trip log, basically to the gulf and back, but I did go out a ways and back down the beach. The gulf was quiet and calm, except for the fish!

This great blue heron was waiting for me when I returned to the dock.

Companion of Self

2007-07-30T18:32:00.000-07:00

I went bike riding yesterday in the late afternoon, down towards Front Beach and around the usual route through the park. Usually I ride in the morning or middle of the day. The heat was not bad during this almost-evening time, and I had the interesting experience of a prominent shadow next to me most of the way. It was about my size, not stretched by a sun too low in the sky, but at just the angle to have a self on a bike pedaling next to me on the pavement. It's a neat feeling to see yourself pedaling strong, turning those wheels and going so fast on the road just on your own power. A new perspective.

Haven't been paddling a lot lately - partly because my spare time is too rare, but also because there have been other activities like stunt-kite flying, bike riding, etc. that bring just as much fun.

Someday I'll catch back up on the kayaking!

Ocean Kayak

2007-07-15T13:42:00.000-07:00

These Ocean Kayaks are sit-on-tops that were fun in the surf and offshore in Ocean Isle Beach, NC. Had a little fun editing the photos.

Biking St Andrews again

2007-06-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I biked down to Belle Fountaine beach area. I remember last year I counted 7 houses being built. Now there are 10. About half look like high-dollar houses, the other half modest houses that are very elevated. There are lots of "for sale" signs on the lots. I think if the insurance cost is not reduced somehow, the lots will remain empty.

Here's a great site about the storm surge in the area: http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/Katrinas_surge_part14.asp

My average speed seemed to be about 17mph and I didn't get much above 18mph even when up to speed. I'll try to work on that. This trip was 25 miles. Would have been a great day to paddle to Horn, but, didn't have all the logistics planned ahead of time. Maybe if I plan all that and all else works out one day, I'll go ahead and do it.

Against the Wind

2007-05-28T18:48:00.001-07:00

Memorial Day is an ideal boating day, unless it's windy like it was today. I decided to kayak anyway and fought the wind the whole time. It was not unpleasant -- just challenging. I got out at Old Shell Landing and took some pictures. I had heard from a friend that back in the 1890s during the yellow fever epidemics that they had brought people here from New Orleans to be buried. I'm not sure about that, but there was definitely some yellow fever activity here. Mom sent me this link which discusses a camp in this location but not graves.
http://www.oceanspringsarchives.com/Hurricanes.htm

The property is beautiful and there are some spectacular live oaks. There is more history to the spot (such as the Oystering that gave it it's name) and I can image all kinds of things taking place here throughout the decades. Before that, I'm sure it was used by Native Americans.

From here you can see the bayou and look out towards the gulf.

Quite a few folks were out fishing today despite the wind, but only in the main bayou. I had the rest of the trip completely to myself. It's just astounding how close to city, and close to home you can be and still have so much open space in a natural state.

I can't make up my mind about the 3 hours paddling today (9.4 miles). Time well spent? Definitely. But does it improve your brainpower? Which of the mental bank accounts are you filling up when you spend such time? I'm confident that it is more of a natural activity than watching TV or working on the computer, but not sure what the far-reaching effects of such investments are. In any case... it's got to be good.

Biking Around OS

2007-05-27T18:41:00.000-07:00

It's a great season for biking. We explored a new area next to Simmons Bayou. It looks similar to Davis Bayou and all the others around here, and there are some nice properties adjacent to it. Interesting occurrence of the day was several deputies searching the bayou for someone. They even brought in the helicopters. Wonder if they found what they were looking for... or did they find any gators out there?

Pelican Sunday

2007-05-20T18:20:00.000-07:00

Posting this a week later. This particular Sunday the water was calm and I went out to the gulf and a little beyond. The Pelicans were sitting on the piers just outside the mouth of the bayou. I got a bunch of pictures of them, as they patiently waited for me to leave.

The GPS shows this as about 8 miles.

I keep seeing this baby heron (what kind?). Whenever I pass the spot, he croaks and flies up out of the bushes and into the tree.

The Great Blues are everywhere, as usual. They are the largest birds around, but the easiest to spook.

The Red-Winged Blackbirds make their happy declarations from their grass perches...

And here is the tiny beach I think of as Graveline Beach, just at the mouth of the bayou as it enters the gulf.

Skimmers at Sunset

2007-05-13T19:16:00.000-07:00

The thunderstorms that went through today visited my house in the form of a lightning strike so close to us that it 1) blew the cable amplifier on all the houses on the street, and 2) shocked me as I was standing at the kitchen sink washing dishes. (Note to self: don't wash dishes in a thunderstorm. Luckily it wasn't a bad one.) Once I was sure they were out of the area I went paddling out on the remarkably plain looking water:

But had a few nice adventures, including a flounder jumping out of the water right next to the boat (I didn't know flounders would jump like that, but I guess I startled him), meeting the Pelican View crew (nice folks!), talking with another former resident of the area who was trolling in the bayou, watching a pretty good sized walk around boat meet the challenge of getting out of the water and up the ramp with unusual style, and finally, on the way back to the dock, seeing a surprise sunset and the first skimmers I've seen this season.

Water Everywhere

2007-05-07T19:37:00.000-07:00

Here's an evening paddle picture:

We didn't see any gators, even though we went up the bayou with the most sightings. Heard a big splash around the last corner. I guess THEY saw US.

That Old Town Millenium is really a good boat. The only thing I don't like about it is that there are no leg braces. When I get a chance I'll try another sea kayak with leg suppport and see if that makes a difference. I'm sticking with the rudder, though. Horn Island... Maybe this weekend!

This past weekend made a visit to Destin, FL - no kayaking, but had to visit the beach and it's beautiful white sand, emerald water.

Pedal, Paddle, Sail

2007-04-29T20:01:00.000-07:00

Put the sail on the Hobie today. I'm new to sailing but I've done a lot of stunt kite flying and this seems similar to me. You just find the wind and let it work its magic.

The wind was gentle today and just right for giving this a first try. The sail combines really well with the pedals. You can pedal to keep moving and help catch the wind, work the rudder with your left hand and the sail rope with your right hand. It felt quite steady - I don't know how much it would take to capsize the boat, but didn't have any close calls.

The most challenging part was getting underway, away from the dock - using the paddle first, pedal next, then the sail. Talk about multitasking...

Sunday was paddling but yesterday we went out in the boat, halfway to Round Island then up the Pascagoula river almost to I-10. A pod of dolphins was playing, jumping, and catching fish out here in 3 feet of water. The shipyard is visible in the background.

Hobie at Graveline

2007-04-21T20:46:00.000-07:00

The Hobie is great to take out for an evening ... pedal. It paddles well, too!

Florida - Chipola River and Merritt's Mill Pond

2007-04-06T19:28:00.000-07:00

We went to Florida for Spring Break again this year. Leaving some factors known and some unknown, we stayed at the same location at Arrowhead Campground in Marianna, which all in all is a nice place to stay. It's kid-friendly, and made for a great location for Tyler his friend that came on the trip with us to strike out on their own and explore.

On the way there we bought a new kayak at Fairhope Boat Company, on the east side of Mobile Bay. It seems that all kayak dealers have the same price for boats, so the biggest factors in where to buy them are 1) selection, and 2) whether you can take the boat for a water trial. This store had both features and we found what we were looking for - a Hobie Mirage Revolution, Fishing model.

The boat is awesome. We got the sail to go with it, but haven't tried the sail yet. Basically, the Mirage drive lets you pedal the boat instead of paddle it. It is a very efficient and enjoyable way to travel by kayak. It provides good leg exercise and is very comfortable. The boat is really easy to drive, and the kids were able to do it with no problems. I'm sure it's also awesome for fishing but it hasn't had that opportunity yet. It's certainly rigged out for it.

My fantastic kayak trip of that week was an 8-mile trip down the Chipola River, from just north of Marianna to just south of I-10. I was in Beriniki (Mom's kayak), as we had decided to take that one instead of mine, giving us more seating options. That boat, a Wilderness Systems Pamlico 145T, was really a great vehicle for that water. My boat would have been hard to maneuver in some spots, but hers was great. The current was mild but variable, and the depth of the water was 1 - 10 feet, mostly around 6 feet I would guess.

Adding a GPS Track that shows my trip down the river. The worm-looking thing in the upper right view is Merritt's Mill Pond. The spring is at the northeast end and Arrowhead Campground is at the southwest end (north side). You can also see where the water from the pond enters the Chipola.

The water was muddy in most places, but where the creek ran in from Merritt's Mill Pond it was crystal clear. Just before that point I had spotted one other area where the water ran clear... aha! I just knew it was a spring. Sure enough, I headed up and around a corner and found it's source, a beautiful blue spring in a deserted spot in the middle of the woods. I had what I think of as a "Manatee Moment". Last year on the Wakulla I was so delighted to see the manatees and sit there on the river enjoying the moment -- something you hope might happen and when it does it's a wonderful combination of surprise, fulfillment, and amazement -- you just can't help smiling even though no one's around. Sitting there on top of the spring was just like that. I though there might be a spring or two coming into the river, but following the clues, finding it, and then experiencing looking down into the limestone and blue, blue water, fish darting around, sun shining through the trees, and all the surroundings completely natural... it was awesome. After I left and headed back down the river I passed the only other river passengers I saw that day, a man and his son in a canoe, and I told him where the spring was so they could check it out as well.

The camping trip was all the basic fun of water sports, cabin, tent for the boys, campfire, MREs, and a few other adventures like visiting the Florida Caverns State Park - a nice cavern tour and really nice part as well. Maybe one more time next year...

Many thanks to Peggy, for tips on a better way to post/link the photos, and also for our inspiration to camp and kayak in Northern Florida!

Too busy paddling to blog

2007-03-28T18:30:00.000-07:00

I've had a lot of good paddles lately. Hate to get behind in chronicling, but when faced with a choice between sitting at the computer and going outside, I've got to go for the non-computer choice. Having a job where a good bit of the day is face-to-face with the computer will do that to you. Actually, the computer is not so bad, it's just that SPRING is so awesome! The trees and flowers are looking great this year. No more of this struggling, hurrincane-recovery look. Things are back in full swing.

We kayaked out around Deer Island and about a mile south where the old OS-Biloxi bridge is being piled up to create a fishing reef. 2-3 foot seas on the way out made it a fun trip; upwind on the way out and downwind going back. The picture above is at that spot, taken at the southern-most point shown in the green GPS track on the map.

Other great paddles lately in Graveline, Davis Bayou and Magnolia Bayou, Graveline... oystering, fishing, bird-watching, gator-watching.

Hoping to get to Florida during spring break vacation week next week - to the Wacissa!

Rain today

2007-01-27T09:18:00.000-08:00

The weekend is finally here, but doesn't look like I'll be kayaking today. This is steadily moving in our direction...

Winter Birds

2007-01-21T18:05:00.000-08:00

Here are some Graveline winter birds. I took all these pictures on Saturday on a kayak trip across the bay, down the bayou to the gulf (a trip I've done many times). It was breezy but not cold, and not only did we see all these birds but also collected some fresh oysters from the edge of the bayou which we steamed... they were delicious. Hope I live to tell about it. Anyway, If I could get the text to line up with the pictures I would, but here's a list of what we saw, most of which I was able to capture on camera. I've moved the list around to match the order of the pictures. Blogger is not too easy to manipulate. In fact, I'm sure there's an easier way to post pictures, but I haven't yet found it. Maybe I should be on myspace?

Great Blue Heron (above)
Great Egret/American Egrets
Bufflehead
Brown Pelican
Willets
Brown Pelican
Louisiana Heron
Red-Breasted Mergansers (female)
Great Blue Heron
Immature Little Blue Heron
Grebe
American Egret
Great Blue Heron
Snowy Egret
Cormorant
Brown Pelicans and Cormorants
Red-Breasted Mergansers (male)
American Egret

We also saw a white pelican , lots of terns, and an osprey diving for fish.

Spring in January

2007-01-14T17:23:00.000-08:00

It's been way too long but here I am back on the water. It's over 70 degrees this weekend and feels like spring is here very early. T-shirts were comfortable for this outing. Mom and I went through the south cut, past the boat ramp, and towards the gulf. It's been so long I wasn't up for going all the way to the mouth of the bayou, so we turned up to find the winding trail we had been on once before. Not at all sure we were on the right path until we saw it open up into the bay... but sure enough, it got us there. A new house we'll call the lookout house is being built over by the ramp (visible in this photo just above the paddle), and can be seen from most places in the grass to give you a good reference point.

The GPS track says 4.5 miles and shows the meandering paths. Egrets, heons, and PELICANS were plentiful. Lots of jumping mullet!

PPP Event

2006-10-23T15:25:00.000-07:00

Results are in! I finished the race (Paddle, Pant, Pedal Triathalon) and had a blast. 45 min paddle, 52 min run, and 1 hr 22 min bike ride, for a total time of 3:00:05. That makes an easy goal for next year to finish in under 3 hours. The group was fun, the race was well organized, and the course was excellent. I thought it was a nice balance of the three events; a little heavy on the running for me, but hey, it was put on by a running club. I could improve the run time if I train more in that. I am also sure I could do the other two events faster if I did it again anytime, but during the race I didn't want to push too hard because first priority was to finish and I just didn't know how much it would take to get to the end. All in all not as strenuous as I would have thought but not easy by a long shot. I passed a few, got passed by a few. It was neat to see people on the course; the paddle route turned around twice so you see other people, then as you run you see people on the turnaround and then see the ones ahead of you again as they bike past. This was my first bike race of any kind, but I'm sure was a lot different than a regular bike race since we all were starting at a different time. Today is the day after, and I'm feeling pretty good. Bring it on next year...

Training

2006-09-29T18:40:00.000-07:00

I've been in training, somewhat. A spin class here, a jog there. Today I took a serious stab at it, and did a 5 mile run then a 23 mile bike ride, just like the race will be. It's not hard to ride the bike after running. I kept up my usual pace but did feel slow at the end. So, where I am right now: 5 miles in 50 minutes (run). 23 miles in 1 hr 45 min (bike) with several breaks. I also took a 10 minute break in between. So if I do that each weekend before the event... and one of these weekends, throw in a paddle before the run, I think I'll be ready. I estimate:
4 mi paddle in 1 hour 10 min (I'm really not sure about the time there)
5 mile run in 50 min
23 mile bike in 1 hr 20 min
So that's a solid 3 and a half hours of exercise. Better prepare with some energy bars or some energy food in addition to plenty of water. The cool thing about this race is I already have everything I need to do it - the bike, the boat, all the accessories. This is my first bike race. I have done a few running races with GCRC, and I did the one kayak race at the OS Kayak fest in Jun '05 (which was a blast), but have not entered anything resembling a bike race. I'm glad the first one will be with people who are primarily runners, rather than the elite bike race crowd. I'm sure I don't know all the ins and outs yet.

Bi-yak

2006-09-21T18:34:00.000-07:00

I realize all these GPS tracks look the same to you, but they tell such stories. This day, the red track was a bike ride with Tyler in the morning. The purple track is biking out to where my kayak sat waiting for me. The blue is a short paddle out in the bay and back... then bike back, and run just under a mile for good measure. What fun! And now I found out about an event -- paddle, pant, pedal -- held in just 4 weeks near here. http://www.gulfcoastrunningclub.org/events/2006-10-22_form.pdf

I need to work up to the 5 mile run, but the 4 mile paddle and 23 mile bike trip will be easy. I ran 4 miles the other day so I think I can do it, but still could use a bit of conditioning. So, that's my mission for the next few weeks. PPP!

Mileage Record

2006-09-03T18:16:00.000-07:00

I set out for St Andrews and made a few side trips, and accumulated a big 38 miles in a 3 hour bike ride today. I'm working up to over 50. Then I'll know I'm ready for a race of some kind, maybe a metric century. I have heard that the pace of these races is faster than most people expect when they try it for the first time. I usually maintain 16-18 mph, and sometimes 20 for few minutes. I will try to keep up the faster pace when I go for distances and I think that will help get me up to speed.

Belle Fontaine beach drive is looking more natural, and the debris is gone for the most part; either cleaned up or becoming overgrown by grass, weeds, and trees. I counted 102 house lots along this road west of the light house (water tower) that is now laying in the golf course. Of these 102, all were destroyed. 7 are in some state of rebuilding, but not yet to the point of anyone living in them. None are rebuilt completely yet. I counted 12 travel/FEMA trailers; those that live there have the place to themselves! It is quiet, the water was calm today, the pelicans plentiful as they usually seem to be out there. The pelicans seem to be enjoying all the pilings that are sitting in the water without docks, providing them plenty of places to rest. They were fishing, socializing, and flying around, generally looking as if they owned the place. I noticed a difference in size in some of them today. Saw a few of average size, then one much smaller - a young one - then a HUGE one flying around in the same area. I took a picture, not because it's all that beautiful, but because it is typical Mississippi coast. Flat, shallow water. Hazy horizon and sky, blending into the water. Underwhelming as far as the big ticket items - sand, waves, water - that you see in other coastal areas - but very rich with birds, crabs, fish, plants, and other naturally co-existing forms of life.
I went down a road to the old Pine Island golf course (leg sticking northwest on the west side of the GPS track), which closed a few years back. Someone made an attempt to develop this land and live out here... will it be developed again? Right now it's a little spooky, very deserted, and I won't be going out there again by myself.

The traffic was cooperative today and I had no mishaps or close calls. The bike still suits me well and recently had it's initial shop visit to tighten all the cables after the initial wear... now it's smoother than ever - I recommend the Giant FCR-1! The gears work well for me on all inclines, and is also easy to pedal standing up. I wish I had more time. I would ride every day and paddle every evening, or vice versa.

Happy Labor Day :-)

Biking OS

2006-08-26T04:42:00.000-07:00

Ocean Springs has a lot of area yet to discover also. I went to the park to rent a pavillion for a cookout, then let the bike take me where it wanted to and headed south towards Gulf Park Estates. I found that Point Aux Chenes, a road that takes you towards St Andrews, goes way farther west than I knew. This is the part of the track on the bottom left, extending west. I heard this mentioned in a documentary about Walter Anderson and I believe this is the part he talked about. It goes to the water on the west side, and there are some beautiful properties down there. Of course, lots of trucks and repair activities present as this is waterfront land, but many houses seem to be fixed up. I got the feeling that may be some of the longest-owned property in OS outside the downtown area. This land is between OS and St Andrews and has some of the feel of both. (27.6 mi.)

2 great paddles in one day

2006-08-26T04:23:00.000-07:00

Last weekend went out with Mom in the morning and Dale in the evening. The morning trip, track shown above, was an adventure through the bayou somewhere we didn't know was possible to go through. It makes the bay seem so much bigger, to keep finding these new places to go and new ways to get around. This was Mom's first trip all the way to the gulf. Evening was a nice sunset - you never can tell when they're going to be good - sometimes the clouds look like they're going to block the whole thing but then the sun burns on through and surprises you. Dale made a good discovery while we were up near the bank watching the fiddler crabs run around. If you wave a paddle in the air, they can see that and they all start moving for the grass. It's funny; kind of like conducting an orchestra. We also saw a snake swimming, then slithering up through the mud into the grass.

Graveline Sunset

2006-08-13T19:38:00.000-07:00

Sun, sun, going away
See you again another day.

Fort Bayou, North

2006-08-13T12:25:00.000-07:00

Fort Bayou north of the interstate is mostly a freshwater world. The plants and the fish seem quite different than the tidal part of the bayou down towards the bay. I think the dividing line is around the interstate, though a test of salinity would help tell for sure. I wonder if the salinity varies a lot. I tasted the water and it wasn't salty at all.

Dale and I went up to a sandbar that we had been to before in the boat. I remember back then walking up a short path to a cleared field. This time, surprise! The whole area has been turned into a golf course. If anyone had seen me on the path they would wonder why a golfer had on a PFD and water shoes.

There is a paddler in this picture (me), with the Mississippi pines, bayou, and late afternoon sun.

Wailua Falls, Waimea Canyon in Kauai

2006-08-04T12:34:00.000-07:00

Lucky me, got to go to the island of Kauai in Hawaii again last week. In a place where you could kayak forever, I made just one trip on the east side of the island to Wailua Falls. It was a guided group and I was in a triple sit-on-top -- not exactly what I'm used to! But worked out much better than I'd have thought and we had a great time, despite the rain that came continuously after the first leg of the trip up the river. Hiking through the woods through mud and rain, made it to the falls and swam in the pool and up under the water. Awesome!

I'm sure I would kayak the ocean waters around the island if I had more opportunity. Would have to be ready for surf, sharks, colder water, and higher seas -- but it's obviously done by others so I'd go for it. The island is beautiful and mostly in a natural state, unspoiled by over-development. It's small but it's still more than any one person could see in a lifetime, if you consider all the hiking, biking, swimming, kayaking available. It seems to me again that people there live a very balanced life, in harmony with the people and the environment around them; like the land, not over-extended beyond what should be, as so many people here on the mainland are.

Also did a Bike Trip: "Bicycle Downhill, Canyon to Coast" down the Waimea Canyon road to Kekhaha. Only had to pedal a few times and other than that stayed on the brakes all the way down from 3,500 feet to sea level. The bikes were outfitted with special drum brakes and were easy to ride. Beautiful scenery and fresh scent of Eucalyptus trees and the Pacific Ocean. Must return someday for more!

Biking St Andrews

2006-07-10T20:37:00.000-07:00

Most of the roads here are not bike-friendly, but if you go out early on Sunday morning on some of the less-travelled roads then it's fairly pleasant. I found some really nice smooth paved roads in St Andrews, and also really enjoyed the trip out Belle Fontaine Beach. I wouldn't have enjoyed it if I hadn't seen it already. Only a handful of houses are left out of probably well over a hundred. All I can say is it looks a heck of a lot better than it did in September of last year. It's really a pleasant area. Some of the best of coastal Mississippi, but seems tucked away; a little sliver between the gulf and the bayou. I sure hope no one puts a condo out there.

I went jogging tonight and thought, you know, I should carry my GPS with me, ha ha, showing 6 trips around the .8 mile block... OK, I won't get carried away. Though my biking and other exercise must be doing me good. Resting heart rate was 46 at a visit to the doctor today. The technician took it twice to be sure, then asked me, "do you exercise a lot?" :-) I'm feeling a lot better than in my most recent couch-potato days a year an a half ago. Since then I've been slowly building up to better aerobic shape and stronger muscles, and I haven't been sick a single time in well over a year. Not that I don't still have goals to attain, but I'm really happy with the effects of exercise. I highly recommend it... especially if you make it fun!

New Tracks in Graveline

2006-07-08T14:38:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how many places there are yet to see through these bayou trails. Today was the first proof-of-concept of taking the kayak on the boat. We put me out on the beach at the gulf entrance on the right side of this track, and I went up some of the north bayou legs, meeting Dale back where we saw a nutria the other night. The tide was high but the fish weren't biting. I got back in the boat easily, too. I'm psyched about this!! Now now we have the option of anywhere we go in the boat, we just load up the the kayak also and I can take a side trip just about anywhere.

This picture of a skimmer was taken from the boat. Funny how the eyes are spaced so high up on the head. I've been trying to get a good shot of them skimming the water. They must pick up some tasty things in that beak as they cruise along. They're going plenty fast when they're skimming, too.

Deer Island; Summer Day

2006-07-03T20:03:00.000-07:00

Saturday Mom and I did a trek to Deer Island in both of our kayaks. First trip there without Paul as a guide, and Beriniki's first trip in the open sea. All went well! Boat traffic was light and the bay was calm. Going across we saw plenty of jellyfish. Cute little ones without visible tentacles; they looked like button mushrooms. They clustered together near the channel, where there were dozens within view at one time, but then none closer to the island.

The birds still like this area. Like Round Island, which we visited last week by boat, Deer Island has hundreds of dead pine trees. I didn't see a single one alive on Round, but Deer has a few. In the picture you can see them showing green through all the dead brown.

Armies of fiddler crabs covered all of the exposed mud. Tyler tells me only the males have the big claw... but they all seem to have a big claw. Are they bringing food home to the females?

Smooth Water

2006-06-29T19:24:00.000-07:00

Funny how sometimes the breeze blows and yet the water is completely flat. This was a nice summer night and the bay was quiet and peaceful. Went over to the otter home (where I have yet to see an otter since the first time) and found a rather bold gator. When he had his head out of the water he wasn't particularly paying attention to me; something caught his eye just inside the marsh grass.

The water is full of comb jellies. They don't sting. If you let your hands run through the water as you drift along, sooner or later you bump into one. We've discovered recently that they light up at night, too.

The sun competed with the clouds, but burned defiantly through in a sunset blaze.

Solstice Sunset

2006-06-21T19:28:00.000-07:00

Mom and I went out this evening to enjoy Graveline on the longest day of the year. We went to the spot where I saw dolphins once... the part of the bayou where you start to breathe in the gulf air, where the mouth of the bayou to the gulf is just around the corner and a little bit farther down. GPS track log says this trip is 4.75 miles. There were a lot of fish but apparently not biting today. The water is full of comb jellies, which apparently have some phosphorescense at night though I didn't see it today. It was almost dark when we got back. It's no problem to kayak in the dark, really, and there aren't any boats to worry about, but I know if I'm in the dark a boat can easily run me down before they saw me. Anyway, the water is nice, the tide is low. There are some oysters along the bayou but not as many as I saw last year. A few fish jumping, lots of red-winged blackbirds singing in the swamp grass, the air temperature perfect... very enjoyable trip.

Longleaf Trace - Epley to Lott Circle

2006-06-20T19:12:00.000-07:00

Biking entry -- Did the trace again, and this time started at Epley Station which is as far as we went last time. This portion of the trail goes through more rural countryside, including farms with cows and horses. On the GPS track, the black is last trip, the yellow track is this trip. Although the weather was HOT and humid, quite a bit of the track was shaded, and we got a short thunderstorm and rode through it on the way back. One final treat was the snowcone stand at Sumerall.

Even on a Saturday, hardly anyone out there. You can't beat this for entertainment! Tyler loved it and rode strong the whole way. I keep wondering, who do I pay... Just can't believe you can have this much family fun for free.

Graveline

2006-06-20T18:04:00.000-07:00

If I've never said it before, Graveline is pronounced 'Grav-e-leen' (make that an upside-down 'e') and is my favorite kayak spot. Graveline Bayou and Graveline Bay are a most unique and special part of the Mississippi coastline estuary. I got back in the kayak this past week and re-experienced 1) warm water 2) Mississippi birds 3) Mississippi mud 4) low tide 5) high tide 6) the feeling that alligators were close, but not showing themselves 7) the joy of paddling and cruising in this most awesome mode of transport. The kayak has advantages over the bike -- but what a good pair they make! One for the top half, one for the bottom half. I want to start a new bi-athalon sport event of biking and kayaking. Can't decide which should go first though. In tri-athalon they swim first, but I think the water would be more refreshing in the second half.

I don't have much in the way of pictures. Just a heron taking off from a pier. I was just happy to get back out in the water.

Ocean Springs Memorial Day

2006-05-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

32 miles on Sunday and an easy recovery. I stopped by the MS Vietnam Veteran's Memorial before the day's ceremony, then went for a nice ride. There are still not many people out having fun, even on a Memorial Day with nice weather. I saw more people working on rebuilding their houses than were out on the beaches and out in boats. Let's hope they all took a break for an afternoon of relaxation for the holiday!

Longleaf Trace

2006-05-27T15:22:00.000-07:00

Another bike trip... though I think this holiday weekend I might get the kayak back in the water. I'll have to do something to exercise the top half instead of the bottom! Dale, Tyler, and I went 22.6 miles on the bike trail in Hattiesburg this morning. I love this "rails to trails" concept, and this appears to be one of the top trails. I will definitely go back and intend to do the whole 42-mile trip (84 round trip) someday.

Tyler was such a trooper!

I've figured out this concept about working up to greater endurance. You go on a long trip, figure out what ails you the most, and purchase some new gadget or equipment to address the problem. At this point I've got the bike, the clipless pedals and shoes, helmet, water pack, the handlebar mount for the Garmin etrex. Waiting on the bike shorts I ordered the other day, and may need another pair of gloves as it seems Tyler is quite attached to mine. My wrists hurt but overall I'm in pretty good shape. Except for getting progressively more high-performance equipment, though, there really is a limited amount of gear that you need to do serious biking, and the same is true for kayaking. Once you're equipped, you just go out and enjoy it.

The Longleaf Trace bike trail is really nice, and today was ideal weather. The right side of the GPS track is the USM campus where the trail begins. The left side is as far as we went today, although the trail continues for another 30 miles. USM students are dispersed right now for summer, so there really weren't many people there - just enough to talk pleasantly to a few, including a UPS driver of 30 years who rides the trail several times a week. He had some good advice such as "you've got to learn the art of figuring out when you're half-tired so you can make it back to where you started" - a concept I'm quite familiar with from kayaking! The trail is mostly woods on both sides all the way, and the hills are extremely gentle grade from its days as a railroad. There are places where you feel you're completely out in the woods. Plenty of birds, a few woodland creatures, and nice scenery. Along one stretch there are about 20 trees with signs identifying what type of trees they are. It's evident that there was plenty of Katrina damage even in this area; there are lots of sections of trees that are pretty torn up. I think they had more tornadoes than we had on the coast. We went to a stop called Epley and talked about going to Summerall next time. I think there is a spot to eat lunch in Sumerall, which would make a nice day trip, though you'd have to remind yourself to keep it light.

Happy Memorial Day, everyone! May you have plenty of outdoor adventures, lots of BBQ, and family fun, and remember our fallen heroes... our ancestors, family members, loved ones, neighbors, and friends who fought and died for this country.

Biking

2006-05-21T12:03:00.000-07:00

Well, obviously I'm not getting out in the kayak as much as I want to. The logistics continue to be an issue. Soon, our new boat will arrive and open up all kinds of possiblities, as we can transport the kayak to a choice spot; Dale and Tyler can fish while I go off paddling.

For now, the bike is my new love, so my tracks are land-based. I actually find many similarities between it and the kayak. I was thinking yesterday, a kayak is to a motorboat what a bike is to a motorcycle. Both, in my opinion, are more enjoyable without the motor! It's so much more of a rich experience, to me, when you experience the mode of transportation, AND you are challenging yourself physically.

Yesterday: 27.5 miles, approx 2 hrs, top speed 24mph.

Visited the OS bridge where the yacht club used to be. Hmm, can you tell which photo is pre-Katrina and which is yesterday?

Florida -- Wakulla River

2006-04-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

The Wakulla is * clearly * a spring-fed river. Clear, blue, and beautiful! Peggy said it’s one of her favorite places to paddle, so I figured it would be a winner. We went first to the state park at the spring. There is a swimming area and a platform that looks down into the spring. Talk about blue!

They say it goes 300 feet down into an elaborate aquatic cave. Private boats aren’t allowed in this part of the river “a good thing”, one guide book says, “because the place is overrun with alligators.”

Dale and Tyler took put me in the river a few miles down under the HW 365 bridge, then they headed 4 miles farther down to HW 98 to meet me an hour and a half later.

The current is light and I found the water to be amazingly clear. I talked to one man in a canoe and he said its browner/greener than he’s ever seen it – on past trips it was clear as drinking water. Well nonetheless, I was impressed. It sure wasn’t Mississippi water. I could see the bottom at 10 feet; beyond that it was a little hard to tell if it was vegetation, rocks, or manatees on the bottom.

I spent the first half mile wondering if I would be able to tell a manatee if there was one below me. A mile later I spotted two on the right side of the river, and they were unmistakable in shape and size. I think I saw them on a trip to Florida when I was 11. Don’t remember seeing them when I lived in Ft Walton Beach in ‘89-‘91. I wouldn’t have guessed they would be so unconcerned about my presence. I stayed close to 10 minutes and drifted pretty close to them. Here they are munching side by side. Is that cool or what?

I remembered to take a video with the digital camera, and got a nice 25 second shot of them sticking their noses up to breathe, moving around a bit, and as a rare additional treat, emitting a stream of bubbles from the opposite end. Boy was Tyler impressed when I showed him a video of a manatee fart! :- )

There are quite a few private docks on the river. I bet that land costs a bundle.

The turtles were bold; they must get tired of plopping in the water every time someone goes by. I saw a few birds but not as many as I thought I would. Either Peggy’s really good at spotting them, or they were just elsewhere that day. There were a lot of fish, and I’d say other than the manatees, the gar were the most impressive creatures. The gar were huge, 3 or 4 or even 5 feet long, cruising around the river in all different directions like cops on patrol. I could have got a picture of one if I tried hard enough, but there was so much else to look at. I found myself wondering if I would see more above the water if I wasn’t so intent on looking IN the water.

We headed straight home from there and it took 5 ½ hours. Good chance we’ll go back some day. I’m interested in seeing the lower part of the river when it gets into the tidal area. Overall it was a really great place to paddle. North Florida has a lot to offer and provided for a great family trip.

Florida -- Merritt’s Mill Pond

2006-04-15T11:05:00.000-07:00

Spring break trip mission: camping, fishing, and kayaking. Inspired by Peggy of paddletales we headed to Florida around Tallahassee for a few days, April 11-13th. We took the dog, Jazz, which limited our options somewhat but was fun. She’s a good boat dog and did fine in the john-boat. For the road trip, the kayak rode on top of the john-boat which we pulled on a trailer, and the dog rode in the Truck backseat with Tyler. We had the tent and all that ready and loaded in the truck, but we were trying to do a lot already so we kept it simple and rented one of the cabins at Merritt’s Mill Pond Arrowhead Campground. That turned out to be a winner because the highlight of the trip for Tyler was renting the paddleboats, particularly the barracuda which is like a jet ski and has a prop instead of a paddle wheel.

I did a kayak venture about halfway up the pond on Tuesday afternoon. Got to the power lines and just a bit beyond. There’s a strange humming in the woods just north of the power lines. Don’t know what that could be. Other than that it’s a quiet, peaceful place. A lot of houses and docks, but still mostly natural surroundings.

Very blue, clear water! There’s a lot of grass and algae and that covers half the bottom. It’s strange, makes you feel like you’re on a magic carpet floating 12 feet high, looking down on bushes, grass, and trees. Turtles and fish are easy to spot swimming around. Some of the plants make it hard to paddle through. Once my paddle snagged and I almost had to drop the paddle or flip the boat, but at the last second it let go. I didn’t have a lot of time before sunset so I headed back.

Wednesday we took the boat up to the top of the lake. The recreation area was closed, but we found one of the large springs (THE large spring?) on the west side under a rocky cliff. I was fascinated with the water coming up out of the spring and how it made kaleidoscope patterns with the rocks. Dang it -- my camera batteries died just before we got to it. New mission! I knew I had to make it back in the kayak later in the day. So a little while later I set off from the campground again, went all the way to the top of the pond, and visited the spring again. Got some good pictures this time.

It was a long trip back since I haven’t done any long trips lately, but felt great. The general conditioning I’ve done lately, jogging, spinning, biking, walking, seems to make a difference in stamina even though I haven’t been paddling much. Well, now’s the season, so I intend to paddle a lot if I can figure out the transportation challenges.

The pond was a beautiful place to camp and kayak.

March and spring is here

2006-03-18T19:06:00.000-08:00

New discoveries in the bayou. Mom and I went all the way up to the causeway through the third bayou from the bay. Saw 4 gators along the way and named 2: Ferdinand and Sparky. Sparky lay on the bank with us not 12 feet from him (what were we thinking?) but eventually slid into the water. The red-winged blackbirds are singing, the egrets and herons are flying and fishing, and the fish are jumping. Most of the bayou still looks brown but the green grass is pushing up through the brown grass from last year. The weather is nice and it feels like another kayak season!

December paddle

2006-01-01T11:25:00.000-08:00

This paddle was a couple of weeks ago on Dec 18th. Mom and I went up north of the bay, up behind some of the houses on the north bayou. She is in Beriniki, the Pamlico 145T. I'm in the Millenium 160. She took a photo of me on this trip and I've added it to my profile. We saw this heron along the way. I have a new camera with much more zoom power, but not sure when I'll get the nerve to take it out on the water.

I edited these photos with Microsoft Digital Image 2006. Downloaded a trial copy, but I think I will end up buying it as I do like it quite a bit. The reviews on photo imaging software are deceiving, because I think to the average user, ease of use far outweighs the ultra-technical capabilities available.