Aw lawdie, this is gonna,,,

Teach me!!!!!

Drove across Gods Country today (224 miles RT) to go kayaking with someone I had never met on a Lake I had never been on. LOL

Thought I was running late the whole way until I crossed a timezone. I used to drive this route for one of my jobs and completely forgot about that zone change.

Anywhoos, get to the agreed upon Ramp, find parking and wait about 5 minutes. New friend D arrives and we portage our toys to the water. I chose Serena out of my fleet since she is the more stable of my two Skin boats.

Headed out. Not too bad, about llike a windy day on Cannon Creek or a mild sunday morning on Laurel Lake.

Then we hit the main channel leading to the lake. If you could a pried ’em out, I’m certain my sphincter-o-meter was making diamonds. I passed word over to D that I may be in over my head, but keep going; I need to challenge myself. We kept pushing.

Main Lake,,EEEEKKKKK!!!!! This wasn’t lively water, this was flat Wild water!!! At one point, I crested a wave, hit the troughs, D was in the one behind the one I was in, and ALL I could see was his head!!!!. We’re talking 2′ -2 1/2′ seas here.

Kept pushing. I’m getting my sea-butt organized and feeling how the boat is handling things (she is by FAR, better at being a kayak than I am at being a kayaker!) Roughly 3 maybe 3 1/2 miles of this, lots of paddling, bracing strokes, sweeps to hold my heading when we get hit by two different sets of swells at the same time,,,,

And then I experienced something completely unfamiliar to me: motion sickness! We were not only in sight of the Marina at that point, but within the ‘no wake zone’ (HA!!! that’s like saying my cat barks! ) I passed along ‘I aint doing too good here’ and passed D to get to calm water ASAP! I certainly did not want to start puking in rougher water with the potential of capsizing while retching. Not a good way to start a friendship; being pulled out of the drink smelling like lake water and vomit. Lol.

My arms are putty at this stage. 5 miles of padding with over 4 of them in high seas (for an inland lake, yes, yes they were.) and D catches up to me and we head in to the ramp area.

30 minutes on shore, some Gatorade, and the ill feels go away.

Stopped at store in Marina, picked up some Dramamine (note to self: keep a tube in PDF!!!) and head back the way we came. Felt shorter, but wasn’t, and did take longer ‘cuz uz ol’dudes had spaghetti arms’at that point. The waves weren’t any smaller, but by now, we both had our sea-butts dialed in and the return trip felt anti-climatic.

Damned good day, and many thanks to D for ‘keepin’ on’ when I about crapped myself in those waves.

We both challenged ourselves today, him with the distance and wilder waves than he is used to, me with learning that I am better at this then I thought with those crazy waves smackin’ Serena and I around like a cork.

(Addendum: I left my deck camera at home today and was so busy with the wild water, there was no way I was gonna pull my phone out. Maybe next time 🤔 I’ll be able to post footage of things. )