The Author LAUGHS revisit

Yup, boat loaded back up in down pour, my nekid butt jumping into the truck to get into dry clothes; no one, and I mean NO ONE, at the put in by the time I made it back there, and I wasn’t about to jump in Buffalo with the dripping wet clothes I was wearing.  every stitch I had on, including gear was tossed into the bed and I did the wiggle-shuffle into dry stuff in the drivers seat.   it was coming down hard enough that i needed 4wheel to back up the ramp; lots and lots of water flowing down that ramp and the tires would just spin. (don’ wanna take Buffalo for a swim, oh, HELLS to the NO.)

Now, back home, and guess wha?   its dry as a bone here. (except for that 8000% humidity thing that doesn’t let clothes line dry,,,,)

BUT

Like I was saying, paddling in a squall is ‘Interesting”.     I have been mocked for having that deck compass on my kayaks, and let me tell you, when the wind and rain are kicking like they were as I was crossing back over that lake, that compass is GOLDEN.   I have never seen waves that tall on this particular lake before, nor that close together.  and with the rain, I couldn’t see the opposite shore clear enough to keep a landmark.  I was able to get a heading before that rain really started kicking into my face and that was what got me across that lake, not a landmark. (at least until I was about 100’ offshore to that point.).  but that WIND, sheesh!!!!    It was doing things to Blue Jean that I am not used to in her.  In most winds, she is what they call neutral helmed; She doesn’t weather cock.   But this wind was grabbing her and doing just that.   I was definitely putting more paddle effort on my starboard edge and a lean into that wind to keep her heading.  And those waves were whitecapping: Never seen that on that lake either.    (and, If I could hear, I would swear that Blue Jean was giggling about the weather.  She really digs on “not flat”.   She was totally in her element out there.)

BUT, she was still controllable WITHOUT a skeg or rudder, and that gives me a warm fuzzy feeling about this boat.   Harry Tieken nailed the design with this one.   My only complaint, and its the same one I have on many ‘touring’ boats; That back deck is just too damned tall.  I can’t do a layback without getting the cockpit lip in my kidneys.   That shit hurts, and that makes some rolls out of reach.   

And it just now started raining here.   A wet Grizzy just came bouncing in and let me know how offended he is that the sky is not following his wishes, and I need to fix that, NOW!   

yeah

Sorry fuzzy buddy, but thats just how it is.   Wait till the snows start blowin’ again,,,,