Monday has to be my least favorite day of the week. At the J.O.B., its when everyone remembers, as they are loading up for the jobs, just what they forgot to put on my Fab list, and oh yeah, need it RTFN!!!! So I end up slamming out hours worth of work in less than one, and feel frazzled as all get out for the rest of the day/week,,,,
But today was domestics day, make sure Da’s meds are full up for the week (or he won’t take them. Heck, he forgets at least one day a week,, Purt’good for a guy that until a year ago never took meds, at all, rarely took OTC’s for anything other than the occasional headache.). Made my hip pads but didn’t install them. I did put them inplace in the nordy while I was out, and yup, BIG improvement in ‘communication’ between us. I reallyreallyreally need MAD seat time in this boat. I can edge her just fine while sitting: enough that I can get the skirt in the water, but when we are moving, I struggle. Don’t believe its the boat in anyway shape or form; thats all me. Is it lack of control or just ‘outtashape’ and need to work on the muscle groups. Or is it that I am not used to my knees being so close together? That probably has a bit to do with it and that can’t be “corrected” in any of my other boats since they are all ‘splayed seats’ with long open keyhole cockpits. The nordy has that dinky ‘am I gonna fit in that’ ocean cockpit so the knees can be, and with the deck shape, MUST BE closer together. What that means to me: I need to leave BlueJean and the others at home for awhile and just work with this one until I can develop that edge while moving. Its critical to turning this boat with its extended keelson/skeg stern. (and that ocean cockpit is growing on me. Its a little different getting into it, but the feel is ‘just right’ once you are seated. And that tiny skirt for it? No way in hell is that getting imploded by a wave unless you are so far over your head in a tempest. Someplace you shouldn’t be in to begin with.)
But we are starting to communicate now, and that can only be a good thing. Didn’t feel near as ‘tippy’ as yesterday but the only change was my points of contact: reset the backband for me, and slid in those hip pads. Now that I know they are what I need, I can make them a part of the seat and that contact should be even better.
And yes, she is bloody FAST. Didn’t have the GPS on me, but I can tell. Dig that GP in and this boat SCOOTS, sweep it and she starts to skim. Thinking a good buffing and wax job on the gelcoat will make her just a might bit faster too.
Way more boat than I have had in the past, even Serena and Selkie weren’t this smooth. Duh!k is a close second, but the length makes the difference. (they are the same beam, just 2′ different in length, and about 14″ different in waterline.)
So on to the name: Nordy is not gonna work. Seen to many of them referred to in that manner on the UK forums. BUT, I kinda want to keep to the Brit theme here and with the recent passing of a monarch, thought maybe some variation of Elizabeth would be in order. Not settled on it yet, but thinking “Lizzy” is the most likely. And if any Brits find that offensive, let me know that too.
The biggest thing though, I really need to build a group here locally to paddle with. Not sure that is even possible in these hills with rednecks, ridgerunners, and hillbillies. Was actually told by a local at the lake today “Ain’t never seen a boat like that’un”. B and T are good to paddle with, but the distance, and life itself, gets in the way of opportunities. When we can, I JUMP on it, but those times are spread out. I can usually get on water at least once a week, sometimes two or three, but going solo gets old, and its not the best way to learn new things. I like having that ‘backup’ of another person around when I want to start pushing my limits to see how far I can go. Thats what I like about paddling with B: we push each others limits. I wouldn’t have tried white water if not for him, and he wouldn’t have found he likes ‘long boats’ without me. (and there is always the fact that I wanna move out of this area, but that’s a different point altogether.)
Anywhoos, enough with the kayak-y stuff. I don’t have much to talk about in the world at large that I didn’t cover in last evenings post, Figure things will escalate sooner than later, but when is anyones guess; How is equally in the dark.
Talk atchay’all more tomorrow
Dio's Workshop 