Friday mornin’, not enough coffee, YET,,,,

Sitting here with furrie lumps vying for lap (only enough space for one, Has three, it gets interesting,,,) and thinking kayaky thoughts.

yesterday was spring-timey balmy goodness, and overnight it dropped back into the basement of winter. Dangit,,,, I even loaded BJ on Buffalo (right along side Lizzy, choices ya know,,,) and now, I am questioning if I want to leave her there, or unload her and just do the wait thing,,,,

I didn’t load her with camping gear at this point, so its just a matter of busting straps and hauling her back to her cradle on the porch. (she gets HEAVY with camp gear loaded and why I use a kayak dolly at load in/out. Well over 100# heavy,,,) And now, I am thinking about other kayaky aspects, like the fact that I really really really need to make sure I can roll Lizzy, and wet exit ( Not certain about the roll, but I can wet exit, yet I have never tried while wearing that skirt, and thats could be a game changer. Its TINY, and I can’t wear my Ninja pfd with it because the front of the pfd hides the front of the cockpit, I have to wear the thinner Vapor pfd. So, I am thinking pool session somewhere, and those are thin on the ground in this area. Some of ya might recall B and I triapsed all the way to Lebenon OH for roll class. Three hour one way trip for a 2 hour class. Then we had a chance to open a local pool here, but the turn outs were pitiful and now the place gives me the side eye when i ask about doing them again,,,, I’ll keep looking,,,,

And yah, I know; best to learn how even when the water is cold or choppy or both, ’cause those are usually when you capsize and need it. Just the idea of brain freeze chills out any thoughts of trying on open water right now. And no one available to be my second/rescuer. mitigate your risks is the rule, and cold water means extra cautions needed, cautions I don’t have access to right now.

Three months. Race day is in three months. I am getting conditioning in, but not seat time, and I really feel I need both. The plan today was to take BJ out, leaving Lizzy on the racks, and just get some serious disstance paddling in. BJ is a sloth compared to Lizzy and my intent was to get a work out and distance. If I can do 10 miles in BJ at 4.3, I should be able to do 13 miles in Lizzy at 5. Don’t try to add up the numbers, that won’t work until you calculate in hull speeds, boat wieght, hull condition (BJ is sorta rough, Lizzy is silky,,,) And I wanted to do that 10 on Laurel Lake, with its windy nature; 5 out with the wind on my back, 5 back with it in my face (I know, ass backwards, but that reproduces what race conditions were like last year.). BUT, that wind is blowing fast and hard and windchill factors,,,, cold water,,,,, saner head is winning this round so far.

fug-it, more coffee,,, build the fire back up and unload BJ in a bit. No need to be hauling around 2 long boats all winter,,,