Blown away on Dopamine

Or you could say, I was literally getting blown away. Gusting winds starting at 7 and going to ‘lean Dio over into the water’,,,, Getting spray off mildly choppy water level of gusts. A few boats about, and I did catch some wave action from them, but had to go out to the shallows at the end of the point. That let them get kicked up a bit where I was happier and also risked bottoming out, though i didn’t…

What I did do was exactly what I chose to do. Get out there, (full wetsuit, skirt, 1.5mm jacket on top of that, and the PFD and a neoprene hood, ) and practice hipsnaps and rolls. Did some small wind spriints just for warm ups when the wind started getting my soaking self a little chilled. Found that with strong wind, Lyssa doesn’t pay any damned attention to the bow rudder stuff. Acts like that paddle isn’t even there. But that says a lot about how hard that wind was blowing, trying to push her stern down wind and point me into it. Hard edge and stern rudder kept things managable. (thats the point of the skeg; trimming the kayak in winds not head on.)

Got all gussied up when I got there, hauled Lyssa to the water, and before I did anything else, walked out into the drink until I was bouyant. and let me tell you, that first dousing rushing in the seams and zippers!!!! I did that Scooby giggle thing. But once that initial shock was over,,,, man,,, getting into the kayak and rolling over was EASY. That ‘introduction’ shut down any hindbrain protests solidly.

Water is about 48 degrees right now, outside temps at 50ish, but hard gusting winds probably knock that ‘percieved’ temp down to 45 or so. Lord knows when it was blowing in my face, it felt like little razors hitting skin. Pogies were definitely the choice for handcoverings today.

No distance other than my sprints back and forth across the little bay. May have hit a mile, but I did untold number of hipsnaps on both sides, using the paddle float, not a rock or treestump (none close enough to deep water to use) Then I did some rolls. Off side still needs work, but my confidence that I CAN roll is back up. and Lyssa makes this shit EASY, almost as easy as my old Pirouette did. (think you wanna roll up and you are,,,) Sitll no love from the paddle nap position, and I can tell its something I am doing wrong (probably trying to lift my head, hard instinct to overcome)

BUT,

You can’t say that this isn’t a happy face.