Uncharacteristically (and delightfully) cool this morning; in the upper 60s!
Crab Creek to South River to Church Creek and back.
Century Club: Eva Hill
Monday, June 24, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
One of the benefits of getting up early to beat the heat is seeing all of the wildlife on the path to the kayak launch. This morning, a tiny fawn was in my path. It was frozen in position, not moving until I was within nearly arms-length of it. (I don't want to get any closer -- I'm afraid of what a protective parent might do). Once it moved, it just went further down the path, forcing me to get closer. It eventually high-tailed it into the woods.
This morning I enjoyed the miracle of SLACK TIDE! There was no wind when I stared my Crab Creek Crawl as well, but it soon kicked in. Good way to start the week.
Sunday, June 23, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
The heat wave continues, but there was breeze today, and we made our own by going out on Heron today. Might have been a nice sail, but the time before leaving the dock and after returning would have been torturously hot. Especially since our boat air-conditioning needs a re-charge of coolant.
Anyway, it was a good time to try out our Sun Chill pool. We didn't need the jellyfish net, yet. Motored to the Rhode River and rafted up with Whisper. The pool works, and we'll try out the net later. Spent a couple of hours swimming, with a break in the middle to chow down on RoFo chicken.
Friday, June 21, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Ninth day in a row on the water -- and a different watercraft altogether. We'd planned to go to an AYC cruising fleet event in Harness Creek, but our sub-group (Harbor 20 folks) had no participants coming. Instead. we hopped aboard the Smiths' center console for a happy hour-to-dinner ride. Too windy and choppy to head to the West River (got soaked by waves up front), so we turned around and docked at Coconut Joe's in Edgewater for dinner. The day's heat backed down in the breeze and sundown.
Thursday, June 20, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Today was my 4th straight day to paddle, and 8th straight day on the water. For some reason, I'm sleeping badly, so when I got out of bed, I was gassed. But when I feel this way, I tell myself that I'll just take it easy. Knock it out with a gentle paddle, not going very far. Guess I'm all talk. Today, I went all the way to Shadow Point, and then out to the 6 Knot buoy in the South River (before the Rt. 2 bridge).
I'm taking tomorrow off!
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
That lovely brown stripe is what is known as "Chesapeake Smile," seen most commonly on the boot stripe of a boat. It's the reason why we painted our boot stripe a deep sandy color which Awlgrip and Imron should call exactly that: Chesapeake Smile.
The humidity is closing in on us, and the week ahead is promised to be miserably hot. I guess I'll be heading out earlier and earlier. I stayed in Crab Creek today.
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
I am by nature a rule-follower. Whether it's my guilt-ridden Catholic Midwestern upbringing, or the fact that I'm the oldest child, or just a glitch in the matrix. Watching people get away with stuff, even if it doesn't effect me, makes my stress hormones surge. And life rarely ever provides a comeuppance that I witness.
So this morning, when I saw someone effectively park me in with their big red kayak (mine is the white one directly above), my cortisol starting pumping. Even when I pulled the kayak away, it was tied to the rack with long cables that were in my way. Their chosen spot is NOT a parking spot. I don't know whether it's there due to thoughtlessness, cluelessness or just plain Me-First-Ness, but I'm annoyed. Karma seldom works this way, but I hope they find a snake in there.
Today was one of those tide against wind mornings, with sloppy water. And of course it meant that whichever direction I chose, I was always against something. Made it to Little Aberdeen Creek, but I'm cranky this morning.
Monday, June 17, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Mondays are so hard, especially after a beautiful sailing weekend. I force myself to get out to paddle, promising myself that I will be gentle. It never ends up that way, but there is a great feeling of having done it.
Saturday, June 15, 2024 to Sunday, June 16, 2024
Number of days:
2 days
I had a simple goat for this weekend. Swimming! And I managed 2 solid hours of it.
We'd make the 12:30 bridge and enjoyed a nice beam reach/run from Spa Creek to the Rhode River. We rafted up with Whisper, who had the same weekend goal.
Drank too much, stayed up too late, ate tuna tartare. This is summer at its best.
Motored home today in sparse wind, and made it back for the 11:30 bridge. Home for lunch.
Friday, June 14, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
I was having a nice little paddle, and in the homestretch, the wind came up. Against me, of course. I'm not good at estimating the speed, but it was enough that when I stopped padding, it pushed me backward. I prefer to do the hard stuff first -- that's one of the cardinal rules of beach-walking: go against the wind first. Oh well.