June 6, 1999

My first *official* CPA Trip

Trip #25

6 June 1999

Note: I didn't take my GPS with me so the MAP is an approximation.

Saturday, while bending over to pick something up off the floor, suddenly felt a nerve get pinched in my back. I couldn't stand up and the pain was bending me over further. The farther I bent over, the worse it got until I finally did a semi "tuck and roll" onto the floor. I was able to get back up, but my back hurt all day long and I was afraid I would have to cancel my rolling lesson on Sunday.

Sunday morning arrived and my back felt fine. Actually everything felt fine so I headed off for the 1 1/2-hour trip to Port Tobacco. This was to be a Chesapeake Paddlers Association (CPA) beginner's trip and Greg Welker had offered to teach me how to roll if I showed up. As usual, I arrived an hour early. To my surprise Greg did also and we got in about a 1/2-hour of instruction before everyone else started to show up.

Greg is an extraordinarily articulate and patient teacher, and we worked on technique without me ever attempting a complete roll on my own. I felt I was getting pretty close though and I think a little "hip snap" practice along with remembering to keep my head down is all I really need for this to finally be successful.

As everyone started to show up I learned several things. The "paperwork" means filling out a release form. The second thing I learned was the club requires balanced flotation in all kayaks, which meant a double Old Town Loon could not go on our trip.

Once the "paperwork" was done, Greg and Bill herded us together for the safety briefing: Pfd's on all the time. Spray skirts on all the time. Has everyone done a wet exit and paddlefloat reentry?

Note to self: If I'm ever elected safety nazi, have everyone who has the brand new "package" creases in their paddlefloat demonstrate a wet exit and paddlefloat reentry 8^)

Bill Dodge told us this place was hard to find and because of this it was a well-kept secret. The launch was peaceful and quiet. A great secret indeed.

On the water we numbered 12 kayaks and 13 people including a folding double. Greg took point and Bill took up the sweep position as we headed across the river to Goose Creek and Goose Bay Marina. I don't know if it was the early morning dip or if the weather was actually that great but I was really feeling good and we traveled at what is (to me) a slow comfortable pace. Out from shore the church bells began to chime calling parishioners to worship as we headed out across open water. After regrouping in Goose Creek we paddled out near Windmill Point and stopped for lunch. On the way out of the creek Mardi spotted a land turtle that for some reason was in the middle of the bay. Mardi placed the turtle on her deck and gave it a ride near shore. The turtle reminded me of a dog hanging its head out the car window with its neck stretched as far forward as its little shell would allow as Mardi ferried it towards land. A bald eagle appeared so we could all ohhh and ahhh for a few moments before it hid itself in the trees.

During lunch we noticed what appeared to be a *very* large snake (big head, but I didn't see a proportionally long body). It was unusual that it kept diving under water which in hindsight makes me wonder if it was a young beaver. I certainly wasn't going to volunteer to find out. After lunch we continued out in to the Potomac and southwest along its shore for about a 1/2 hour. From there we paddled back towards the middle of Port Tobacco River and then used the wind to help push us back. The wind at your back makes for easier paddling, but also makes the breeze that cooled us on the way out seem to stand still. While out in the Potomac the waves picked up a little and I enjoyed making the bow slap the water and bury its nose under a few waves and roll them up the deck of my kayak. This characteristic doesn't appear to be shared by any of the other kayaks out there, as their decks seem to stay high and dry. Then again, it could be I was encouraging the waves to splash across my bow 8^)

Back at the launch site the Jetskis were either in the water, or making their way into the water. Our quiet little secret had been compromised! There will be a firing squad at dawn for the person who leaked this information. As most everyone loaded up his or her boats Greg treated a few of us to some more rolling instruction. After a failed attempt on my own (my paddle hit bottom and I had to use it to push myself back upright) a little girl swimming nearby started asking in an excited voice "Are you all right?! Are you all right!?!" So much for keeping this low key...

After loading up my yak and making sure everyone else had their boat on their rooftop, I said goodbye and noticed that Greg had set out to explore up river. On the ride home I began to feel my back. Monday morning came much too soon and I didn't think I would make it out of bed. I hobbled around all day feeling stiff and sore, deciding I would take off this coming weekend to help repair my kayak and myself. I have a little fiberglass repair work to do this week so a weekend off will be a welcome change of pace.

Trip distance: About 7 miles. Speed: Who knows, but the scenery and company was great!