January 14, 2001

Sandy Point State Park

5.5 Miles

Heading out into the darkness to get gas, I remember while at the gas station I had left the coffee pot on and my thermos empty. So I detour back to get the coffee and head out on I-66 as the sun rises into the sky. Red sky at morning...

But the weather held for the day. It stayed cloudy and foggy on the water. A light fog with about 4 mile visibility. Dave, Joan and Mardi all showed up at the same time. Early as usual, I had carried the boat and gear to the water and finished off a cup of coffee when they pulled into the parking lot. Joan and Mardi kidded me by asking if I had slept in the park overnight. It felt like I had with only 6 hours of sleep.

After stowing my lunch and coffee in the day hatch, and making one last trip back to the truck to get my neoprene hood to stuff in my PFD, I climbed aboard and headed out to warm up while the others finished getting ready.

The water was ice free except for an occasional piece of slush. Small tributaries and little bays were frozen solid but other than that there was no ice to be concerned with. We started out northeast and circled the Sandy Point light house before turning south and under the Bay Bridge.

It was a pleasant paddle through the light fog. Hundreds of ducks came into view as we paddled along. Occasionally they would take flight and appear as dark thin lines against the thinning fog. Dodging a few chunks of ice and finally stopping near Moss Pond to give my back a break. It'll be back to the doctor soon as it hasn't been getting any better. We decide to have lunch and we bounce around trying to keep our hands and feet warm. Coffee all around seemed to warm our spirits if not our bodies. Before long we are underway again back the way we came.

The tide has changed, but it hasn't gotten strong yet. We paddle out to the lighthouse once more and cut through the currents swirling around the base. Lee paddles out from shore to meet us in his new boat "Lee Bay". Similar to a CLC North Bay, but with noticeably more volume in the bow.

Back at the launch Dave decides to roll in the frigid water. Once and he is feeling ok. A second time and his face is burning from the cold.

Greg and Jack are here too. Rolling and testing out another CLC prototype. I load my kayak and make the long ride home.