September 2, 2002

Labor Day Fireworks

9.7 miles
On Monday the wind is supposed to be out of the South. It almost is. It has enough eastward component that I can sail across the lake from the Japanese park to the base beach. About 4.5 miles one way.

I got a few really good runs with the sail. Waves a little under a foot, a few times I found my forward speed just under wave speed. It only took a stroke or two to get on the wave, but that sent me speeding ahead and more often than not I would broach, bringing forward progress to a halt.

I've been working on a way to change this sail. It is almost impossible to lower in a stiff wind. I've got a few ideas that I think may work. I'll lose the hands free operation of the sail, but I'm still working on that problem.

In no time I'm across the lake. The base beach is crowded with swimmers so I head a little north to another Japanese park to land. After packing the sail away, grabbing a bite to eat and downing a diet coke, I launch again and paddle past the base beach. A small, slender fish is leaping from the water. Some of them are up to a foot long. Most are just a few inches.

Last weekend there were 2 fish weighing at least 20 pounds washed up on shore. It was kind of funny to watch them clear the 2 fish. A large bulldozer was called in to do the deed. It took a good half hour and repeated tries to scoop up the fish.

After crossing the beach I headed south a bit, staying near shore. I took up station about 100 feet offshore to watch a large heron trying to catch its dinner. As dusk turned to darkness I began to hear fish jump all around.

The fireworks from the water were great. There wasn't much of a grand finale, but it was a good display none the less. One item I thought was pretty cool was a speed boat dropping a floating pyro into the water. This firework exploded up from the water like an aerial firework that had forgotten to leap into the air.

After the show I headed back for the Japanese park on the far side of the lake. The miles went by quickly, but there was a point as I was paddling through heavy lake grass that BIG fish began to jump. BIG fish. Usually only a foot or so from my kayak. Each one catching me by surprise. I began to wonder what I would do, after I pissed myself, if a fish jumped up and hit me.

Tonight is the first tryout of my red/green marker lights. I have no idea how I looked to anyone else - if there was anyone else. The white cone light for my headlamp I put on the rear deck. There are no boats on the water tonight. I doubt there ever is.

Once back on shore I can see more fireworks in the direction of the ocean. The Misawa port festival fireworks were tonight also. It was supposed to be last night, but heavy fog cancelled them. As my kayak sits on the concrete steps where I landed, the right side of my kayak is bathed in green light from half of the marker light. From my car it is obvious, but that is only 100 feet away.

Someone in a car who has come to watch the fireworks turns on their lights so I can see as I load up for home...

Woody