December 31, 2004

Another Year - Another Season

It started in early April, when we spent four days kayaking in the back country of Assateague Island. Wrapped in our dry suits and dragging our kayaks through shallow water we explored places we had never been. We enjoyed the ponies and trying out different types of dehydrated foods. The days seemed short and the four days went too quickly.

In mid-April I took an American Canoe Association Instructor Development Workshop and Instructor Certification Exam and certified as a Basic Coastal Kayak Instructor. During the four day course it was difficult for me to transform out of the role of student into the role of instructor.

In mid-May Katie went with me for the three day SK102 event down at Lake Anna. I played instructor and Katie took some classes from other instructors. She learned a lot and it was here I first saw the spark in her to learn to be a skilled kayaker.

By late May Katie was expressing interest in getting a BCU 2 star and mastering a 360 degree roll. I made good on a promise to buy her a new paddle when she learned the roll.

We continued working on her other skills in to June, where she picked up her off side roll. In mid-June I took a BCU safety class and the following day Katie took a BCU 3 star class.

A 'proud parent' moment came when Mark Schoon was teaching high recovery strokes (high brace) to Katie. Mark told me later she wasn't tipping over very far and mentioned something to her about it.

Katie: "I'm used to just going all the way to the water"

Mark: "Let me see"

Followed by Katie going all the way down to the water and bracing up. We had worked hard over the last few months on her rolling, and the high brace came naturally to her. I knew from what I saw while she was taking the class that she wasn't too far away from surpassing her 2 star goal.

On the first of July Katie kept pushing me to learn new things, and in a single session she did her first TX rescue, her first seal launch, first roll using only a floating paddle for support, her first hand of god rescue. She managed her first re-enter and roll, laying on the water while doing a side scull, but the most shocking thing I saw her learn was her first high brace on the move on both sides - another large stepping stone toward a BCU 3 star.

On the 4th of July Katie went to take her BCU 2 star test and at the edge of the water we decided to let her try for her 3 star. She did well but became shaken when she capsized while doing a reverse figure of 8. Bad weather moved in and reluctantly we finished the day without her making her 3 star goal.

But 3 days later after a lot of practice she was back on the water with Mark Schoon and when she returned to shore I learned she had earned her 3 star.

A few days later I picked up another kayak - and Explorer HV which I'm currently enjoying every minute of. I spent the summer getting comfortable with the boat and at the end of August took it on the open water crossing to Tangier Island.

I explored the Rappahannock in the fall along with my usual paddling grounds, watching the trees turn from green into an exploding multitude of rich colors and finally watched the leaves fall and the water turn cold.

Today was my last paddle of 2004. As I pushed my way through a little slushy ice I stopped a few moments to look back on the events of the year. The people I've paddled with, the new friends I've met. Reflecting back on everything I saw over the year made the 4 bald eagles sitting in the trees above my head seem almost - routine.

It's a good routine to be in.

My best wishes to everyone in the new year.

Woody