August 20, 2005

Saying Goodbye

She came to my home off the back of a truck. It cost me an extra $150 to have her shipped to my house in northern Japan from Tokyo. I cut open the cardboard protecting her and took off the cheese cloth inner wrap and saw her bright orange plastic skin glisten in the sun.

She was there when I broke my paddle and she dragged me behind her back to shore through the surf. She taught me how to high brace on the move. She showed me how to bongo slide and surf through the waves. She took pounding after pounding, as I did, beating our way through the break.

She responded when I asked her. Taught me how to carve an edge. We glided together over water 1000 feet deep. We scooted over sand bars and paddled off shore in high winds. She always brought me home and in return I brought her home with me when I returned to the States.

But a few months ago while rolling a tear developed in her coaming. A possible warranty issue according to the factory. So today I dropped her off at the local dealer. If the factory replaces the Sirocco it will be the last time I see her. As I carried her in to Atlantic Kayak's upper storage area I couldn't help think about what the ol' girl and I had been through together.

I'm missing her already.

Woody