@eckilson
If I didn’t have to show up at the office on Monday, I’d be on my way. Hoping this is the last time I’ll have to use my snowblower. At least I got that done before the county plow came by. Photo taken this morning. Starman dancing on snow again as the ground cover is now all white.
@Rookie said:
@eckilson
If I didn’t have to show up at the office on Monday, I’d be on my way. Hoping this is the last time I’ll have to use my snowblower. At least I got that done before the county plow came by. Photo taken this morning. Starman dancing on snow again as the ground cover is now all white.
In meantime, to be inspired in your yearning for paddling and the outdoors, check your local PBS station and see if this documentary is on.
https://www.womenoutwardbound.com/
sing
@sing That looks wonderful but alas, not on my PBS schedule yet. Thanks!
Watched a kayak video while I rowed this afternoon. Not quite the same thing but at least distracting. 
P.S. Watched the long trailer. Decided to buy the DVD.
We had a perfect spring day. Bright, sunny, cool. Green everywhere and increasing.
@string said:
We had a perfect spring day. Bright, sunny, cool. Green everywhere and increasing.
Not green here yet, but it won’t be long. I raked out all my flower beds yesterday, and even got the lawn mower out to clean up the grass. Easter weekend, so no paddling. I’m landlocked until my new drysuit comes in anyway. Water temps are in the low 40’s around here. We get a few warm days, and people forget how long it takes for the water to warm up.
Yesterday was summer–nice warm and sunny. Today it’s in a liquid form.
Yesterday we paddled the Four Creeks area in NE Fla. Tide change was late so we did a lot of against the wind and tide. Sunny, 60s, winds north to east 15 gusts to 20+. BBQ was good at Willie Jewell’s though. Pictures don’t show either tide or wind. When the paddling gets tougher I have my hands otherwise occupied. .
Maybe I should take up billiards. 
"US National Weather Service
“It may be April, but heavy snow is looking even more likely tonight through Wednesday morning across much of northern Michigan. Forecast snowfall amounts will have the potential for 10+ inches across portions of northern lower Michigan by daybreak Wednesday. Tuesday morning’s and afternoon’s commutes may be significantly impacted. Travel will likely become very difficult and hazardous! Stay tuned for later updates on this significant storm.”
@Rookie said:
Maybe I should take up billiards."US National Weather Service
“It may be April, but heavy snow is looking even more likely tonight through Wednesday morning across much of northern Michigan. Forecast snowfall amounts will have the potential for 10+ inches across portions of northern lower Michigan by daybreak Wednesday. Tuesday morning’s and afternoon’s commutes may be significantly impacted. Travel will likely become very difficult and hazardous! Stay tuned for later updates on this significant storm.”
Today’s storm is such a fast mover (a “clipper”) , we won’t be getting much, if any, wave action from it. That’s the real bummer in my eyes… 
sing
@Johnnysmoke said:
Some west coast action.
https://youtu.be/06R_Yz3mnqk
Surf kayak vs. Waveski…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXjaF-n7Yjw
While surf kayak performance is catching up to waveski (the rider’s skills make the most difference), there are just clear advantages to going with a waveski for a dedicated paddle surfer. For one, with the situation in 1:56 of the video, I can’t tell you how many fins I have broken, in addition to a couple of fin boxes on surf kayaks… Then there are the safety factors. I remember getting by skirt imploded by a dumping waves at a RI Surf Kayak winter session. Holy moly, what a beat down I took in the breakzone. There was/is no such thing as a surf kayak reentry. Swimming with 32" skirt (aka sea anchor) around your waist through the break zone in ice cold water… Sheeesh. I’ll have to admit to having some scary episodes, surfing alone in winter surf. WIth the waveski, you can hang on and climb back on board. If nothing else, hang onto the waveski and swim your way back in. I tried to do that with my half submerged Mega Venom and had the fin cut up my hand. I was lucky the fin didn’t cut up my drysuit. Another reason I got rid of that drysuit for serious surfing.
Anyway, if you were to every consider another surf craft, I think you should seriously considering getting a longboard waveski (forget the high performance, short waveski unless you want to compete)… Ok, will stop waveski proselytizing now… 
sing
I think the big takeaway from this video is a surf trip to the west coast of Ireland ASAP.
But yes, surf kayaking is like the underwater interpretive basket weaving dart league of the surfing world, only a few places where it’s not complete kook. But that’s true for a lot of but surfing as well.
I’m not sure what direction I’m going to head in, other than my next surf boat will probably need to be a custom. Or a sup. Spend a lot of flatwater time in the summer on a sup, like the lack of accessories and feel like it’s a better workout than sea kayaking. And I don’t want to get a surfski, although might be a good direction to go fitness wise.
No one makes a big boy sized IC boat, which is best for the sloppy waves we often get. I sold a big boy HP boat which was very comfortable, but not great for typical conditions. Replaced it with an IC boat that paddles better but is a little snug. A lot of surf (and kayak) gear is made for a 5’8 160 lb dude, so I’m a big dude 6’2 260lbs size 13 feet, and I’m an uncomfortable visitor. Hard to try this stuff out when no one sells carries it, and most surf kayakers have jumped ship for sups.
I know surf kayaking is a little out there, but I kind of like it because it’s challenged me to improve my paddling skills: rolling, bracing, edging, reading a break, staying upright. Not to mention getting a diagonal ride in. I also like playing at the beach because I feel I don’t need partners to play, aka sea kayaking in a group, I figure if I bail I’m just a swim away from the beach. Have put webbing straps on the surf kayak so can hang onto the back to swim it in. Am currently running finless. But launching is a biatch. Haven’t taken a swim in awhile, so probably a good thing to try practice soon; a wet exit from this new IC boat might be interesting.
Got a good 4/3 wetsuit and was enjoying it much sleeker in the surfzone, but it’s a bear to change out of compared to the drysuit. Gashing a drysuit in the surf would be catastrophic, and one of the boats I bought used has crappy outfitting that chews up my wetsuits, not using the drysuit in that thing.
But the biggest change I need to make right now, is to increase my fitness level and drop some weight, otherwise I’ll be shopping for a pontoon boat soon.
The azaleas have started to bloom. Blue sky, fluffy clouds, warm breeze.
@Johnnysmoke said:
I think the big takeaway from this video is a surf trip to the west coast of Ireland ASAP.
But yes, surf kayaking is like the underwater interpretive basket weaving dart league of the surfing world, only a few places where it’s not complete kook. But that’s true for a lot of but surfing as well.
I’m not sure what direction I’m going to head in, other than my next surf boat will probably need to be a custom. Or a sup. Spend a lot of flatwater time in the summer on a sup, like the lack of accessories and feel like it’s a better workout than sea kayaking. And I don’t want to get a surfski, although might be a good direction to go fitness wise.
No one makes a big boy sized IC boat, which is best for the sloppy waves we often get. I sold a big boy HP boat which was very comfortable, but not great for typical conditions. Replaced it with an IC boat that paddles better but is a little snug. A lot of surf (and kayak) gear is made for a 5’8 160 lb dude, so I’m a big dude 6’2 260lbs size 13 feet, and I’m an uncomfortable visitor. Hard to try this stuff out when no one sells carries it, and most surf kayakers have jumped ship for sups.
I know surf kayaking is a little out there, but I kind of like it because it’s challenged me to improve my paddling skills: rolling, bracing, edging, reading a break, staying upright. Not to mention getting a diagonal ride in. I also like playing at the beach because I feel I don’t need partners to play, aka sea kayaking in a group, I figure if I bail I’m just a swim away from the beach. Have put webbing straps on the surf kayak so can hang onto the back to swim it in. Am currently running finless. But launching is a biatch. Haven’t taken a swim in awhile, so probably a good thing to try practice soon; a wet exit from this new IC boat might be interesting.
Got a good 4/3 wetsuit and was enjoying it much sleeker in the surfzone, but it’s a bear to change out of compared to the drysuit. Gashing a drysuit in the surf would be catastrophic, and one of the boats I bought used has crappy outfitting that chews up my wetsuits, not using the drysuit in that thing.
But the biggest change I need to make right now, is to increase my fitness level and drop some weight, otherwise I’ll be shopping for a pontoon boat soon.
I really hate travelling in general but Ireland is on my list because of the landscape and surf. For this summer, I am actually thinking a week long trip to Lawrencetown/Halifax, Nova Scotia for summer pattern (sw wind swells) and/or hurricane surfari.
In terms of a another custom surf craft ( which would be my fifth), I have been seriously considering getting an extra longboard waveski from MacSki’s.
http://www.macskisurfgear.com/legend/
The homebreak actually has an outer, isolated reef break (1/4 mile out) that I have surfed a couple times. I don’t head out there unless the closer reef break gets too crowded because of the extra long paddle through the swells to get out there. A longer, faster surf craft would help.
sing
@string said:
The azaleas have started to bloom. Blue sky, fluffy clouds, warm breeze.
Lots of snowflakes in bloom here. Gabillions and gazillions of them! Stiff breeze, pretty drifts, temps 40 degrees below average. What more could a paddler ask for? :s
@Rookie said:
@string said:
The azaleas have started to bloom. Blue sky, fluffy clouds, warm breeze.Lots of snowflakes in bloom here. Gabillions and gazillions of them! Stiff breeze, pretty drifts, temps 40 degrees below average. What more could a paddler ask for? :s
Lol no kidding. Although Monday morning, as I was driving home in the snow after dropping the kid off at school, I had an urge to go for a paddle. With the snowfall there was fairly compromised visibility out in our little local bay, and I’m wondering where my chart is, so I can run a compass bearing and get out there to paddle a short crossing. Maybe contour the shore out and run a snow blind crossing back. I made the mistake of letting my wife know about my plan while on the phone with her. Was reminded I’m still recovering from a cold and should just run errands instead. Should have married a woman who paddles.
You married one who tries to take care of you. Sounds like you have a good thing.
My wife and I just got back from Clemson SC and Richmond VA. It was so nice that I was anxious to get back to Michigan to put down some crabgrass deterrent. Now I need to wait until the snow melts but at least it’s nicer than yesterday with temps in high 30’s, rain and high wind.
@TomL said:
it’s nicer than yesterday with temps in high 30’s, rain and high wind.
Don’t come north. 18" of snow and still snowing; schools and some businesses closed, roads horrid. It’s like “Groundhog Day.”
@sing said:
I really hate travelling in general but Ireland is on my list because of the landscape and surf. For this summer, I am actually thinking a week long trip to Lawrencetown/Halifax, Nova Scotia for summer pattern (sw wind swells) and/or hurricane surfari.
In terms of a another custom surf craft ( which would be my fifth), I have been seriously considering getting an extra longboard waveski from MacSki’s.
Ireland seems like it would be pretty amazing on many levels, I’d love to get a surfari in, but even a multi day walking tour would be great.
Portugal also seems like it would be a great surf trip, and has thriving surf kayak waveski culture, and some warm nice looking beaches.
Another bonus for the waveski, it’s probably easier to get on a plane, as it genuinely looks like a surfboard. The surf kayak probably requires a full on surfboard case, and some misdirection and bribery, to get past most airlines no kayak rule.
I made it up to Newfoundland in 2011 for a few weeks of sea kayaking, and it was an incredible experience, worth a return trip. I bet Nova Scotia would be equally entertaining.
I wouldn’t mind getting an early to mid-march Georgia surf trip dialed in, for some warmer water and good waves. Not a terrible drive from Boston, supposed to be some good beaches and down there. And 50 degree water would feel balmy.