The last time I went paddling was almost 2 yrs ago. And then that was just a couple of days when I put the canoe on the new trailer for a test run. And then everything went back into storage. It has been 4 or more years since I had the kayak in the water.
So after getting a new license for the trailer, digging through mounds of stored stuff to find a missing float bag, and making sure the other equipment was in shape for paddling I finally got back out on the bay in the kayak.
Some of the things I learned (or relearned):
- The now 15yr old Mariner Elan is one sweet ride.
- The Lumpy paddle still feels great in the hands and great when pulled through the water.
- When it comes to getting a kayak ready to transport, loading up with gear at the put-in, and getting unloaded at the end of the trip I am still the world’s slowest person. Not doing it for the last 4yrs did not help me get any faster.
- I still have no clue how to back up a trailer
- South Texas Sept. mornings are very hot and humid and trying to paddling before the wind comes up is actually not a great idea unless you really like heat-stroke.
- I really like being on the water.
Mark