More pool

Another pool session this week. Have to get back out in the lake!
The people that wanted to learn to roll sea kayaks did come this week. While they were learning some stretches I got to use Dave's stealth roller (pictured below.) Maple roll worked well, and did a few hand rolls. Back in my own boat I worked on various off side things, upside down paddline, and managed to get a few breaths with the Petrusian maneuver (boat upside down, you slide partway out enough to reach the surface and breath without popping the seal on your skirt/tuiliq.)

The new guys got to try bracing etc with an avatuk.

From Kayak2010

By the time we left, the temperature was below zero, reminding me that whether paddling in the lake or a pool in winter, the coldest part is getting the boat on the car.

Maple roll

The local (mostly) whitewater club has started their pool sessions and word was a couple of sea kayakers had asked about learning to roll, so 3 of us "boyz in the hoodz" (Greenland types) went to help out and try to turn them to the skinny paddle side.

Turns out the couple got the time wrong and showed up just about when it was over... maybe this week.

It was a chance to get back in my skin boat, which is too tight to use with my cold water footwear. I also got to try a "maple roll." One learning technique for Greenland rolling is to use a float called an Avatuk made from a seal bladder (or neoprene these days). This being Vermont I figured a maple syrup jug would lend a local flavor. I had a half gallon jug on hand (much smaller than an avatuk) and managed both brace and roll.

Usually we're the biggest boats in the pool, but this time there were a couple of WW canoes working on rolls.

This arrived around 10 Saturday:
"Perkins Pier Paddle and Roll Fest
Noon Saturday Jan 16th!!"

A bit short notice, but it was sent from a phone the day before.. pony express email!

I was the first one there, so had a bit of time to wander the pier. The canal schooner Lois McClure has sprouted a greenhouse for the winter.. maybe picking up a little extra by growing some tomatoes?

From Kayak2010

Not much in the way of wind, but it's supposed to be from the south, so we head way on the hope that it will kick up for the return.



We stopped for a while on the south side of Queneska Island for water play.

And during that break the wind DID kick up, but from the north, so the return was into the wind.

Back into the harbor

New Years

A cold had me out of commission, at least wrt kayaking for a while in December. Missed the solstice, missed going out on the lake to watch them blow up the Crown Point Bridge.
I saw that on TV, but the broadcast did no justice to the reported 130 dB "BOOM". In this day of HD and all they SHOULD have had it in 5 channel surround sound, but the TV crew at the minimum 1000 feet just gave us a little thud. This (clearly) amateur vid on youtube had a lot better sound.


Meanwhile, back to New Years. The weather was favorable, even above freezing. 3 of us went out for a couple of hours from Coast Guard south to Red Rocks and got in our first rolls of the year.