So much has happened in the last month that I’ve not had
time to blog, been working hard on
my bucket list. Things aren’t
slowing down yet, so here’a a quick synopsis.
Around Cape Lookout –
Check
This has been on my bucket list for awhile. Lee, Chris, James, Jay, and I sent a weekend
paddling around the outside of Cape Lookout, and it was one of the more
exciting paddles I’ve done. Surf predictions
were for 2-3 ft, but around the shoaling at the Cape we paddled into
increasingly bigger and bigger waves topping out at 6+. The only thing wrong was that it was a quick
out and back trip with only one night camping under the lighthouse. So…. this is back on the list hoping for a
3-day trip, with an extra day playing out there in unloaded kayaks.
Paddling past the lighthouse on our way around the hook
Beach on the Cape that we landed and camped on
Bay of Fundy and
Tidal Bore – Check
Lee and I flew out to the Bay of Fundy Symposium in Nova
Scotia. You really need to do this one.
The list of instructors was impressive check
it out here, this is the new generation of top notch instructors. The day before the symposium, we all paddled
the Shubie Tidal Bore, all participants had a personal instructor, mine was Ryan
Ruston (sigh!). We surfed 8 ft standing
waves!!!!!! This WAS absolutely the most
exciting 5 miles I’ve ever paddled. This
symposium was one of the best I’ve attended, great instruction, great organization,
and the paddling locations were absolutely beautiful.
Too much fun to take many pictures, found the
one below with me, Ryan Ruston and Paul Kaffe (on right, both were excellent instructors
I had).
And this one I took during our lunch break in the Races and Overfalls
Class with Paul Kaffe, on Candlebox Island.
Surfing with Dale
Williams – Check
A 2 day open water and surf training class with Dale Williams at Folly
Beach, Charleston SC. We didn’t have huge surf, 1-2 ft, but actually
just perfect to play and learn in. I was
in my new NDK Romany, and using a Celtic Reef 200 cm paddle that Dale suggested I try. All three (instructor, kayak, paddle) made me a better surfer J, I’ve ordered the
paddle and am back to the Euro in the surf.
Got my first top turn during the class!
ACA Level 4
Instructor Certification – Almost Check
I finished my trip to Charleston with a 6 day ACA L4 Open Water Coastal Instructor IDW/ICE at
Sea Kayak Carolina with Scott Szczepaniak.
It was one of the toughest classes I’ve ever taken (lots of stress,
scenarios, and open water work). Scott has very high expectations of those he certifies. My biggest weakness was navigation (I’ve been
a GPS girl for so long). I almost passed, I'll complete the certification requirements after I teach a navigation
class he signs off on. I’m studying
for it now.
