At the back, steering

Today was my first paddle as a steerperson.

The weather and marine reports indicated winds at 10-15 knots and basically a calm and normal day, I had taken my steering clinic a few weeks back and I was ready for a nice calm paddle down to Granthams landing.

It was, and then, it wasn't.

The return journey was difficult, winds picked up to probably 25-30 knots, we were in an OC4 and the wind was in our faces, plus the tide was coming in, so the boat was a handful, it was, surprisingly, a lot of fun.

So, there you go, just a journal entry of the first time.

Pat's Paddle

An overhead view of Pat's Paddle on Howe Sound and over to Preston Island.

I thought Pat was about to give up around point J, but she was just taking a short rest, what a trooper!!

A trip to Preston

Preston Island that is.

Around Preston Island we saw seals, a new family of grebes (at least a half-dozen babies, are they called goslings, greblings or what?) and over above Keats Island (in the background in picture) about a dozen bald eagles soaring (probably off looking for little crunchy grebeletttes).

A great paddle, Pat did very well, a lot different than a normal trip to Preston.

Arm Straight Butterworth!!

Here Pat is approaching the gap, showing that she cannot keep that upper paddle arm straight despite me being a rude sergeant major behind her, it seems that she always responds better to her maiden name, however in this case, that upper arm insisted on operating like a broken chicken wing.

Friday paddle

It was great for Karen's mum to come out with us in an OC6 on Friday, weather was good and we managed to go out of the gap, over to Preston Island (and around it) which was about a six kilometer paddle, here we are at the compound prior to Pat's indoctrination as a paddler.

Momma Piglet

Thursday, top of Soames Hill.

Now, the local nickname for Soames Hill is "The Knob" and It's quite a big one.

I never quite thought that I would see my mother in law sitting on top of one.