Roll Class, Mantras, and Another Trip to Southport

Sunday in roll class, between working on rolling the Lorax caught me repeating "slow is smooth, and smooth is fast," as I worked on my pivot turn. I was using a forward sweep on one side followed by a reverse sweep on the other in order to spin the kayak without moving forward or back, just spin. Moving the boat like the hands of a clock, with myself as the clock's center, is interesting work.

Stroke refinement is desperately needed by me, apparently. Coach told me recently that my rough water skills are far superior to my standard strokes. Pivot turns, bow rudders, and braces will get the lion's share of work in the next few months. Those and a solid roll need to be well-rounded, sanded smooth.

This last week I once again found myself in Southport, venturing out in the misty cold with Coach (Brian, if that is not clear). But first, before paddling one morning, I went for a run and found this wonderland right behind the house.

Spreading along the ground for as far as I could pass through the untended forest behind the houses was this magical, soft, fragrant, spongy growth. It has been tentatively identified as a type of Deer Lichen. The retired research biologist, Paul, who identified it for me said that it only grows in overcast, misty, cool conditions. He also said the growth I photographed was quite a bit more leggy than he expected and also was in a profusion he had not imagined. Another oddity for Southport.

When I told Coach about the lichen and Paul's commentary, he said "Now what does that say?" By which he was referring to the weather being quite a lot less sunny than he had expected when building a house there. While he spent a warm season there, he had not spent a winter there. I know what I have experienced there in the months I have been driving down is almost always windy, overcast, and quite often rainy weather. I have learned to always travel down with a rain coat.

Also while out running I perused neighborhoods for homes for sale. I found a couple of interesting homes and a commercial property.

I quite liked this one but it is off the potentials list as it does not have a garage nor the room to build one.

Some of the Cottages at Southport. This little community is all homes built in the "Southport cottage" style. It is a Craftsman-like style, painted in bright colors. While I love this little development it probably would not work out for the Lorax and me so we are looking elsewhere within Southport.

I am also keeping my eyes open for potential commercial property. The Lorax and I are thinking about a changing our lives with a move from the bustle of WDC to the quieter life of a coastal town.

A calm moment on the water. I had few opportunities to take photos as the water was frothing this last week. This is why I drive down, and Southport does not generally disappoint.

But then Friday morning found me on the road for home. Someone asked the Lorax at roll class last Sunday morning if we are having a "weekend marriage" right now. He agreed that was a way to describe it. Just for now. Maybe we will change stuff in the future. Time will tell.