Time in Boat

Here I sit in my office/workshop/bedroom. Yeah, it is a little crowded. I am almost warm, certainly dry, and relatively comfortable. It is going to rain soon. We are under a flood watch.

I have not been blogging much this winter. For the earlier part I was busy crafting for my etsy shop. Then I went adventuring with a group of people I fondly call "Team Dale." And finally I returned home late last week. I have been home 3 days, and kayaked two of those. I guess there is no such thing as "too much time in boat."

Time in Boat, a phrase that Fish often uses when we discuss students and other paddlers, as well as ourselves. TiB represents the difference between a consciously competent paddler and an unconsciously competent one. One can take all the classes in the world, read all the books, watch all the videos, and repeat sound bites on command without actually being unconsciously competent.

Where would I be without TiB? Not where I am today, certainly. I would likely not be able to navigate and propel my paddle-craft through the crazy strong currents of Southport. I would likely be fearful, rather than careful. I would certainly not have ventured into the 8 to 10 foot green swell running like a freight train that Fish and I found south of Bald Head Island last Wednesday.

Looking across West Beach, on Bald Head Island, towards Southport.

Fish adjusts his foot pegs while a flock of brown pelicans spectate.

I have come a very long way. And yet there is much I do not know. Where do I go from here? What path do I take? Course, heading, bearing? Reciprocal heading, in case I need to backtrack?

Sometimes my paddle does not bite
It skitters across the surface
I do not move forward
Wasted energy
Lost momentum
Pause
Try again