Paddling at Folly Beach

Each time I travel lately, I find my skills edging forward.  I am comfortable now in a wider array of moving water. Much of that previously would have scared me nearly to death.

With this improvement has come another change: frankly, I am less interested in long, slow, distance paddling now. I would rather fight the wind and waves, and go home tired, wet, and salty.

I paddled with Edward one day recently, down in Folly Beach. We put in at the launch by the last bridge before Folly. Then we paddled a couple miles to the ocean. On the map below we paddled to the area noted as Folly Beach County Park. From there Ed paddled up the ocean side and along the beach, working the surf.

My tracks that day show that I stayed in the inlet, playing in the "baby pool." None the less, I found stuff to slap me around. As much as I think surfing is cool I enjoy clapotis the most. I just love getting knocked around, and watching waves wash over my deck.

I was really grateful for the opportunity to get out. The winds had kept us pinned down the day before. After going out with Ed I once again changed my perception of what makes good conditions for paddling. A notch upward, I gather.

Ed picked up a new boat that day, at the Charleston Outdoor Festival. I wish I had taken the time to turn my boat around before I snapped the photos above. But in any case, I thought his new Romany Classic looked smashing next to my Romany Surf. I was struck by his black deck, and the counter point to mine in white.

What beautiful boats these are, form and function perfectly balanced.

It was a lovely trip. Many thanks to my host, Ashley, and the pleasant paddlers whom I was fortunate to spend time with. Even in my darkest times, things like this remind me to feel lucky, feel fortunate. And indeed, I do.