Sold my Sirocco and bought, drum roll please, an NDK Romany Surf!

I say that with an exclamation as I am really excited by the boat. Some pictures...

Out with friends Friday 5-2-14. Credit R Dennis Green

Kat in her n-used NDK Explorer, Becky, and myself. Credit R Dennis Green

House shopping from the water. This is the one! On Massey Creek Fairfax County, VA. Credit R Dennis Green

Just for comparison: My Surf is supposed to be 16' 3" and Kat's Explorer 17' 8". While the size difference looks obvious in this photo it eluded us in person. I think the Explorer was trying to bamboozle us into thinking "she" was fun-sized, rather than the stately lady "she" is. One can also see the difference in the key hole cockpit size. While I find the entrance to my Surf roomy, the Explorer is more cozy, aka, tight getting in and out.

Here the silky slack waters at high tide beckon us out from Leesylvania to cross to Mattawoman Creek. Once there we practiced bracing and turns. James's CD Gulfstream is still pretty new to him as he doesn't get out as often as I do.

Charmed by the new boat

Selfie 5-3-14

James tried out the Surf and declared the seat more comfortable, and cockpit more roomy, than his Gulfstream. This, despite the fact that the Gulfstream is a full two inches wider (23.75") than the Surf (21.75"). I believe the issue with the Gulfie is the plastic stabilizers that run from the cockpit coaming down to the seat at the hip area. While my CD Solstice GTS has the same kind of arrangement, it is not tight while the Gulfstream is. As a matter of fact I cannot sit in the Gulfstream for more than a handful of minutes before I am threatened with severe hip pain. My hips are crap, that's a given, but I find it odd the seat area is so tight when my Solstice is not.

Why so serious? He says, "Meh, my Gulfstream turns more easily." He and I never agree on boats. This is good as we will likely never share a boat. This is bad for the same reason. We will eventually run out of room.

I hope my CD Sirocco suits her new owner better than me. She was just too big. The gal who bought her found she fit just right. Every one deserves some new boat joy!

Lake Ridge Marina with a bunch of paddle boarders

The Lorax and I met up with the Lake Ridge Paddlers to go out on the Occoquan Reservoir for and easy 6 or 8 mile paddle on Saturday the 28th. 

Once again I was reminded how much the wind affects paddle boarders when kayakers barely feel it. I would not have called this a "windy day." The boarders were feeling it though. They got a bit more of a work out than the Lorax and I did. I got to see Deke's new Christmas toy, a carbon racing board, and show off our new toys. 

I was glad we took it a bit slower as this was my fourth time on the water in my new boat in a hand-full of days and I was tired. Pooped. I told my husband I couldn't make it back the last half mile and that he would "have to tow me." Then he pointed out he didn't bring his tow line. More poop, I really was tired, but wouldn't have actually let him tow me. I do not think I ever have been towed. I'm sure there will be a first time.

We went out for pizza at a "pizza bar" afterwards and got to visit with Michele, Deke, and Celeste mainly as we were at one end of a long table. Next time I will sit next to Karen, as I always like to visit with her!

The illusion of wilderness is pulled away this time of year and the townhouses at this end of the reservoir are visible everywhere

Deke and his new board

Celeste and Michele

Sidney and Brian

Karen and Michele

Pete

the Lorax aka James and Brian

Laurie and Scott

Christmas Day we played for a bit with our new toys

We went out on a sub-freezing day to play with our Yule toys. Pete told me the "real-feel" that day was maybe 18 degrees F or something. Meh. It felt fine to me, but we were there to play and didn't leave the vicinity of the Marina. Maybe that made it a tad safer.

Laying about

The Lorax channeling his inner bank robber

The Lorax's new boat

And my new ride

Poseidon's Trident is going on my shoulder as soon as I find a new artist I like

That's a pretty boat!

Winter scenery

More laying about

Balancing act

Belle Haven to National Harbor and Back 12/5/13

Ok, now I am really getting into the photos I have shot or someone shot of me from December. I solemnly promise to be faster about dealing with this photo thing from here on out. We will see how long that lasts!.

This day the three of us met for a mid-week jaunt. Here's some of my favorite shots from the paddle.

Dyke Marsh

Beached for a snack and break at Ft Foote Park

The Woodrow Wilson Bridge from Ft Foote's little beach

Dennis launching

National Harbor 

Turning back towards Belle Have with the WW at our backs, land looks very far away

December highlights as seen through some photos

Silly photo of Darrick and I struggling to pull my paddle apart. Dennis popped out around the car with his camera and "caught us mid-action." He said as soon as he heard us grumbling he knew something photo-worthy was up. 

Above 3 photos shot by R. Dennis Green at Belle Haven/National Harbor 12/5/13. Quite an enjoyable day!

 ...and not much else! Just some photos of things from the last 30 days.

Brian nudged me into buying a dry suit this year. I even have photos of the day I bought it. Having swum in it I have had my epic fail: if I don't get that chest zipper snuggled down all the way into its garage, bingo, icy cold water. But all in all, it has lent me the promised confidence to continue paddling into the bitter part of the year.

Just so you, my dear reader or blog-surfing bot whichever you are, are all caught up I will post some photos from recent trips or happenings and a new boat or two.

Classic Brian,  watching Darrick roll 11/22/13

More Classic Brian, this one courtesy R. Dennis Green 2013

My snowy baby girl "helping" decorate for Yule 2013

Just a mass of snowy, soon to be wet, dogs. Yule 2013

Crossing from the Mattawoman to Leesylvania, credit Pete Hohmann 12/20/2013

 credit Pete Hohmann 12/20/2013

Ok, now this is bad. I just had to go to facebook to figure out if I had any other photos of the last 30 days. Sigh.

I am an official Paddle-Bum now and I couldn't be more pleased

Got called a paddle-bum yesterday, not once but twice. Husband says "I was a surf-bum when I was a kid. But now I'm all grown up and responsible."(scowls at me) and I cheerfully say "well then, I am reverse aging! I am finally getting to enjoy my childhood!"


Paddle-bum is not an insult, it was more like an honorific. That's Lady Paddle-Bum to you sir!

I am enjoying my second childhood. I have reached some strange age or wisdom, where, in spite of my health, my fitness is increasing and I just can't be unhappy for any period longer than say 10 minutes.

I have been slow to edit my photos but here are a few. I have seen some pretty amazing things while on the water recently. I watched a bald eagle chase an osprey for at least 5 minutes trying to get a fish away from the smaller bird. He could have gotten his own meal in the same five minutes. I saw thick mist rising from the water on a still morning at dawn and then paddled through it. I found that I am able to make a 0730 put-in, when I haven't been able to function that early in the morning in years. I watched a pair of hawks circling each other and then landing in a tree in apparent harmony. And I have been slow to get the camera out instead emphasizing living in each moment without bothering to try and catch them digitally.

White and reindeer colored white tail does with Kat in the foreground

Last of the fall color at the Great Marsh, Mason Neck, Virginia

Just an interesting shot of a pair of paddlers from our One-Way Pohick to Mason Neck trip

Becky and some crows

Due to my camera's quirks this shot came out oddly colored and over-exposed. This is, I am pretty sure, Pete.

Feeling stronger by the moment

My chiropractor, Dr Chow, discharged me from weekly Active Release Therapy (ART) two Fridays ago. I am so grateful. It has been a long road. I think I need to send him a fruit basket or chocolate, or whatever it is that a man would prefer. My man would prefer an Ibex gift certificate or maybe new hammer, yeah, he collects hammers. Don't ask...

I saw my orthopedic surgeon, Dr Parker, a few days later and he was astounded! He said he almost couldn't believe I am the same patient. He mentioned my thinner legs, muscle tone, weight loss... That's some pretty flattering stuff. And yeah, I have worked really hard to get here.

He suggested that I return to Dr Chow if I start feeling stiff or creaky. But really I am feeling great! I have to add that working part time has been a big part of my recovery. I am finally getting the extra rest I apparently needed so desperately. It just seems like I've been on a downward spiral ever since 2000 or so. I've had minor ups but mostly just slowly down down down. Now I finally feel like I am going back up. There really isn't any way for me to express how good this feels; how amazing and unexpected.

I am still paddling. I had purchased various combinations of wet and dry suit pieces last spring when they went on end of season sale. I was prepared to keep paddling when the water temp fell. The trees are so lovely this time of year. My friend Kat is correct that this time of year the Occoquan Reservoir shines. And here are some photos to illustrate it:

We met right at dawn on Monday the 28th October

We both had a shutterbug frenzy of trying to capture the lovely light upon the misty water

One of my best of batch

The sky also cooperated. Everything was so perfect, one of those mornings that remind me why I exist.

We both chose our Necky boats that morning. My Elias is my most stable sea kayak and her Eliza is simply her favorite boat.