Winter Kayaking

The dark days of winter- lose a few minutes of daylight on each of the day, everday, throw in a major holiday season, and there go the kayak outings I'd grown accustomed to. Today, January 16 2011 I finally got back out there. Nothing too flashy- just the Barnston island channel of the Fraser river, north to the main channel, downstream a bit, and back. It felt so good to be back in the cockpit I was actually giddy and laughed out loud as I started paddling. This euphoric sensation I get must be a substitution for something I'm missing in my life. Or maybe I've just truly found an activity that brings me almost unspeakable joy. I guess I can speak though since I've started a blog about my experiences.

It was a grey afternoon. I didn't start until after 3pm and sunset was 4:45pm so I knew I didn't have lots of flexiblity about route. Temperature's been unseasonably warm and there was even some blue sky earlier in the afternoon which got blocked out by more clouds by the time I arrived to paddle. The Barnston island ferry terminal is where I typically launch when I kayak the Fraser river. It's about a 2 minute drive from home. I'm so fortunate to have such close access.

Interesting 'wildlife' observation today: a flock of some kind of dark mid-sized birds were circling high above the river in a roughly oval pattern, occassionally mixing it up into a figure 8. It got me thinking- what are they doing exactly? Why that behaviour? Are they feeding on something in the air? Hunting something on the ground? Socializing or determining pecking order in the flock? Or maybe just flying because they can- for the fun of it? I like the last idea best.

I was surprised to find that my kayaking muscles- shoulders particularly, were sore, and my cardio is not where it was last time I went out. The return trip proved tough- a headwind kicked up making small waves and making things cold, then the rain started up again; all this while fighting the strongest current I've felt in the river yet. I'll be feeling this trip for a day or two but can't wait to get out again now that i got in the water. You know you've hit on something good when you're thinking about the next time while you're still involved in the activity. Next trip I need to do something new and interesting if possible. On the list I've targeted the Nicomekl river in south Surrey- upstream from Mud bay and see how far I can get, Coquitlam river, Pitt river, and an epic one day one way trip from Abbotsford to Richmond. Need to build up to that one though.

Until the next trip, that's the kayaking news for now. Thanks for reading.