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re: I’m planning on Kayaking the entire Texas coast - Update 2.0 bot. Pg. 6 - Hoist the sail!
Posted on 8/27/21 at 5:11 pm to Philzilla2k
Posted on 8/27/21 at 5:11 pm to Philzilla2k
quote:
quote:
used a waterproof solar pad
quote:
recharge his batteries during the night
How does that work?
Solar panel recharges internal battery during the day. At night he can plug up the panel to recharge his items. Repeat each day.
Don’t want to charge while on water because one wave or rainstorm can ruin you equipment if water gets in while charging.
This post was edited on 8/27/21 at 5:14 pm
Posted on 8/31/21 at 1:45 pm to AustinAggie
Update - I’m on the water @ Lake LBJ. No one is on the lake today, absolute glass conditions. Took the Bawbary Corsair for a quick spin before unloading the rest of my car. I’m actually shocked by how fast I’m able to move and how easily I can turn in it.
Planning on practicing my rolling later this afternoon and doing short stints across the lake and back. Rest of the week gonna actually go further distances / up the Colorado and Llano.
Snagged a complete (shaft and blades) carbon fiber, feathered / adjustable paddle, 228 cm from Academy for only $120. Supposedly a little big (8cm) for my kayak width and my height based on my research, but I didn’t have any issues with it when I used it briefly. Got a leash, a manual bilge pump, and water whistle too. Still waiting on my PFD and VHF from Amazon but shouldn’t be an issue for the lake. Next purchases gonna be a lightweight tent, solar charger, and a couple waterproof bags.
Here are some quick pictures, will have lots more soon!
Planning on practicing my rolling later this afternoon and doing short stints across the lake and back. Rest of the week gonna actually go further distances / up the Colorado and Llano.
Snagged a complete (shaft and blades) carbon fiber, feathered / adjustable paddle, 228 cm from Academy for only $120. Supposedly a little big (8cm) for my kayak width and my height based on my research, but I didn’t have any issues with it when I used it briefly. Got a leash, a manual bilge pump, and water whistle too. Still waiting on my PFD and VHF from Amazon but shouldn’t be an issue for the lake. Next purchases gonna be a lightweight tent, solar charger, and a couple waterproof bags.
Here are some quick pictures, will have lots more soon!
This post was edited on 8/31/21 at 2:23 pm
Posted on 8/31/21 at 4:45 pm to AustinAggie
Initial thoughts after another solid paddle -
My hatches / bulkheads seem to be well sealed and in good condition, I flipped my kayak multiple times on purpose, splashed it with water over and over, and filled the middle sitting compartment with water and didn’t get a drop in the front or back hatch. Obviously coastal conditions will be different and more challenging but I’m happy there is no significant issue.
I tried rolling. Pretty difficult. Managed it successfully only once out of around ten attempts. I think not having a neoprene skirt for my middle compartment is making it slightly more difficult than it should be. Getting one soon.
Also tried entering from the water without cowboying the front / using a special technique. Also difficult. Same success rate roughly, muscled my way in only once - flipped every other attempt.
Gonna watch some YouTube videos and get proper technique down and give it another go when the sun is lower. “Feels like” is 105 degrees right now and the water might as well be a warm bath.
My hatches / bulkheads seem to be well sealed and in good condition, I flipped my kayak multiple times on purpose, splashed it with water over and over, and filled the middle sitting compartment with water and didn’t get a drop in the front or back hatch. Obviously coastal conditions will be different and more challenging but I’m happy there is no significant issue.
I tried rolling. Pretty difficult. Managed it successfully only once out of around ten attempts. I think not having a neoprene skirt for my middle compartment is making it slightly more difficult than it should be. Getting one soon.
Also tried entering from the water without cowboying the front / using a special technique. Also difficult. Same success rate roughly, muscled my way in only once - flipped every other attempt.
Gonna watch some YouTube videos and get proper technique down and give it another go when the sun is lower. “Feels like” is 105 degrees right now and the water might as well be a warm bath.
This post was edited on 8/31/21 at 4:48 pm
Posted on 8/31/21 at 7:44 pm to AustinAggie
My buddy from south Texas showed up and as I’m telling him my plans he responds I shouldn’t be not worried about rattlesnakes
This post was edited on 8/31/21 at 7:51 pm
Posted on 9/1/21 at 7:01 am to AustinAggie
quote:
I tried rolling. Pretty difficult. Managed it successfully only once out of around ten attempts. I think not having a neoprene skirt for my middle compartment is making it slightly more difficult than it should be. Getting one soon.
Also tried entering from the water without cowboying the front / using a special technique. Also difficult. Same success rate roughly, muscled my way in only once - flipped every other attempt.
I believe this needs to be recorded and set to that Benny Hill clown music for us.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 8:00 am to AustinAggie
quote:
Next purchases gonna be a lightweight tent
I have a nature hike cloud up 2 person I've used for bikepacking trips.
Excellent, very lightweight tent for the money.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 9:34 am to AustinAggie
quote:
I tried rolling. Pretty difficult.
Yeah the people talking about rolling IMO don't have any experience in a kayak, especially a touring kayak in open water. If the conditions are bad enough in that type of kayak where rolling is even a remote possibility then you either shouldn't be in water too deep to stand up or you should be on landing waiting for the weather to pass.
Kayak paddling is a lot like swimming or running though. Running a mile or 2 or swimming 200 yards is not bad, but running 10 miles for 10 days in a row takes multiple levels of better stamina.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 10:51 am to AustinAggie
Nevermind I see Galveston or sabine is your ending point. I live a mile from sabine lake. I'd be willing to give you my number incase you get in a bind between here and Galveston..
This post was edited on 9/1/21 at 10:54 am
Posted on 9/1/21 at 12:39 pm to Meauxjeaux
quote:
believe this needs to be recorded and set to that Benny Hill clown music for us
I have a go-pro … might just have to do that
quote:
Excellent, very lightweight tent for the money.
I’ll check that brand out, thanks!
quote:
shouldn't be in water too deep to stand up or you should be on landing waiting for the weather to pass
I agree
quote:
I'd be willing to give you my number incase you get in a bind between here and Galveston..
I’d appreciate that! Hit the email I posted earlier in the thread.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 12:40 pm to AustinAggie
Had some friends visit me a couple of minutes ago
This post was edited on 9/1/21 at 12:41 pm
Posted on 9/1/21 at 6:51 pm to AustinAggie
Just had my first real paddle. Roughly 10 miles total. 5 miles from the house to a sandbar in the middle of the lake and then back. Took roughly 2.5 hours.
I had the wind at my back and took a pretty leisurely pace there, tried to snap some photos of my surroundings and get my paddle stroke rhythm down. Took 10-15 minutes to chill on the sandbar. Coming back was much harder as I was tired and paddling into the wind. Didn’t stop paddling.
My hands aren’t as chewed up as I thought they would be and I managed to stay dry the whole time. Back not hurting as bad as I thought it would from that shitty seat. Overall a very good first day.
I plan to do the same route and distance tomorrow without stopping at all and getting a better idea of my true pace - w/o me dicking around so much. I’m pretty confident I can do it in 1 hr 45 minutes tomorrow.
Here are some pictures I managed to snag -
I had the wind at my back and took a pretty leisurely pace there, tried to snap some photos of my surroundings and get my paddle stroke rhythm down. Took 10-15 minutes to chill on the sandbar. Coming back was much harder as I was tired and paddling into the wind. Didn’t stop paddling.
My hands aren’t as chewed up as I thought they would be and I managed to stay dry the whole time. Back not hurting as bad as I thought it would from that shitty seat. Overall a very good first day.
I plan to do the same route and distance tomorrow without stopping at all and getting a better idea of my true pace - w/o me dicking around so much. I’m pretty confident I can do it in 1 hr 45 minutes tomorrow.
Here are some pictures I managed to snag -
This post was edited on 9/1/21 at 7:03 pm
Posted on 9/1/21 at 7:16 pm to AustinAggie
Should weigh your kayak down with the approximate weight of items you will be carrying. It will give you a better idea of the pace and your stability with a load.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 7:39 pm to TimeOutdoors
Yeah you’re right about that. Might as well be practicing with the proper load. Thanks for reminding me.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 7:41 pm to kywildcatfanone
quote:
Ribeye for dinner?
Grilled chicken and asparagus
Need to get in the best shape possible if I’m gonna pull this off.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 8:04 pm to baldona
quote:Wrong... the person talking about rolling is well accustomed to rolling a kayak. Although it's usually an open canoe because it's something not everyone can do.
Yeah the people talking about rolling IMO don't have any experience in a kayak, especially a touring kayak in open water.
And I still (highly) suggest Austin should strive to become capable of self rescue. Then he'll be free to truly relax, kick back, and enjoy the journey. Instead of being tethered to the shore, afraid of a little rain, or relying on his life jacket which should be another level of backup (and hopeful not used except for fun). Biggest trick (not just touring kayak) is to slow down and have have positive, complete, non-rushed thoughts before even trying.
Flipping over and counting to 10 before trying anything is a good first step. You have to be calm, stay cool, and be thinking. Not rushed or floundering around. Next learn to wet exit by sliding forward, over the front deck, with your feet following. This will enable you to relax even more.... and help with hanging in there for a second or third attempt while learning. Because you'll know you can exit in seconds if need be and not revert to panic mode.
Rollin is pretty much a relaxed reach forward, doing a good forward sweep, followed a strong hip snap... you just slow it down in a touring kayak (because it rolls slower). And like any boat keep your damn head down. You don't lift your head up out of the water from the side... you transfer or rotate from down low to over the deck. And then smile and see if anyone caught that. There's got got be a ga'zillion how to videos.
I've used that slow counting to 10 (while thinking) on countless occasions, when teaching people that have had trouble learning, with great success.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 9:29 pm to TimeOutdoors
quote:
It will give you a better idea of the pace and your stability with a load
He's an aggie. Better clarify the load to which you are referencing.
Posted on 9/1/21 at 10:39 pm to awestruck
Great post, thank you. I’ll keep all that in mind when I give rolls another go tomorrow.
Posted on 9/16/21 at 4:41 pm to AustinAggie
Brief update -
Not dead, been kayaking whenever I can, a lot of other stuff going on (CFB & house renovations) so haven’t had a ~5+ hour day or more than ~16-18 mile stretch in day yet. I do probably have ~140 miles total paddled in various routes around the lake since I last posted. Body has felt fine. Some hand issues the first week but I fixed my grip problems and doing well.
More importantly, the baby bird has learned to fly -
This was an absolute bitch to do especially in this weather. I’ll spare you the details because I’m beat. I thought this would take 2 hours and it ended up taking closer to 6.
I’m about to chug a water then a beer then take her out for her first ride. Wind is picking up a bit after nothing all day. I’ll be back at some point to let y’all know how it goes.
SV Bawbary Corsair and I are gonna see this damn thing out.
Not dead, been kayaking whenever I can, a lot of other stuff going on (CFB & house renovations) so haven’t had a ~5+ hour day or more than ~16-18 mile stretch in day yet. I do probably have ~140 miles total paddled in various routes around the lake since I last posted. Body has felt fine. Some hand issues the first week but I fixed my grip problems and doing well.
More importantly, the baby bird has learned to fly -
This was an absolute bitch to do especially in this weather. I’ll spare you the details because I’m beat. I thought this would take 2 hours and it ended up taking closer to 6.
I’m about to chug a water then a beer then take her out for her first ride. Wind is picking up a bit after nothing all day. I’ll be back at some point to let y’all know how it goes.
SV Bawbary Corsair and I are gonna see this damn thing out.
This post was edited on 9/16/21 at 4:52 pm
Posted on 9/16/21 at 5:24 pm to AustinAggie
quote:
Grilled chicken and asparagus
Need to get in the best shape possible if I’m gonna pull this off.
Red meat and white rice.
Seriously.
And go buy a gigantic fish oil bottle from Costco.
Eat 10 a day with at least a multivitamin in the mornings.
A few baby aspirin isn't the worst decision.
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