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 Ultralight precision precut plywood kayak and canoe kits. Est. 1955. |
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I had a small problem today trying to figure out how to get into the river with 10 feet of ice sticking out from the banks to the deep water. I figured if I tried to walk across the ice I'd probably break through the ice. I really didn't want to swim today, the temperature was a cool -6 C. I studied the river bank then looked at the hill above. Conditions seemed right for something new today and I had this provocative itch to do something crazy. I looked back at the river bank; thought for a minute or less; it doesn't take long to make a crazy choice; looked back at the hill and then it happened: the little light bulb lit up in my head. I pulled the kayak back up the slope and angled it on the hill so it wouldn't leave without me. I dressed up in my favorite fashionable spray skirt, red was the choice for the day, not too bold and not too subtle, the perfect color for the rescuers to see if I failed with my mischief. Once suitably attired, I aimed the kayak towards the water and anchored it into position using my paddle. I carefully climbed aboard and attached the sprayskirt to the coaming. As soon as it was ready I pulled the paddle out of the snow and let gravity have its way with the kayak. You should have seen it! It's 0930h, morning rush hour traffic is speeding across the bridge a hundred meters away, and there is this guy paddling his kayak through snow heading downhill towards the river. I hit the water very smoothly, having timed the wet collision to happen while there were no ice pans floating by. I let out this loud "Woo, Hoo!" as I straightened out to follow the main current. Man was that was fun! I wanted to do it again but I wanted to be out there paddling more. So, if anyone has any doubts about frozen entry into rushing water, I have found a way. Getting back out was easy when I was done for the day. I had broken the ice during my downhill rush into chill oblivion. That gave me enough of an opening through the frozen bank to get into water only a few inches deep. What I need now is to get someone with a digital video camera to shoot me as I combine one of Canada's great pastimes (sledding) with sea kayaking. Now I'm thinking, there are some great slabs of ice on the shore, they look solid enough, maybe I could add skating to this routine and really get a well rounded winter workout. I added a link to some shots of today's frozen foray.
Robert N Pruden
Pictures taken Nov 25 2002
Don't try this at home!
