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stories:forest_gump_bay_2020
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stories:forest_gump_bay_2020 [2020/09/10 02:25] preavley |
stories:forest_gump_bay_2020 [2025/09/25 15:42] (current) pstureavley |
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| - | <-stories:downwinder_1_05_2020|Previous Story^stories:bellingham_stories|Story List^stories:calling_checklists_2_15_2020|Next Story-> | + | <<stories:downwinder_1_05_2020|Previous Story^stories:bellingham_stories|Story List^stories:safe_happy_water|Next Story>> |
| ===== As Forest Gump say's: "Stupid is as Stupid Does"- Today's Downwinder ===== | ===== As Forest Gump say's: "Stupid is as Stupid Does"- Today's Downwinder ===== | ||
| **Pmarcus** \\ | **Pmarcus** \\ | ||
| - | Jan 5 #25792 | + | Jan 5 2020 #25792 |
| Well…Okay…it was sorta fun but sorta scary and sorta survival paddle for maybe a wave or two for me for sure! | Well…Okay…it was sorta fun but sorta scary and sorta survival paddle for maybe a wave or two for me for sure! | ||
| - | A talented BIG water (minues one, me) group went out this morning (I was in that group but my tail was definitely between my legs) right about 9:45 or so from Larrabee Park to Squalicum. If you check out Bham Buoy about that time (Thanks Beau W) you will see some wind above 50…maybe a warning…but we went anyways! | + | A talented BIG water (minus one, me) group went out this morning (I was in that group but my tail was definitely between my legs) right about 9:45 or so from Larrabee Park to Squalicum. If you check out Bham Buoy about that time (Thanks Beau W) you will see some wind above 50…maybe a warning…but we went anyways! |
| Alan L and Mike L and Kevin O and Wilson R and Jonas E disappeared over the horizon in a mist of wind and water being blown off the top and Lance R and Dan Moseley and Beau W and Collin S and myself sorta of tried to hang together. We all took different lines, myself went the inside line from Larrabee thinking maybe if I die my body will wash up sooner then the others….First few miles were killer from the Wildcat to just a little past Governors, with big Fat Combers paralleling the shore. As you ventured farther North, that wind coming through the cut at the South end of Chuckanut Bay created a two dimensional wave, like the "Wall" rebound but, 5 times the size and 1/2 mile off shore. So much for a calmer line…at this point wind puffs started to continuously lift waves off the water. Also at this point my "mantra" started to slip out loud and the words, "Focus, keep paddling" and "I love my children and I will do anything to get back alive" kept coming out…Sligshot would be the best word to use, coming down one wave then bouncing off into another going a different direction. Fun…sorta…I surfed right onto Post Point (killer and big fun waves but windy) to get a little reprieve and shelter from the Easterly wind and started breathing again! Figured the next 2 miles to Squalicum would be just Easterly wind…little did I know that it would take three to four of us to put our boats on our trucks when finished. The conditions, not the wind, it was already 35 to 45, started to build as you approached Squalicum beach, you weren't sure if your canoe was going to vibrate apart as you hurtled (best word to use) down swells and breaking waves in the neighborhood of 4 to 6 feet I guess. I have never been in those big of conditions other then 70 degree water at Swell City and as the rain and river water came out of Squalicum Creek and the Nooksack River..well lets just say, I'm glad prohibition was lifted!! 100 yards off the beach, which I heard Dan M say after, was easily Long Board surfing conditions and was seriously sketchy with a high tide and those breaking waves, logs bouncing up and down, 40 plus mph wind , large submerged concrete blocks in muddy water, other then that….what could possibly go wrong. Other paddlers on the beach were trying to catch us as we came ashore like baseball players fielding grounders…Three or Four of the talent group in front of me ended up cultivating the Sea bottom but came out without broken limbs or broken boats thankfully!! | Alan L and Mike L and Kevin O and Wilson R and Jonas E disappeared over the horizon in a mist of wind and water being blown off the top and Lance R and Dan Moseley and Beau W and Collin S and myself sorta of tried to hang together. We all took different lines, myself went the inside line from Larrabee thinking maybe if I die my body will wash up sooner then the others….First few miles were killer from the Wildcat to just a little past Governors, with big Fat Combers paralleling the shore. As you ventured farther North, that wind coming through the cut at the South end of Chuckanut Bay created a two dimensional wave, like the "Wall" rebound but, 5 times the size and 1/2 mile off shore. So much for a calmer line…at this point wind puffs started to continuously lift waves off the water. Also at this point my "mantra" started to slip out loud and the words, "Focus, keep paddling" and "I love my children and I will do anything to get back alive" kept coming out…Sligshot would be the best word to use, coming down one wave then bouncing off into another going a different direction. Fun…sorta…I surfed right onto Post Point (killer and big fun waves but windy) to get a little reprieve and shelter from the Easterly wind and started breathing again! Figured the next 2 miles to Squalicum would be just Easterly wind…little did I know that it would take three to four of us to put our boats on our trucks when finished. The conditions, not the wind, it was already 35 to 45, started to build as you approached Squalicum beach, you weren't sure if your canoe was going to vibrate apart as you hurtled (best word to use) down swells and breaking waves in the neighborhood of 4 to 6 feet I guess. I have never been in those big of conditions other then 70 degree water at Swell City and as the rain and river water came out of Squalicum Creek and the Nooksack River..well lets just say, I'm glad prohibition was lifted!! 100 yards off the beach, which I heard Dan M say after, was easily Long Board surfing conditions and was seriously sketchy with a high tide and those breaking waves, logs bouncing up and down, 40 plus mph wind , large submerged concrete blocks in muddy water, other then that….what could possibly go wrong. Other paddlers on the beach were trying to catch us as we came ashore like baseball players fielding grounders…Three or Four of the talent group in front of me ended up cultivating the Sea bottom but came out without broken limbs or broken boats thankfully!! | ||
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| Another good choice was my recent switch to a Barnacle-style belt leash. That makes it so much easier to position the boat for remounting. However, there are minor issues to be aware of. I was in remount position, but my leash was tight and pulling me toward the back of the boat. Upon inspection, my leash was wrapped around my rudder. That's not a problem with the ankle leash, but it was easy to slide the boat forward and untangle the belt leash. Another huge advantage of that leash was the beach landing on the New Year's Eve downwinder. I came in surfing and could just turn into the rollers and let the boat slide by and then stand up. No nasty yanking on your leg while trying to get your footing and plenty of space between you and your boat as the waves crash into you is much safer than being tethered by your ankle. Thank you Barnacles for all the advice in helping me convert to a belt leash! | Another good choice was my recent switch to a Barnacle-style belt leash. That makes it so much easier to position the boat for remounting. However, there are minor issues to be aware of. I was in remount position, but my leash was tight and pulling me toward the back of the boat. Upon inspection, my leash was wrapped around my rudder. That's not a problem with the ankle leash, but it was easy to slide the boat forward and untangle the belt leash. Another huge advantage of that leash was the beach landing on the New Year's Eve downwinder. I came in surfing and could just turn into the rollers and let the boat slide by and then stand up. No nasty yanking on your leg while trying to get your footing and plenty of space between you and your boat as the waves crash into you is much safer than being tethered by your ankle. Thank you Barnacles for all the advice in helping me convert to a belt leash! | ||
| - | \\ | ||
| A third choice that made today a great adventure instead of a tragedy was wearing a 5/4 wetsuit with extra Vaikobe vest and windbreak. I felt warm and comfortable while swimming in the bay. I could take my time, regain my sight, untangle the rudder and pop back in the boat. Once up I stayed warm even during those ridiculous gusts of wind. | A third choice that made today a great adventure instead of a tragedy was wearing a 5/4 wetsuit with extra Vaikobe vest and windbreak. I felt warm and comfortable while swimming in the bay. I could take my time, regain my sight, untangle the rudder and pop back in the boat. Once up I stayed warm even during those ridiculous gusts of wind. | ||
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