Thu 24/04-2014 Day 665

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vbEG4ouuCEU/U2SsHYMOWZI/AAAAAAAAby8/7eicIho6L7g/s144-c-o/IMG_0039.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage20Brazil3SaoLuisToNatal#6009117045571869074″ caption=”A small shortcut just filling with water on the rising tide” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0039.JPG” ]

 

This wind is killing me!
Pos: here
Loc: Dumper beach
Acc: tent
Dist: 25,5 km
Start: 5:45 End: 13:15

My neighbors had a happy fire going until late night, as well as boats coming and going noisily. Getting enough quality sleep on an expedition is also an art. At some point a cat was zipping down my already half open (for ventilation) outer tent, while climbing over the kayak in my vestibule, which surely scared me to death. Always something…

I found my way out of the bay and islands back to the open sea just for nice two hours with the current and low wind, before it became lumpy bumpy windy offshore on the raising tide. I was passing two headlands quite inshore with confused water breaking from all sides, but all waves were low and not dangerous. At a river mouth, things were looking worse, as I decided to also stay in. I ended up in a dead calm bay, which was connected to the big river mouth within half an hour on the rising tide.

I appreciated that safe short cut, but when it came to paddle out of the river mouth, my decision to also stay close to the beach in the from every sides breaking waves made me soon being washed up the beach by a strong
in going side current. There I was, high and dry in a strong side current with confused breakers on the sand. Quite impossible to launch without getting a cockpit full of water!

I tried to drag my boat up the coast where I thought the confused breakers and side current was less, but didn’t get very far, although I eventually covered my cockpit and stowed inside the paddle and GPS, as my kayak got
full of sand water and flipped over a couple of times. At some point I saw I had only a chance to get away here by dragging the boat with the current back into the calm river around the corner. Well, effort in vain…

Eventually I was reaching there, the kayak really treated nasty by the breaking side wash. A couple of times it got ripped out of my hand, and I had to take well care not to be hit by the heavy boat on trying to drag it
along with the double bowline. Eventually I was at a calm beach side, and I had to take my time to empty the cockpit from water and sand. Fortunately no one was watching me here on my stupid drag job…

It was two more hours to high tide and the current eventually turning in favor. So far I paddled 3 km/h against both, current and wind, better than nothing, I thought…and did not wait but launched again out of the safe
calm river mouth into the bumpy confused breaking waves. But I overestimated my leftover energy after the dragging effort…I safely made it through the waves, but barely made headway with 1-2 km/h. I should have stayed in and waited!!!

I rather eventually decided this is SHIT today, even when the tide is turning the 15+ kn headwind kills most of the advantage. I will have to land…maybe the antibiotics also still drag my energy down. The beach was
relatively steep here, and a fat side washing dumper was on high tide guarding the coast. All better than paddling in vain on the spot or to wait until the tide goes down and the dumper usually accordingly…

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GaW5GiRShR0/U2SsJ6CXuZI/AAAAAAAAbzE/Ee_yYN_h80I/s144-c-o/IMG_0043.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage20Brazil3SaoLuisToNatal#6009117089017084306″ caption=”White beach with quite some dumper on high tide” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0043.JPG” ]

 

I timed it right, got washed up the beach ok, threw my paddle high up, jumped out as hell and grabbed the bow toggle. A fat wave was washing me and the kayak higher, until I could control the boat and drag it with
effort on the cockpit out of the danger zone. Meanwhile I saw my paddle caught by a fat back surge after a big wash, but the next even higher one gave it free and dry again, thank goodness. I couldn’t let go of the kayak
yet while that happened!

I am a bit frustrated about the useless effort to paddle against wind and tide, and about my low energy level. But with every day the outgoing good tide direction shifts a bit more to the good calmer morning hours.Today it
turned at 8 am, tomorrow I will have already a good hour more, and so on, until the full good block of six hours is conveniently during the morning/ day. I had already thought about paddling at the dead calm night, but no
way, I will do that only if nothing else may be working…

8 comments on “Thu 24/04-2014 Day 665

All absolutely free clipart is created by an identical designer. Nowadays you know the best place to locate totally free clipart, you can save a good deal of Googling! AAA Clipart is a superb site on account of the substantial selection of completely free clipart images available there.

It happens to be appropriate day to have some options for the extended term. I’ve looked over this article and if I can, I want to suggest to you you handful of insightful assistance.

I just have to reveal to you that I am new to having a blog and absolutely valued your website. Quite possibly I am inclined to store your blog post . You absolutely have memorable article blog posts. Value it for swapping with us your very own website information

Good morning here, just started to be conscious of your blogging site through yahoo, and have found that it’s genuinely informational. I’ll value in the event you carry on such.

I just intend to inform you that I am new to putting up a blog and really liked your work. Quite possibly I am probably to save your blog post . You simply have wonderful article content. Value it for telling with us your blog write-up

Have you ever considered writing an e-book or guest authoring on other sites? I have a blog centered on the same topics you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my visitors would enjoy your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to send me an email.

I just want to say I am all new to blogs and honestly savored you’re web-site. Most likely I’m going to bookmark your blog . You absolutely have tremendous well written articles. Appreciate it for sharing your web site.

Comments are closed