Mon 06/02-2012 Day 161

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A typical gravel beach with the round stones

Pos: here
Loc: Rada York
Acc: tent
Dist: 34,3 km
Start: 9:05 End: 18:15

Hahaha, thinking it would be today all day under 20 knots…windguru is not as precise as my weather man Karel – he knew it would be tough in the morning, easier in the afternoon. And so it was – waking at 5.30 am didn’t make sense, as I heard the wind still blowing same as yesterday…and it was raining…raining…raining…I should wait until noon!
I tried…but in a short rain gap around 9 am, I quickly packed my boat, and jumped in…slowly paddling out of my inlet, knowing it would be hard work, even paddling to the next sheltered bay in 5 km.

Two sailboats were hidden in the bay behind the first island, they are doing right not to leave yet…I kept on paddling as usual with slow 3-4 km/h, but better slow than no paddling. The gusts didn’t feel as crazy as inside the tent, but they were still strong.

The 15 km stretch after that next bay fortunately had a few smaller bays to hide and even to land for a break, and I did my best to paddle inside the kelp belt. Around lunch, the wind and rain went down a bit, but only for half an hour, then the rain started again, and didn’t stop until now! At least the wind dropped as forecast to calm the sea. I’m already happy when I see no white caps!

During a break on a small sheltered beach, I disturbed a fat big seal chasing him away from the gravel, and what a guy! When he was eventually swimming and just sticking his head out, he was looking like the “Krümelmonster” (Cookie Monster) out of “Sesamstrasse” (Sesame Street), he had such a fat head! Glad they are not aggressive and attack you…this would be a tough fight!

Paddling in rain almost all day and putting up camp in rain is so frustrating! The dry suit is a soaking piece of kit in the tent corner, fortunately only on the outside. Every piece of dry bag needs to be wiped off inside the tent, and the general comfort feeling is quite low. But if I don’t not paddle with low wind and continuous rain, there won’t be many days left…but I’d prefer a sunny but windy day (if it is not too strong…). At least the coast provides so far enough beaches and campsites, though most of them marginal. I was almost afloat yesterday night in my tent! But only almost…

Two freighters, one fishing boat, no more boats today besides the anchoring yachts. But at the end of the day I guesses I saw a bunch of sails on the other side of the Strait – until I realized those were whale spouts! And MANY! I think at that island were tonight 6-8 whales, if not more. The showed off only their spouts, no big jumping or showing the body above the surface…I still find it strange the whales are deep inside Magellan Strait!

I am camping just across, and if it wouldn’t still be raining I’d open my window to watch a bit more…

Tomorrow morning is very low wind, until early afternoon. So getting up early makes sense this time, though I noticed it is getting not as early light any more as more south and in December!

4 comments on “Mon 06/02-2012 Day 161

Meike

Freya, habe gerade die freudige Nachricht aus Pto. Mont bekommen, die Karten sind schon da. Sie warten auf Dich 🙂 Bin selber überrascht, das es so schnell ging. Muss mein Charme gewesen sein, hahhaha. Also alles ist soweit oki. Hoffe, du hattest einen guten Tag. Grüsse aus DK

Jörg Hofferbert

At google earth there are a lot of photos with whale´s where you stay now. I think like Don, these are humpback whale´s. But have you ever seen orcas up to now ? Sorry, I can´t remember.

Don Frampton

You are probably now seeing Humpback Whales, distinguished by their long pectoral fins. Carlos III Island is a known gathering spot for them. Must be awesome to be kayaking in the same waters. On my first sea kayaking venture I was fortunate to have a large group of Orcas swim past me. Enjoy the journey!

Meike

Der ewige Regen kann ganz schön nerven, halte nur durch. So ist es leider im Süden Chiles 🙂
Aber die Natur stimmt einen wieder gnädig. Du weisst, nichts ist perfekt 🙂
wünsche dir heute einen erfolgreichen Tag

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