After shoulder surgery five weeks ago, yesterday, July 1, 2010 I did my first kayak paddle. I have kayaked the Port Angeles Harbor before with my friend Gary… and we were both eager to get out on the water. It had rained most of the day… but off we went about 6pm.
After not kayaking for almost six months, and having surgery on my shoulder, I wasn’t sure I would remember how. I wasn’t sure it wouldn’t hurt too much to do it. But, boy, I just slide right into the kayak and pushed off… and nothing… just glided right out there. We paddled around, saw some seals, fish, birds.
Saw a rainbow off on the horizon above the Coast Guard facility. We paddled toward that… a total of about two miles round trip. At about a mile, my shoulder muscles cramped a bit so we turned and headed back toward the van.
Here is my friend Gary knelling on a catamaran kayak he build… designed by him… and made so that he can also paddle it like a paddle board, standing up. He is a year older than I am.
Also, you might notice that this is a rainbow out on the far horizon… it’s very faint… and I could even see it slightly reflected in the water.
It was a great paddle and I feel reassured that I can now resume my Kayaking Adventure… though I will still have to take it easy a few more months and avoid waves, strong currents, etc. Still I felt great being able to accomplish this yesterday.
