Cool Cut Outs

After the beating, I paddled in and hung out waiting for the others to get back. I saw these cutouts in the hills made by years of surf erosion. If I didn't eat it on the reef, I would have never seen these formations. Pretty cool!

Fishing Report 6/21/2014, Part 3

Noe saw a dead blue crab floating while we paddled by. She asked if we could double back so she could catch it with the net. During the rest of the paddle, "Crabby" was a part of the adventure. Crabby did dry out and slowly started losing limbs (which contributed to what happens next...).

Fishing Report 6/21/2014, Part 2

After a while, we jumped on our boards and paddled out to the barrier islands further into the Chesapeake. Of course I had tackle onboard and Noe and I caught a few crabs along the way. When we beached, I was hoping to catch a flounder, but there were very few fish around. I did see tons of Stripped Killifish, but none of the bigger predatory fish. Marlon and La paddled their boards really efficiently - the narrower boards definitely paddled faster than the aircraft carrier that had two people on deck. Fun paddle regardless!!!

Paddling Maze

Besides fishing Mason Springs, we made the drive out to paddle the Mattawoman Creek. We launched from Salvens Boat Ramp and went with the current and wind. Along the drift, we found a cut through - or at least we thought it was a cut through. We really wanted to be on the other side from where we were - but there were a tons of glitter boats (bass boats - they are all so sparkly) blocking access to that part of the water way. If this cut out worked, we would have been back up current and up wind of the launching point. Well - we got a big dead end. Fun nonetheless! On the way back, the kids got tired and a tow from La (Hooyah PT) I don't think I could get four paddleboards, lifejackets, rinsing water and fishing poles packed smartly on any of the other vehicles I was looking at a couple of years back. I'm glad I got the Surf Taco!

Same Point in Time - Different Perspective and Fist Pumping

We had all four boards nested together during our breaks. La and the GoPro were working the same space - cool perspectives. Besides the cruising around, the kids and I had to break out the fist pumping to ensure we made it back through the thick aquatic plants, the swooping ospreys and the oppressive heat. Our fist pumping was very good, very good indeed (we made it back didn't we??? ;)

Second Outing on the Hooked SUP

Yesterday after we got back from Goose Creek, I was scrambling around the garage to finish off the shelving rack (next post), cleaning out the Surf Taco from the earlier trip and organizing the other boards. All sweaty and ripe, I figure what better time to break in the Hooked SUP!!! I took the board out for a paddle on Lake Newport but the pictures Marlon took of me got erased in one of the GoPros today. Oh well - that's what these second day pictures are for. This board is MEGA stable - I can walk in circles around the deck. I can walk way back to the tail and not sink it in at a steep angle - that width back in the tail makes a huge difference in stability (but we all knew that already don't we ;) We took four boards with us today - La's Flatwater, the ULI FAQ, the new Tahoe Grom and the Hooked SUP - over to Pohick Bay. It was hot with hardly a breeze - but still 10 degrees cooler than yesterday. We had the big hats on today, neckerchiefs for evaporative cooling, lots of drinking water and we were still hot. The black deck pad didn't help my feet a whole lot. We practiced some towing drills - figure with the kids having to paddle themselves around now (unlike the Big Tuna kayaking days), what would we do if they got too tired or hurt. I had two tow lines rigged and we tried towing. Noe stopped paddling behind me and enjoyed the ride - which was ok, I needed the exercise and old habits die hard (lazy butts). I saw a bunch of fish on the way out - but when I made a follow up pass on the way in, there were three ospreys hanging out in the trees crying out - either pissed at each other, or pissed at us for hanging out in the dining room table. I noticed most of the fish I saw earlier (coincidentally when there were no osprey hanging around) weren't hanging around anymore. I did manage to hook into this bluegill - you can always count of bluegill to keep away the skunkfish - can't get skunked while on your first fishing trip on your new fishing SUP can you? - NO you can't!!! And I didn't!

It's Coming!!!

The Hooked SUP I ordered is on it's way!!! It should be here by Friday. I've already ordered two Scotty mounts and pulled out my windsurfing equipment (mast bases, mast extensions, etc). I have high expectations of this board and will be documenting the heck out of the uses and conquests I execute with this board. I can honestly say that I've been looking at this board for a few years now - and having recently streamlined the board quiver, I am looking forward to maximize the use of just a few boards (the ULI FAQ, the Starboard Element and the Hooked SUP). It's Christmas in July (except that I recently sold off the Big Tuna, the Naish Glide and the Starboard Blend to get to this point, as well as the other boards over the past year - culling the unused was actually a really good thing - less stuff)!!!

Sunday Paddling in the Chesapeake

La paddling her board around the inner part of the lower Chesapeake Bay (to the West of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel). The offshore wind kept the waves at bay (no pun intended), but took La and Amy out pretty quick. I got to cast some with the Helios and the Hatch Finatic - what a great combo!!! I'll post separately on that another time. The kids walked all over - mostly with just their noses poking out of the water. More fun - too bad we had to go back to DC... oh and an 7 hour drive back - SUCKED - too many people with the same idea (weekend escape from DC). Dwell on the good stuff (ah surfing....)

Sunday Funnies, Part 2

La has 'adopted' my surf paddle to be her flatwater tool of choice. Wonder if that means I can get another Methane... Noe was paddling (and not listening to La coach her on proper paddling technique - typical Noe). Beautiful spring day!!!

The Armada is Deployed

I started packing and everyone else started paddling - literally everyone else. It was awesome seeing everyone having a great time out on the Pamlico. Super flat water, brilliant sunset and decently warm temps. What a wonderful way to end a vacation - reality sucks compared to the vacation life. I need to find a new line of work or win the lottery....

The Adoption of a Touring SUP

I brought Charlie over to check out the boards at Ocean Air Sports (for you old timers, the old Windsurfing Hatteras shop). He ended up adopting an Amundson Touring board - got a great deal on it too. La and my two boogers gave it their seal of approval (check out those priceless smiles!!!). Charlie's PSH surfing SUP had too much of Ramp 27 on it, so I hauled it back to our condo (three boards and counting on the Surf Taco)! Finders keepers??? Nope -