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You've taken that course. Maybe a Saturday AND Sunday on the water. Learned quite a bit. Seems a piece of cake, really. (Something comforting about having one's center of gravity SO LOW). Anyway, you've got that behind you. Purchased all the saftey gear you see mentioned in books. Practiced some with it, too. And you're a pretty prudent person, by jeezum. Now you're in Maine, ready to paddle the islands. So you rent a boat and gear and get out there. You even take a ferry out to them--wisely avoiding the few miles of open water. Pretty soon you've got a real jewel on your bow--lunch and a little exploration in paradise dead ahead. Island X is right there on your chart, you've got a compass heading, wind's light just off your bow, sky's SO blue... life's good. But wait....Did you take a back bearing? Check the tide chart? Listen to NOAA weather for the day? Maybe wonder why the sky is so blue? Know when the sea breeze typically comes in where you are? It might have been wise to have answers to at least those questions before you got in your boat. Because when you make it to Paradise and are sitting on the beach digesting The Perfect Meal, THINGS CHANGE. That fog comes in, hiding your return path. The breeze freshens, and the tide goes into its flood mode. Suddenly the water that you now can't see isn't as smooth and accomodating as when you came out. That cool ledge you passed is now a rip monster, waiting for you and the gear you've placed up high on your deck. And to top it all off, those mussels you found and cooked up aren't setting too well. You get the idea. The water is cold around here. (Go back and click that word for some scary hypothermia facts). Why put yourself and others at risk? Hope this doesn't sound tough. Its really pretty simple. And fun, too. So don't be put off. Call or write Camden Kayak. We can design a trip together that gives you the freedom you deserve, and have the assistance of someone who not only knows the waters, but loves them as much as you will.s |
