KampKrug

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We decided to sneak out and kayak after lunch today – a little reward for accomplishing so much this weekend! We got the office/guest room put together and the sea of wires and cables has been tamed around the entertainment center. Dave got the surround sound hooked up – it sounds great and we’re looking forward to watching our first movie here tonight. We’ve been working hard every night unpacking, sorting, filing, stowing, pitching, assembling… We’re almost done. Estimate we have 96% in its proper place. The garage is the final frontier – next week!

We took our new kayak to the canal near the beach to put in where it was wide, soft, sandy and shallow. We had a fantastic time! Sam loved it – he helped me paddle and enjoyed looking at the fish scooting away from us. We got out and walked the kayak up onto a sand bar, then across the beach and tried to launch in the ocean. Since it was too crazy to take pictures or video, I will have to use my best prose to paint the picture for you: We were up to our waists in the swell, Dave holding Sam while I tried to get into the kayak. Dave was like “I’ll hold Sam while you get in…[long pause while searching for a good directive to help me get in and coming up with nothing said...] somehow!” So – my first attempt failed – I was thrown right back out of the kayak by a swell. When I recovered my footing I looked up to see several people watching me from the beach. Ok, a competitor at heart, I was motivated by the interest and curious looks – I have an audience, I must perform! So, this time I leaped up onto the kayak like jumping onto a balance beam, landed my knees in the center of the boat, grabbed both gunnels and swung around into the seat like a pro. Picture the guys in the Olympic gymnastic events doing that pommel horse thing. This was like a tall pommel horse, moving and swaying 3-4ft as I balanced astride it. Once in, however, I almost got thrown out again by another swell and took one look at Dave holding Sam, picturing Sam and I ok in the kayak but then wondering how Dave was going to get in without dumping us out again! We decided to abort. So back we went, pulling the kayak behind us. We enjoyed another calm trip up the canal and back to the truck. Maybe some day when the surf isn’t quite so high. I guess it goes without saying that it is not bad once you’re in the boat, it’s the getting in that is tough with a little one. Sam liked lounging back, leaning on me as he watched the shoreline roll by. He’s so accustomed to riding along in the pack or jogging stroller that I think he figured it’s just another thing he’s got to endure with mommy He was great about his lifejacket, too. No problem at all putting it on him, but he did tend to lose his balance with it on – he got pitched over a couple times into the sand. Dave was very happy with the kayak – it’s a Hobie, so it’s really well made and steers easily. It also had plenty of legroom for Dave, and was comfortable for Sam and I to ride together up front. When he’s a little older he can have his middle seat, and maybe even a paddle!