Btw, I haven't named her yet, but have a name on my mind, but open to any [serious] suggestions - send me a mail or comment.
I also hadn't sorted out a place for her to sleep at night, so like many other partners in my past, she'd have to make do with the back of the wagon on her first night, and see how things go after that.
The next day I headed off to Ironman training squad for the morning (which thanks to Tony was a nasty Bike Run repetitions). I was shattered at the end, but was desperate to get my boat on the water so headed down to lake Pupuke to cast her off on her maiden voyage.
If any of you know where the saying "To push the boat out" you would know that often the sailors were in shocking condition (i.e. drunk off there faces) before they set sail for a long voyage. Although my first voyage was going to be short (15 minutes) I probably should have waited till the next day as I was not in a great frame of mind. But I was as keen as mustard to get this kayaking business underway.
I was to (ironically) quickly learn a lesson in kayaking in the first 45minutes after arriving at the lake. I couldn't tell you how may times I walked to and from my car to the lake to get something I had forgotten or not thought about, or opened and closed my car doors/boot to pull something out, or wak back to my kayak to get my keys (again). I spent nearly 30 minutes pissing around with the foot pedals to get them in the right position, and got undressed twice in the process. If some (experienced) kayaker had been watching my preparation this must have pissed themselves laughing at my total disorganization. Still you have to do these things once, to learn how to do them better the next time.
Then there was getting into the boat. The armchair kayaker would have wet themselves looking at me in my fancy new kayak and bright orange and yellow jacket/PFD (Personal Flotation Device - aka Life Jacket), struggle to get into the boat numerous times. Although I never tipped out, there were some nervous moments. After 4 or 5 tries I managed to push out onto open water.
The kind hearted Russell from Canoe and Kayak (Sandringham) had lent me a wing paddle and I gave that a go. For those who don't know what a "wing" paddle has one edge curved like a airplane wing which forces the blade to move out from the boat (which helps with efficiency). But it has the drawback of not being great for an emergency brace or being very unstable when the blade is behind you (because it grabs the water - and tries to tip you over). See an example at The Boatshed store in Cambridge. I am told that these advantages outweigh the disadvantages, but as a beginner you have to get used to using them in the way they were designed - or there are consequences.
So after 15 minutes and being totally shattered from training and desperately wanting to fall asleep I decided to head back ashore in the knowledge that everything was working great. I would have to paddle this in anger on a different day. And I wasnt to know it then, but that day would be the very next day.
I (ironically again) quickly learn another lesson in that packing up a kayak takes just as long, and I cant tell you how much time I wasted opening/closing doors, tying/untying knots, taking clothes one/off, but as I say above; you will learn to do this faster the more you do it. I was paranoid about tying the boat down, and making it safe, as I had to go over the Auckland harbour bridge, and the wind had picked up a bit.
I made it home intact (with kayak), and made a call to Emma who had advised me of rumors that there was a Sunday paddle on the Waikato river the next day. I had no intention of going, but was returning the call out of courtesy. You know where this is going...
PS: Don't forget to mail in suggestions for her name.
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