Century Club: Richard Turman

Was lucky that it reached an unseasonably warm 55 degrees today, with light winds, so I could take the kayak out for one last trip this calendar year, to which in many way we get to say 'good riddance.' 

Light, 5 mph winds from the SW left Valentine Creek pretty calm at 4:30 p.m., as the sun was preparing to set.  Didn't see a single power or sailboat out on the water during the 50 minutes I was out, which was wonderful.  Did see one fisherman on a kayak, but that was it.  One of my very few kayak trips this year without seeing any heron; saw a flock of Canada geese on someone's lawn, but that was about it for waterfowl.  With the water temp around 50, and not wearing a dry suit, I stayed within 50-75 feet of land, to give me a fighting chance to make it to shore.  With the tide about a foot above normal, I could explore further back into the headwaters of Valentine Creek than i usually can, in several cases becoming completely surrounded by tall reeds as I ventured further and further up the creek.  Wonderfully quiet night, with the only noise coming from my paddleblades rhythmically dipping into the water.  Enjoyed watching as various holiday lights turned on as I paddled, with various trees, Santas, and boats all outlined with lights, including a sunfish made to look like a tree..  Marvelous evening, and fitting end to 2021.

With weather approaching 70 degrees, just had to duck out of zoom calls a bit early and get out on the kayak.  So wonderful to be able to do so in light winds and shirt-sleeve weather.  Great chance to enjoy the evening, and realize that on Wednesdays not that long past I was racing at that time...

Went out around 5:10 p.m., and the sun had already gone down, since we moved off of Daylight Savings Time last weekend.  No wind, and air temps in the high 60's, which is a gift for November.  No boats out at all, and by the time I returned to our beach 30 minutes later, it was full-on dark.  Such a contrast to kayaking after work all spring, summer, and fall!  Herons were out, and I ran into a whole flock of Canada Geese in the water, so apparently they've not all left the Chesapeake by flying south -- yet.

Took out the kayak to remove some of the flotsam and jetsam that had become fouled in the lift under the powerboat amidst the highest tides in a decade, which came two nights before, and over-topped our dock by 20 inches.  Use the kayak to look at neighbors beaches to see if I could find any of the two dock boards I lost -- to no avail.

Took the powerboat down off its lift and ran the bilge pump to get the rainwater all out.  Then took it out for a spin.  Went to look at three keelboats that are on lifts, to see how the keel arrangement was handled.  Three different approaches!