Roll a Big one

While in Corpus Christi (CC) I decided to see what adventures I could get up to and somehow rolling long things became part of the plan.  Let me clarify: I was taught how to successfully roll a kayak! 

So prior to going to CC I got in contact with Ken Johnson of Corpus Christi Kayak who quickly replied with helpfull info and tours were booked http://home.earthlink.net/~johnsonkw/kayak-corpus/ 

Once in CC the wind blew hard all day and night so plans were changed from sea kayaking to paddling the Aransas River to look for Gators and other wildlife.  My first impression of Ken when I met him was that he is a great guy who was retired from an excellent job to do what he enjoys most, which of course is kayaking. The kayaks look SWEET and I am ready, we hit the river and the wind BLOWS us along very fast what I think is down river but its up, since there is no perceptable flow in the river, I still have no clue which way we went.  I think "this will be interesting heading back into the wind from hell".  We skirt along passing close to all sorts of wildlife including several floating gators,wild boars and some cows - hey its Texas!  Its my first sighting of Red Cardinals in a couple years and they are just stunning as always.  Of course paddling back into strong winds we are often going faster sideways rather that forwards.  The bright red cardinals easing past offer a bright note in a tough paddle back.  I am clearly reminded that I have not be paddling much lately.  In the end it was a fun and tough kayak.

Day 2 of kayaking started with Ken, Michael and Dave who is described as the "Roll King" as he introduces me to his latest tool for rolling which looks like a baton for bludgeoning unruly students, which I think isn't a stretch since he is also introduced as a matrial artist expert.  So we head off paddling out into this very open lake that is something of a harbour, the wind once again blows us along merily and I see lots of birds, terns, gulls, herons, Ibises and Roseate Spoonbills, which looks like a cross between a flamingo and a scarlet ibis with a big spoon for a beak.

We stopped at this island with a nice beach and after lunch and relax the roll instructions began.  I was worried at first but the batton was strapped to the kayak to be used as a lever to pull you upright if you were stuck upside down, so it was a rescue mechanism that relaxed me rather than a baton to beat me into submission.  So after Mike had a turn I was up, first we did hip flicks, that went well, then bracing over the side, good, then the full monty and I was under the boat reaching up, sweeping the paddle round as I looked at the paddle and I popped out like a cork.  SAAHHWWEEEEEETTT!!  I'd done it.  We practiced many more rolls taking turns, but it is something I will have to do lots at home before I am really good at it.

The choice of a 10 mile or 4 mile paddle back both into a 20 to 35 mph wind is presented; I take the 4 mile run, which is just a slog all the way home.  I thanked God and everyone else thanked me for choosing the 4 mile route.  Well except for Ken who simply motored through it.

Thanks a million to Steve Baranof http://www.baranoff.org/ for the bird photos and Ken Johnson for the kayaking photos