Part of it
I was off kayaking all day Saturday and Sunday. Both days started off clear and sunny, but both days degraded into cold and rainy. I enjoyed it all, but what really made the trip was the last hour of the last day. Just as we were getting ready to head for home, the photos you see above happened. The water grew mirror calm, and the final paddle home was another one of those "ahhhhhhhh" moments. Imagine just floating on a mirror and looking at this, no sounds but the ducks. Not simply looking at the sunset, but being a part of it. I think this is what is so awesome about kayaking. If I sit on land and look at the sunset, I am in awe, but I feel like a spectator. Somehow, when you are floating on the water, it feels as if you are actually inside the picture, rather than just looking at it. There is nothing like it.
As I said, the rest of the trip was also nice, despite the clouds and cold wind. I am grateful that those who were brave enough to come with me didn't seem to mind too much. Maybe they will still agree to go kayaking when the weather gets warmer.
Of course, it helps to have a nice fire, lasting the seven hours from 4:00 (when the sun sets) until 11:00 when we finally went to sleep. It also helps that the heavy rain waited until 11:10 (just after we crawled into our tents) to start, and that it stopped at 7:20 (just before we got out of our tents in the morning.
I thought that that would be my last overnighter of the year, but seeing tonight's sunset from the city, made me wish I was back out there at the campsite.
Comments
Maybe it's not a fair time to ask, but are you missing Japan right now? I can't remember where you lived before. As for me, it's been awhile since I've seen such wide open, beautiful country (actually, this past summer in Colorado, USA).
If you don't mind, would you be willing to send a short email telling me how you did the SPAM-bot on your comments (or just a link to a site would be great).
andy----remove-this---@japanwindow.com
Posted by: Andy | November 9, 2004 08:43 AM
It's been a while since I did any kayaking. The trip you took seems like one of those perfect days, when the world seems to cradle you in the best of what it has to offer. Reminds you how important our connection to the world around us is and also how much we are designed for it. Reading your story makes me want to get out there again... It's just that here in Japan, lugging about my 25 kilo wood frame Nautiraid on the trains just doesn't make for very enjoyable transitions. Definitely have to get a lighter kayak... Maybe one of the 10 kilo First LIght models?
One of my most enjoyable memories of kayaking is when I crossed Suruga Bay in Shizuoka. Out away from sight of land it was my first time to experience sea swells, and it was as if the earth was heaving under me, slowly lifting up and then letting down, with the horizon appearing and disappearing. As you say, there is nothing like hunching down with your butt smack dab in the water, the whole world closing about you...
Posted by: butuki | November 9, 2004 08:59 AM
Andy,
The spam-bot thing hasn't been working to well lately. In the last few weeks I have been getting hit and finally had to get MT-Blacklist.
Butuki,
I know what you mean about lugging the kayak on the train. When I lived in Tokyo it was just so much trouble to get it out to the ocean, assemble it, and then do it all again on the trip back.
Here I am lucky enough that my apartment is only an 800 meter walk to thw water, so I can leave the kayak assembled in my room. I can now be on the water in about 20 mintues. (it still takes some time to squeeze it through my window)
I have only been in swells that block the view of land once. Luckily I was only about 100 meters from land, so when I got scared I was able to retreat behind the breakwall. I'd love to get out in water like that again, but I need someone else with me. I'm just a wuss that way.
Posted by: kevin | November 9, 2004 07:27 PM
Definitely not a wuss, Kevin. I've never kayaked on the sea alone and am not sure if I have the courage to do it, especially out of sight of land. Most people have no idea just how big and powerful the sea is and when you get out there in a kayak you really get a sense of what the ocean really is. And it's SCARY! I still remember coming in from a day of coastal kayaking in Miura and being caught in the incoming surf. Like an enormous muscle bulging under me it neraly sent me crashing into some huge breakers. After I finally manuevered myself out of that situation and made it to the beach, I sat for about an hour just thankful to be alive.
There is so much to learn about the sea, and about the earth itself.
Posted by: butuki | November 10, 2004 01:39 PM