More Paddling

 After a lovely social paddle around the Bay, the next two training paddles were, of course, anything but lovely or social. The summer northerlies are here, which means the training paddles go north early, return south with the wind. The first day we did 42 km, leaving at 7 am meant that we only did the last 5 to 8 kilometres into any significant wind; and, as the big trip will, hopefully, involve sailing, we put the sails up to come home. Normally, I don’t use the sail on day trips as that just seems a bit too weak and wimpy, but, sailing in a strong wind and lumpy seas requires practice as well, so this training cycle we are using the sails. They sure do make the long paddle days easier.

Splashalot wanted a paddle on Sunday so we did the same thing again but left an hour later and did 10 kilometres less. Splashalot is not training for a big trip so he stuck with his usual “no sail” strategy but, as usual, he exceeded my speed sail-less. I was glad to hear, when we landed on the beach that he had actually been working to stay ahead as he always looks relaxed and cruisy.

After that I had a hiatus to visit my Mum in Sydney where the – what has become normal – madness prevailed. Three vaccinations, negative tests before and after, and yet we all still are wearing a mask and social distancing. It is almost as if the authorities don’t think any of this palaver actually works. Despite about 99% of the Australian population being virus free, the authorities are saying we should assume that everyone we come in contact with is infectious. Apparently, basic mathematics is not part of the curriculum for epidemiologists anymore.

Finally, a short, supposedly easy paddle today, which turned into the usual lumpy mess as the wind and seas from Cyclone Seth makes it way south.