Trip Report for Kayak Outing
Hi all,
Thought you backyard birders and weekend warriors might get a kick out of the quick, informal "Trip Report" that the wife keeps for every jaunt (an hour or two in her kayak). Note that many of the fields in the
report will only change on a season-by-season basis. Others may not change at all... Still, it's good to keep track of this stuff if for no other reason than being able to share
experience.
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The diagram below shows the one-hour journey, and the picture below that is of a swan with her cygnets... Enjoy!
- Location: Swan Pond, Dennis, MA.
- Paddled: 5/31/08, afternoon.
- Weather: Pleasant, quite windy, high 60s.
- Water: C- (choppy, tough paddling).
- Mill Creek 13 kayak design: Continues to be A++++ Stable, tracks well, capable in a moderate chop, easily handled, stunning to look at, relatively inexpensive, sturdy, comfortable, capable of reasonable speed... I'd say that pound for pound and dollar for dollar, the best boat I've ever seen.
- Roof racks: Homemade "Vacu-Rak"/holding straps/pool noodles: A++ Man, oh man, those vacu-raks grab! While I'd NEVER trust them alone, when working in conjunction with fore and aft straps, they make up a significant part of a very slick little hold-down system that's perfect for LOCAL driving/kayaking. Just exactly what we wanted for very short money.
- Kayak seat with LL Bean cushion: A+... It's holding up well. Need to finish seat...
- Kayak's Interlux primer and paint: A- (used to be A++)... 'Yak is getting pretty dinged up. Touch up before summer is in full swing?
- US Composites epoxy used in construction: A+ (I like it and it's relatively cheap.)
- MTI model MDU PFD: A+ Amazingly comfortable and warm.
- Bending Branches paddle: A- Very efficient, but drippy. (Gotta find a way to stop the drips.)
- Rare earth magnets used to hold paddle to deck: C- (used to be C+). Works well when we could align the magnets, but trying to "find" the underside magnets is still a pain. We need something better.
- Signtings: Swan with 5 chicks... Also repeatedly "dive-bombed" by gulls near both small islands - not fun.
- Conclusion: Pond is susceptible to rough water and gulls. Swan Pond also offers river to ocean... Birding here is going to mean waiting for the right conditions...
See you by the feeders, (and don't forget your paddle!)
CapeCodAlan
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Comments
What a great report! I felt as though I had taken the ride with Mrs. CCA (and got a little pond-sick in the process -- gotta watch the choppy water). Must be a terrific work-stress-reliever in good weather...
On another note, how are the cicada's in your area? Do the birds go after them? Which ones (bird types that is)? Don't have any here in the Boston burbs, at least that I know of/heard of.
Loved the pic of Toby -- what a great belly to rub!
{Mrs. CCA should respond to this comment... Stay tuned!
And here she is now!
"Mrs. CCA replies: It’s a bit early in the season for cicadas this year. Last summer, we only saw a very few. I have read that this year may be THE year for the 17-year morph, so we’ll just have to keep an eye open, come July and August. I suspect that the crows, seagulls, owls, and even foxes, coyotes, skunks, possums, and raccoons will be feasting on them if they do hatch out."}
Posted by: Marcia | June 4, 2008 9:04 PM