Gulf of Mexico - 11/17/01

Gulf of Mexico

Without forgetting GPS, spare paddle, paddle float, sprayskirt, compass, PFD, coffee, water, dry clothes and local maps, the family of four made a 6,000 km trip with a double and a single for part of the trip. The kayaks performed very well travelling sideways the single and upside down the double. Weather was good, little windy at times. Weathercocking was compensated with careful steering, specially when passing nearby other vehicles. The trip was made in 12 days averaging 500 kms a day.

Every now and then we would put the kayaks in the water for some paddle, like in Galveston Island, in the Barataria Swamps south of New Orleans and in OceanSide Fl. The car a HONDA ACCORD, the rack a YAKIMA. The tandem a TABASCO, the single a PERFORMA. The driver myself, copilot and speed controller Lety, amusement team Gustavo (9) and Andrea (7).

TRIP PURPOSE
Deliver two kayaks, deliver a talk at a Conference, but specially meet and kayak with friends along the Gulf of Mexico coast in the USA part.

HIGHLIGHTS

Marilyn Kircus delicious dinner in Houston in company of Bob Scaldino and Susie. Great Hospitality. We delivered her kayak after a good washing.
Fantastic ACA paddle lead by Natalie Wiest in Galveston Bay and the Houston Kayak Club : www.tamug.tamu.edu/paddler.
Weather fresh, water medium and friendship warm. Chris Kuhlman excellent photographer, paddler and roller gave us his Galveston Bay album autographed, a collection piece. Bob and Susie had their nice singles Eddy line and Azul. Randal and Terry in two nice plastics getting ready to retaliate, since they were going the following week to Cancun.
Some took turns to try the Tabasco, and then I returned before lunch because I needed to continue my on land trip. Thanks Natalie for the invitation and good leadrship and map. It was useful for me returning alone in the double.
Arthur Hebert, the legendary Acadian that crossed alone and unsupported the Gulf of Mexico (Sea Kayaker late 1998) from Isla Mujeres to New Orleans, met us in New Orleans. We paddled together the Tabasco on the swamps. Saw a 9 -10 foot gator and tried the boat in speed, lean turning and tracking. Rolled it near the Pier, not too close from the gator. In the first roll my knee slipped out and we had to swim, checking how easy it is to climb back in this double, specially when you know that there are sharp teeth ready to have a mexican taco. The second roll was succesful. Our synchronization worked well. At one moment I felt like Captain Hook and at the next like Peter Pan.
Arthur is circumnavigating the Gulf of Mexico in 2003. We´ll try to see mexican kayakers meet him in our side of the Gulf. His web pages are: www.lacostadelgolfo.com, www.seacajun.com. Let´s support his efforts with our sympathy and any other way we can think of. Afterwards we saw ourselves diving in a table full of crabs, shrimp and oysters, gumbo, jambalaia, potatoes and onions all prepared in the best cajoun style. Thanks to Arthur and Magda for a delicious meat and very enjoyable day.
Somewhere in the middle I remembered that I had to prepare and deliver a talk on high voltage matters in Florida. I did OK.
In Ocean Side Florida Jim Molaschi, our rep, and a team of ironmen (one ironwoman), met us www.floridaraces.com. Jim brought a Tabasco he had and got the Tabasco we brought for him. Inga Martinez and Joe paddled our first version of the Tabasco Tandem and Jim and I the new model. Paddling was good, wind and small waves in the afternoon, (about 1 - 1.5 foot), and like a mirror in the evening. They are good paddlers and we went fast, not to the sprint, but continuous. The new model proved faster and more maneuverable, without a rudder and good response to leaning. The real excercise was carrying two times the kayaks for half a mile to and from the water in an extra white sandy beach. Just peanuts for these guys but good training for me. In the evening I could feel some muscles that I didn´t recall I had. Jim, Inga and Joe are very friendly, easy going guys.
Inga brought from her tree a bag of Florida tangerines for our trip back, and wished us well in her excellent spanish. The fruits were so sweet and good that we could not eat them without spilling some juice in the car. They helped on the long return trip.

SITES VISITED
Plants and Natural Museum in Galveston, NASA, Barataria swamps and museum, French Quarter and beautiful N.O. outside houses, Tampa Bay and its white sands and River walk in San Antonio.

Thanks to all our friends and to Lety and children for their patience and support.

Next December 26 we´ll start a trip and visit our California friends and attend the Rose Parade in Pasadena. I´ll send a tentative schedule to try to see as many friends as possible.

Keep paddling, should I say driving?

Rafael el cayuco chief www.mayanseas.com

Submitted on November 28, 2004