Meanwhile, I sent emails to several of the regular Sunday bunch and John Peterson, John Ernst, George Miller, and Chris Wood all showed up. We paddled over to the pond and several guys started surfing the 3 - 4 foot swells that were coming in further down the beach. Mike immediately went to work on his roll. After missing several, he finally figured out what he was doing wrong and I saw him really nail several good ones.

Chris asked if I wanted to practice rolling and I said yes. First I did several hip snaps off of his bow and I couldn't understand why things felt so cold and water was getting into my sleeves. I tried again and made sure my sleeves were out of the water but I still was getting wet. I then tried one roll and managed to get a breath of air before I fell back into the water. Chris and I didn't connect on the bow rescue and I wound up swimming. Peter came over for the assisted rescue and I got back into the boat quickly. I still couldn't understand why I was getting so cold--I was wearing a Chota Mukluks on my feet, a shorty NRS wet suit, a Hydroskin shirt, and a great double tunneled paddling jacket that I bought at Southwind's Demo Days this year. In the past, dressed like this I have been as warm as toast. I tried one more roll and missed it too.

George decided that the surfing was just too good to pass up, so he paddled back to Kiddie Beach to change into his surf boat. We didn't see him again until it was lunch time. We waited for him until we though he must have gone East out of the Harbor. We were just too impatient though. It really takes those shrunken surf boats a long time to go 3/4 of a mile.

I was working with a new paddle today, a 215 cm Werner Kauai. I've never used a paddle this short before and I don't know if that was affecting my ability or lack thereof to roll. Chris and Peter both suggested that I switch to my trusty Toksook, but I was just too cold to try. Everybody wanted to paddle then so we took off for the power plant about 4 miles away.

I was amazed at how much faster I was able to paddle with the shorter paddle that I was trying. For the first time, I managed to keep up with John Ernst in his Extreme. That has never happened before. Usually I was the last person back. After doing a nice brisk paddle to the power plant, we turned around and paddled back.

The paddle was totally uneventful, the only interesting wildlife we saw were some pelicans skimming the water--looked like a flock of pterodactyls. The only time people got wet was if they intentionally rolled or tried rolling. As we paddled back from the power plant, the swell picked up and we had some interesting 4- 5 footers. The ice thing about being off shore with them is that it is like an elevator ride---first you go up, then you go down. John Peterson came up with a new expression when there is a really big wave coming at you. It's glbkekiogltdsltgludidledlstoglldoekdoed. It helps if you can at least say it's to port or starboard though.

We arrived back at the beach, and I promptly participated in the only carnage of the trip. As I was getting out of my boat, I experienced the old legs turn to rubber syndrome and promptly fell down on my butt in six inches of water. I announced my fate to all and stayed there long enough for pictures, but nobody had a camera.

As I was changing clothes, I realized why I was getting so cold--I noticed that the fairly new paddling jacket (only worn 5 - 6 times) that I had bought at Southwind's Demo Days was falling apart. The seams on both underarms was disintegrating and even the inner lining of the jacket was flaking off.

I emailed Joanne and within 30 minutes she had emailed me back to say that shouldn't have happened and to bring it back. They are going to send it back to the manufacturer and try to get them to replace it. I'll keep you posted as to how that goes. Meanwhile, Joanne couldn't have been more helpful. Even though she is going out of town, she has informed her store manager, John and he is waiting for my jacket so he can take care of things. Kudos to Joanne and her staff.

Then it was off to Daddy-O's for breakfast, lunch or whatever.

    Steve Holtzman