An Afternoon at CIH
So there I was, Kiddie Beach at CIH on a somewhat windy Monday afternoon. It was 3:45 pm and I was stoked to be off work and ready to paddle. Leaving my boat on the beach for a last minute number one break, I returned to find a group of seagulls clustered around the kayak. As I approached, I saw that one of those pirates had stolen my snack -- a package of dried cranberries with a french roll inside. I ran toward the birds to scare them away, but the infernal thing picked up my package and flew down the beach.

Enraged, I picked up a random piece of driftwood and went charging after the flock screaming "Argh" at the top of my lungs. (NOTE: I'm glad no police officers were around, because they might have picked me up for being a crazy man.) I let fly with a volley of driftwood to no avail; the bird simply picked it up and flew further down the beach. By now the group of birds was down by the South breakwater. I continued to charge sans driftwood and at this point, the birds must have figured I really wanted my carbs and vitamin C. They left it on the beach and headed NNW.

Smiling now, I jogged over to the package and picked it up. "That's the way, Paul," I said to myself, "that's how it's done." Pride comes before a fall, however. As I turned the package over (sealed plastic), I found that the bird had already pecked into the package and had eaten some of the bread!!! I nonchalantly walked over to the trash can, and discarded my snack.

Oh, the paddle was fun. Out to the breakwater (very windy and waves from two directions), then a tour of the harbor. Raced an electric boat and was winning until the owner noticed me and kicked up her RPMs. Back out to the breakwater, where the wind had picked up, so I got to surf some ragin' 6" waves all the way to the beach. Final score: Seagull - 2; Paul - 1.

Paul Eley

Submitted on May 17, 2005