Went out working on my forward stroke yesterday when I tumped.
Kinda mad, too. Me? Tipping over? What! ?
As Christy Long said; “ …you are just in-between capsizes.”
Glad I inspected my hatches, making 100% sure they were tightly closed. Donna K., a few days before, warned me about loose or improperly closed hatch covers.
Both the darn boat and paddle floated away; I had to angrily swim to recover both….
The boat flipped upside down now, filled with so much water on its sideways journey, that it was now completely laden with water, mud, and crud.
My beloved kayak was groaning from the water and filthy!
I thought it more prudent to find shore, pump, pick out plants, fish, grass, and other crud; and use my handy, dandy bilge pump; water not too cold, and get back in.
My black seat was absolutely covered in water and crud.
Having my rescue stuff, I was not too concerned; just needed time.
So, I floated for a while, staring at the sky, considering options.
I held the boat n paddle, freaking out people nearby, I remembered the resident gators,… THEN, got busy, not wanting to be a Facebook gator causality.
Besides, the boat was so heavy, I doubted it could float even if I got in.
I captured my boat, heaved it right-side-up in the water, grabbed my paddle, then swam all to shore, and remounted.
I was thankful for childhood swim lessons and wondering if my mother foresaw this aquatic mess!
Glad I had lotsa bungees!
Hauling durn boat on shore was hard; so, I suspect there was a lot of water weight.
I was near Donna K’s house; shore was perhaps 100 yards away.
David Trail suggested if I paddle alone, always see shore, be able swim there, and ALWAYS wear your PFD.
Good advice!
Gosh, did the boat cockpit have a lotta mud! The mud was inside on my pedals, seat, and combing. What a mess!
I did not look much better.
Anyway, I got back in and paddled away, no harm done; only my ego suffered, and I looked like a drowned rat.
It was grand!
Found out later the ‘gators, now big, were hauled away.
Boat is now Baptized.