Ship's Log, Wednesday 10/14/15
~17 miles.
Winds SSW in morning to NW mid-morning (that's a tailwind turning to a headwind).
N. Burlingto Beach --> Colchester Point --> Grand Isle State Park
Relieved to make it out of Burlington. Waves still sizable and bailing happened more than once. Forced to stop in Colchester for 3.5 h. due to wind change and strong swell. Unable to get around the point 'till wind abated sufficient to push through.
While waiting, ate some snack, hiked 'round the neighborhood to the causeway/breakwater in hopes of discovering portage (no way!), then hiked back, harvesting crisp and juicy apples and pears from somebody's yard on the way. Took a nap. Got lots of advice from old men: careful of "7 foot swells out of nowhere", and "stay in the lee today"...etc. They're just jealous!
Had to have Eliot get out in wool socks and keens (and remember, it was cold) hauling the boat in the shallows to bridges through both causeways (cause he is heavier, wet anyway, and less susceptible to cold). Waterline is apparently a couple of feet lower than previous years (and our map). Lots of duck blinds in the shallows, as it's duck hunting season. A duck blind is a one-person platform covered in marsh grass and branches where you sit and drink beer and shoot at ducks. Some better disguised than others. We quickly learned that duck blinds mean "too shallow for the boat".
Picked some fat clams in said shallows while wading. Cooked them up alongside dinner- even had a lemon! but they tasted terrible and the texture was worse than the flavor. Left them out at the shore for the local fauna to take care of. Felt guilty. ("the time has come the walrus said...")
Arrived at waterside campsite near nightfall. Bathed despite the cold, because it had been a while and there was no-one to see. Did not inform the park personnel of our presence as we arrived after office close and left before it opened. No other campers in our end of the park.
Ate:
-ruined potatoes and pemmican stew
-waterlogged trailmix and apples
-tortillas and hard sausage
-ruined potatoes and pemmican stew, again (cooked furtively in the dark).
Took no photos: too cold, windy, thwarted, driven...
Tomorrow....long day?
~17 miles.
Winds SSW in morning to NW mid-morning (that's a tailwind turning to a headwind).
N. Burlingto Beach --> Colchester Point --> Grand Isle State Park
Relieved to make it out of Burlington. Waves still sizable and bailing happened more than once. Forced to stop in Colchester for 3.5 h. due to wind change and strong swell. Unable to get around the point 'till wind abated sufficient to push through.
While waiting, ate some snack, hiked 'round the neighborhood to the causeway/breakwater in hopes of discovering portage (no way!), then hiked back, harvesting crisp and juicy apples and pears from somebody's yard on the way. Took a nap. Got lots of advice from old men: careful of "7 foot swells out of nowhere", and "stay in the lee today"...etc. They're just jealous!
Had to have Eliot get out in wool socks and keens (and remember, it was cold) hauling the boat in the shallows to bridges through both causeways (cause he is heavier, wet anyway, and less susceptible to cold). Waterline is apparently a couple of feet lower than previous years (and our map). Lots of duck blinds in the shallows, as it's duck hunting season. A duck blind is a one-person platform covered in marsh grass and branches where you sit and drink beer and shoot at ducks. Some better disguised than others. We quickly learned that duck blinds mean "too shallow for the boat".
Picked some fat clams in said shallows while wading. Cooked them up alongside dinner- even had a lemon! but they tasted terrible and the texture was worse than the flavor. Left them out at the shore for the local fauna to take care of. Felt guilty. ("the time has come the walrus said...")
Arrived at waterside campsite near nightfall. Bathed despite the cold, because it had been a while and there was no-one to see. Did not inform the park personnel of our presence as we arrived after office close and left before it opened. No other campers in our end of the park.
Ate:
-ruined potatoes and pemmican stew
-waterlogged trailmix and apples
-tortillas and hard sausage
-ruined potatoes and pemmican stew, again (cooked furtively in the dark).
Took no photos: too cold, windy, thwarted, driven...
Tomorrow....long day?
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