kayaking, new shorts
I paddled up Swift Creek yesterday. This time I set out at 9:30 in the morning. The tide was high and I had about 30 - 45 minutes before it would start drawing out again. I saw three different cranes this time, two at once flying around the boat ramp area. I also saw some a blue jay and a yellow finch. I worked on adjusting my paddling technique as Sarah suggested which was difficult at first. I found it easier to do on the way back when I consciously thought of it. I spent a little time going up a narrow vein connecting to the upper arm of swift creek. It is a little hard to describe, but the creek is fragmented and rather mazelike at one point. It’s mixed in with these large swallow pond-like areas so the way thru to the upper arm of the creek isn’t obvious, especially at high tide with no noticeable current to guide you. Anyway, this narrow but direct vein would have been an easy route except for all the deadfalls blocking the way. I tried to get through, and made passed to obstructions but just decided there either had to be a better cleaner way (I’d managed to get dirt all over myself while going under one of the deadfalls). The next vein up was the route I was looking for. It was especially picturesque too! There were these mounds of marsh grass on either side, from which a crane launched itself. There was this secluded shaded channel. It’s all difficult to describe. I so need to bring a camera along and take pictures to show you people.
I started to notice current at this point on my journey. Further up, the creek hooked right and fed into the upper arm. The beginning of the deadfall-jammed vein was there on the right. I started paddling into the upper arm but remembered that it goes a long way, probably two hours of paddling, before it reaches civilization again, so I turned around and headed back. This whole excursion kept me on the water for two hours. When I got home I fell asleep after eating lunch. I was a tad sore today.
That evening and all today I did something completely different. I made a pair of Bermuda shorts. Sunday evening I went to Wal-Mart and bought an $8 pattern kit and $2 of fabric, enough to make these shorts I’m now wearing. I’ve needed some new shorts and frankly have always wanted to try sewing. I’d done some way back in high school. I made a really bizarre shirt, but hadn’t done a thing since then. Anyway, Linda helped me translate the instructions and showed me how to use her sewing machine. She did about half of the sewing too. I was amazed at how easy it is to sew. I mean, you don’t have to tie the ends or anything like when you hand sew. That was really convenient. Forget sewing by hand. I did the whole thing with the machine.
It did take a long time though. Many many little things went wrong. I cut out the kids short pattern along with the adult, wasting time. I sewed the legs together (like a dress) and had to unravel that. We used the wrong pieces when constructing the waste band and had to cut more to finish it. I had to figure out how to use my Grandmothers eye-let and snap punchers. The thread kept getting pulled out of the needle hole by the sewing machine if I started it in between cycles. This happened six times. The first two times I didn’t see it happen and sewed an entire seam before discovering there was no thread and nostitches being stitched. There were lots of little things I figured out how to do the hard way. Oh, also, I spent time custom fitting these shorts to me. They literally don’t need a belt or anything. The just fit me comfortably, the way clothes should.
I started to notice current at this point on my journey. Further up, the creek hooked right and fed into the upper arm. The beginning of the deadfall-jammed vein was there on the right. I started paddling into the upper arm but remembered that it goes a long way, probably two hours of paddling, before it reaches civilization again, so I turned around and headed back. This whole excursion kept me on the water for two hours. When I got home I fell asleep after eating lunch. I was a tad sore today.
That evening and all today I did something completely different. I made a pair of Bermuda shorts. Sunday evening I went to Wal-Mart and bought an $8 pattern kit and $2 of fabric, enough to make these shorts I’m now wearing. I’ve needed some new shorts and frankly have always wanted to try sewing. I’d done some way back in high school. I made a really bizarre shirt, but hadn’t done a thing since then. Anyway, Linda helped me translate the instructions and showed me how to use her sewing machine. She did about half of the sewing too. I was amazed at how easy it is to sew. I mean, you don’t have to tie the ends or anything like when you hand sew. That was really convenient. Forget sewing by hand. I did the whole thing with the machine.
It did take a long time though. Many many little things went wrong. I cut out the kids short pattern along with the adult, wasting time. I sewed the legs together (like a dress) and had to unravel that. We used the wrong pieces when constructing the waste band and had to cut more to finish it. I had to figure out how to use my Grandmothers eye-let and snap punchers. The thread kept getting pulled out of the needle hole by the sewing machine if I started it in between cycles. This happened six times. The first two times I didn’t see it happen and sewed an entire seam before discovering there was no thread and nostitches being stitched. There were lots of little things I figured out how to do the hard way. Oh, also, I spent time custom fitting these shorts to me. They literally don’t need a belt or anything. The just fit me comfortably, the way clothes should.