Another way to get into a kayak from a dock is the seal launch. In this case, I think it might be better if you are using a small, plastic kayak. Simply leave your kayak on the dock with the front end sticking off the dock as much as possible without it tipping into the water. Get in the kayak and arrange yourself. Skirt–check. Life vest–check. Paddle–check. Once you are settled in the kayak, use your lower half to scoot forward until you sploosh into the water essentially launching yourself off the dock like a seal. (Good exercise for the lower abdominals, by the way.)

However, your original question was: How do I get into the kayak from a dock without getting wet? I don’t think I could recommend this method. The nose of your boat will dive into the water before the rear end gets there. There will be water everywhere. Also, this is not necessarily the most stable way to enter the water. Once your boat (and you) hit the water, you are most likely to tip over. So, unless you are prepared to brace yourself, you might want to save this method until you have a bit more practice–or, you are willing to get wet.

Here is a link to a site for a white water seal launch method (complete with pictures): www.jacksonkayak.com.

To my sister who asked in an email: How do you get in a kayak from a dock without getting wet? From someone who got wet.

Imagine you are standing on a dock perpendicular to the shore. That is, the dock sticks out into the lake. Imagine the kayak is on the left hand side of the dock and you are facing towards the middle of the lake (not the shore). You and the front of your kayak are facing into the lake.

Sit on your butt on the dock as if you were sitting in the kayak.

Place your paddle from the dock across the back of the cockpit (behind you).

Reach back and over to grip the paddle AND the cockpit together in your left hand. The paddle helps balance the kayak until you can get in it. Your right hand is gripping the other side of the paddle and the dock giving you stability and balance. You need to use your upper body strength to support your lower body until you can get it in the kayak.

Somehow, maneuver your left leg (left part of the body actually) into the cockpit.

Scramble until you can get your right part of your body off the dock and into the kayak.

There should be a lot of “ooofing” noises until you settle yourself in.

If you have a paddling partner, your paddling partner can stabilize the front of the boat (from the dock) while you maneuver yourself into the boat (similar fashion as above, with the extra stability the paddling partner can offer).

Once you are in the boat, raft up with the second kayak pointing in the opposite direction. Rafting up means both boats are side by side. In this case though, the boats are pointing in the opposite directions. Place your paddle right across in front of you onto the back part of the other kayak deck (behind the cockpit). Lean over, using your paddle as a stabilizer and support the other boat while your paddling partner maneuvers themself into their boat.

Laugh all the while.

Oof!!

I got up extra early this morning to go to the DMV in Petaluma. I wanted to get there when it opened (at 8h00 am, or so I thought). There were a few other people when I arrived who immediately told me that, today, the DMV opened at 9h00 am.

I have lost my driver’s license and need to replace it. Also, I realized that I don’t have those sticky tags on my plates. I decided to wait in line until 9h00. Get it all over and done with. I started out with five other people in the line. We chatted some. About if I should come back tomorrow or simply wait. Maybe I should come back tomorrow because the DMV doesn’t accept ATM or credit cards? I normally don’t carry any cash at all, but today, I thought I might have enough.

Three men. Two older women. Me. The six of us were the only ones in line for about half an hour. I can’t remember any details about the first two men. I remember only that one of the women had a great laugh. A belly laugh. She lent me a pen. The other lady was definitely a senior. She had penciled eyebrows. Normally, I don’t think I would comment on penciled eyebrows, but this lady had penciled her eyebrows blue. So, she had blue eyebrows–I just thought that was interesting. When I’m older, I wonder if I’ll pencil my eyebrows blue?

I had a longer conversation with the third fellow only because I was counting my cash and commented that I had ~$60 USD and $25 CAD. He said, Canadian, eh? I said. Yeah, eh? He asked where in Canada. I said Northern Canada: Mile 906.8 Alaska Highway to be exact. Wicked, he said. Unique, I laughed. I love it!

Otherwise called antiques. Today, there was a huge antique sale in our town square. What is an antique, really? It’s just dead people’s stuff. Not that I know anything about antiques–but I find it all kind of creepy. Dead people’s stuff. Stuff that didn’t belong to anyone you know, so you don’t require a fond memory or a keepsake. There were loads of people there, milling about in the town square. It’s good for the businesses I presume–to have so many people wandering about.

Healdsburg has so many antique shops. I believe we have the most antique shops per capita in Sonoma County. Maybe, because it’s such an affluent neighbourhood, people retire here. And then they die here. And, then there are copious amounts of dead people’s stuff to sort through and sell.

I thought I liked that shabby chique style of furniture. I did realize however, it’s just the old, stuffy antiques, primed and painted white. New paint = new life. Maybe I need to repaint my life? I think I’m going to prime it first.

I have been walking every Sunday with my friends and neighbours around Fitch Mountain (the bump in the landscape behind Healdsburg, where I live). It’s quite a climb, especially if we do it in the reverse direction. We call ourselves Fitch Mountain Fitness!! Carol asked me to walk with her and her team for the 10th Annual North Bay Heart Walk. So, now, I am sheepishly asking and gratefully accepting sponsorship for this walk.

Here is a poem I sent round to my colleagues at work.

My friends Ian and Wendy attended a Chinese opera when they went to China this summer. Ian took a picture of the translated words from the opera.

That is how I feel today. Weird how you can see some words from another language translated into your own (however rough) and they seem to say exactly what you need them to say.