the rest of the perfect morning (or aching like the dickens II

the things to write about are piling up. so back to kayaking. it was sooo fun. at first i was soo terrible at steering my 'craft'. when lorraine first pushed us out into the water we just paddled around a bit, waiting for her to get in the water. i wobbled at first but not much. when lorraine came out i was farthest away. as i paddled up, i noticed that everyone was 'rafting'. that means you manuever your boat close to your neighbour and when they can reach your oar, they pull you right in so you're touching and everyone does that. it makes you stable and safe and it's a good way to group up while lorraine instructs us. however i was facing the wrong way. i had to do a big circle around the whole group and then i couldn't steer right. i plowed right into barb's kayak, and then into lorraine's and she was all "paddle backwards on your right, no your left..." anyways lorraine taught us forward paddling and how to use your torso, and back paddling, and then my personal favourite, corrective strokes. it's my personal favourite because i needed to correct a lot. after learning these things we did a small crossing. i was in the back and was zig zagging like crazy. i couldn't understand why i was. i was using my torso, like lorraine said, pushing with one hand while pulling with the other, my blades were facing the right way, my hands were shoulder width apart, and centred on the oars. it wasn't until just as i was catching up with the group that i realized my problem. i was digging really deep in the water, and gripping really hard, and when i stopped and did it all cool and laid back and shallow it was a cinch to go straight. unfortunately it was too late for my aching arms. they ached all night so that i could hardly bear it. but it was so fun, and barb and i are full of the kayaking we can now do. the moonlight paddle during the full moon each month, women's paddle on thursday nights, guided tours, level 2 where we learn how to get back in if we fall out... we found a good fish and chip place and chatted with some people who had just done level 2 at the next table. then we indulged in icecream. it was a perfect morning.