Greetings to all!  A bit since the last post but wanted to get some pics on the board - you might say the view from 6 and half feet up.  The last week or so has been pretty great for paddling.  Some flat water, cooler temps and an occasional breeze for some downwinders - had a great run on the weekend to Davis' on Back Creek!  Leaves are just beginning to turn though I am I confident the best is yet to come. 

Over the last several weeks Weems Creek has seen the Boat Show refugees come and go and many of our visitors are setting sail for warmer climes.  But as fall settles in and the sailors head south, amazingly, we have some jellies that are hanging around a bit surprising since the water temps are falling.  Makes for a bracing swim!   Life is still thriving on the Creek - kayakers, boaters, paddlers, ducks, cormorants, herons and a turtle or tow.  Lots of company on a paddle.

It is a great time to be out so hopefully I'll see you on the Creek!

Morning Reflections

                                                                              

Luce Creek Smoke

                                                                 

Severn's lone paddler

                                                                          

Sunday morning workout

                                                                          

Boat Show Refugees

                                                                              
                                                                                   

               
                              The Red Balloon  (yes, I rescued it)

Boat Show fun - pretty cool

                                                                            

Really?

Thunderhead beyond Weems

                                                                                   

Lunchtime

                                                                                             

Turtle's Creek

                                                                                                 

South River Sunset - how'd that get in here?

                                                                     

Pollster

                                                                                       

Campaign hits the Creek

                                                                       


See you on the Creek!

Paddle technique.
I see a lot of paddlers on the creek these days - which is great.  Most are out enjoying the creek while getting fit at the same time.  Even if you are out just enjoying the sites using proper technique will increase your efficiency which will allow you to stay out longer and enjoy the creek! 

The following is from Dave Kalama's blog - A Waterman's Journal - http://www.davidkalama.com/.  Dave is one of several who are considered to be the father's of modern day SUP.  While he is a professional his thoughts and guidance apply equally racers and recreational paddlers alike (particularly old guys like me!).  He writes...

"
If you ever spend any time with me or almost any other paddle coach for that matter, you’re going to hear that phrase or something very similar.
The key to any stroke, Tahitian or Hawaiian, stand up or canoe, is to reach. There are a lot of other components to a stroke but I firmly believe that reach is the most important and the hardest to master. First let’s talk about the three reasons why it’s so important.
The first reason is the very simple one that no one seems to think about–we take a lot of strokes going almost anywhere. If you shorten your stroke you have to take a lot more of them. A few lost inches of reach doesn’t seem like much at first, but most people stroke about a thousand times per mile. So a thousand or ten thousand strokes later, it starts to really add up.
Second, muscles are elastic, especially once they are warmed up and working well. The muscles you use to extend your reach are not the ones you’re going to use to put power into the paddle, so it’s a good division of labor. When you reach hard and plant the paddle your muscles spring back some, and you get a little free ride right at the most critical and demanding part of the stroke...."

More here - http://www.davidkalama.com/2010/11/reach-dammit-reach/

See you on the creek!