Year’s end summary (very short one).

If you believe official sources, team Calleva finished the year 16^th by USARA ranking and 10^th in Checkpoint Tracker series. If you don’t believe officials, just know that 2008 was the best season ever. That was the year of the First Annual Calleva Adventure Race, the year of solid results, and the first year of our new team. We have great, ambitious plans for 2009. See you at the start line.

Happy New Year and excellent finishes in 2009!

The final test.

The water in Potomac is really cold these days. My final paddling test was dedicated to small details: how to eat and drink during the paddling, where to put compass, so I can see it, how to stay warm and dry, and, finally, how long I can spend in cold water. Apparently, I can stay in cold water forever... Ok, may be only 30 minutes (that how long I tested it), but it should be enough. The main lesson: I am switching to my dry suit for Patagonia. 

Another extreme training.

When the guy from kayaks rental realized that we are going for overnight paddling trip in Chesapeake bay in December, he got a little upset, but let us go. Patagonia team: Val, Dima, Sara, Mark and our paddling instructor Druce took off at 3 pm Saturday.It was cold, but still. We planed long trip with short overnight camp on one of the islands.  

The Sun set down, the full moon got up.
It was well below freezing and later at night, when we started looking for a camp, Druce pointed out some strange noise. Our kayaks started to scratch something that appeared to be thin layer of ice on the surface of the water. Paddling became more and more difficult and we realized that we might get stuck in this ice. We turned back and made it saftly to the shore, cracking significant ice fields on the way back. 24 hours training did not work and we spent the rest of the night in warm beds instead of ultralight tent. Good thing, we had enough time to practice ropes in the morning.

Patagonia team paddling training.

In two days we will go for 24 hours paddling training in Chesapeake Bay. I just hope the weather will more like Patagonia and less like today’s 60+ F. For the training I just finished modifying and testing my 5 piece paddle.
I bought this paddle from the guy that never took it apart and didn’t care about it too much, except may be the price. First, I had to fix big crack in one of the wing blades. The paddle was perfect for canoe paddling, but a little too long for kayak. Two weeks ago I made it the right length by shortening one of the connection pieces by 6 inch. Both parts on the photo were originally the same length. Now it’s exactly right and ready for Patagonia. It was interesting and challenging project.

Winter paddling.

Yesterday forecast claimed high 33 F in north Potomac. Wind 35 mph gusting up to 50. That makes wind-chill about 15 degrees. That's why my kayak got covered by ice during 5 hours battle with wind and waves. Surprisingly, I was the only person in the water anywhere between Raleigh lock and Edwards ferry. At the end I also practiced wet exit.