August 18, 2007

Lake Nockamixon, Bucks County

Number Two, My new Tsunami 120

(shot with Sony DSC-S85)
(view other photo essays)


The unanswered question implicit at the end of my last essay was:
"Did you buy the boat?" Yes and no.
In fact, Bel Haven had no Tsunami 120s in stock. This allowed me
to avoid any high-pressure sales efforts and gave me a chance to
comparison shop.

In the end, I wound up buying online. The boat came overland freight
from Oregon and arrived in 5 days. I stayed home from work and counted
the minutes until the 18 wheeler pulled up in front of my house.


On the street in front of my row house.

The kayak came bundled in enough plastic to make another kayak.
The outer layer was a web of nylon-reinforced black polypropylene.

Inside that was a layer of extra-heavy duty bubble-wrap.
And Inside that was an inner original product wrap
of clear polypropylene.


The banana in the baggie.

How did it get in the basement with my washer and dryer?
This is my kayak garage:



I raise the window on the front wall beneath my porch,
and I lower the boats down a conveyor track. Things are a
little crowded right now in the basement, but I'm working
on a method of hanging them from the rafters.



Here's the Pamlico 135T, waiting its next excursion.



And here's the unwrapped, brand new from the factory Tsunami 120.
(note how it complements my laundry detergent!)
I can hardly wait to get it in the water!



I had to wait all the way until the weekend...

Saturday, August 18 was a spectacular, clear, crisp day. It
stayed under 80 all morning. There was a fairly stiff breeze
and the lake surface was full of chop. It was a great way to
get acquainted with the boat; even if it took more exertion than
I have been used to.
First time out in a new boat, I didn't want any unnecessary
distractions or complications, so I didn't bring my camera.

Here's the Tsunami tucked off to the side of the boat ramp, following
its maiden voyage.



I stopped for lunch and waited for friend Steve Smith
to join me. While I worked the kinks out of the Tsunami,
Steve would paddle along in the Pamlico.


It was a busy day at the Three Mile Run boat ramp. I watched half-
a-dozen kayakers launch and paddle away, 4 or 5 motor boats,
and as many canoes.


Here's Steve Smith, having his first solo paddling
experience in the Pamlico.


The Pamlico has a ton of cargo space and it's a great platform
for photography. The Tsunami is quite a bit more cramped,
so it was hard to juggle the paddle and the camera.



Here the two boats huddle together as I handed off the camera
to Steve.



Here I am backpaddling in the mango (yellow/orange/red) Tsunami.







This little quiet cove appears to be the remains of a rock quarry.
It was a still, sheltered place for Steve to practice his paddle strokes.



It wouldn't be a trip to the lake without at least one heron sighting.
You can see the stilty bird tiny in the center of the right quarter
of this picture.


And here he is through the miracle of zoom photography. We saw a variety
of birds, including one hawklike critter who had a fish in his claws and
was apparently taking it on an aerial tour of the Tohickon end of the lake.

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