Another change in tactics was for me to tow an empty kayak while swimming. The kayak was rigged with all the equipment needed for paddling, and a rope ladder for climbing in from deep water. This way, a rescue in the event of cramps, exhaustion, or hypothermia, could be accomplished without dragging the swimmer through the cold water as we did last week.
This photo of me drinking water was taken at about the 1-1/2 hour mark. The destination, Clarke Beach Park, is the tree covered shoreline between the tips of the kayaks.
After arriving at the park, and a short break to gear up for paddling, we took this photo of the GPS with the trip odometer showing 2.20 miles, the moving average at 1.1 mph, and the total moving time of 1 hour and 59 minutes. The wind was out of the north, so we rode with the wind and roller waves, all the way back to the Cedar River. The return trip took 52 minutes, increasing our average speed for the whole trip to 1.6 mph.
Here's a photo of me at Clarke Beach Park, all rigged up to paddle back home, and a picture taken at the Cedar River, of the intrepid paddler, Great Grumpy, who guided me the whole way.
Since this was only a practice run, and since we didn't have our official witness present to record the event, this lake crossing does NOT count as the 40th year anniversary crossing. We will have to wait until next August when our official witness is available and try it again...this time for real.
10 comments:
One test that wasn't performed on this "shake-down" cruise was whether a leg-cramped swimmer could enter a kayak in open water (or "closed water" either, for that matter!) and be able to keep his legs more or less straight in front of himself to paddle to a beach. The saving grace (at least for this test run) was that it was agreed beforehand that the kayak-entering would occur at the first sign of cramps, rather than wait until all hope for continued swim is gone.
It should be noted also in this post, that the offset boom for the Beta version of Site-Line® is shown in the first photo. This boom retains the Site-Line® approximately six feet to the Starboard side of the escort vessel keeping the swimmer within aural, if not always visual range of the pilot/paddler of the escort vessel.
It should also be noted in this post that somebody needs a haircut.
Snarky comment aside - well done Dad! Practice run or not it seems a great swim. Next year we take a picture with the tie.
No mention of cramps. Does that mean all the water was the cure?
Does Grumpy have such a reputation that his credibility as an "official" witness is completely compromised?
Yeah!! Why can't I be a 'fishul witness, huh? huh?!!
I do have a reputation, after all!!
I believe you so I say it counts. I can barely get in a kayak on dry land. i would have to see how this rope ladder contraption works.
Great Grumpy, you have an excellent point. Leg cramps could very well make entering and operating a kayak very difficult. I have had more leg cramps while paddling kayaks than I have while swimming. Size 14 feet are not conducive to an enclosed kayak which may be part of the problem. they do make for excellent flippers though.
Tom.
Count it!!!!!!!!
So, Tom, do I detect that you will put your "flippers" up against Bopop next Summer when he "officially" conducts his "Cross Lake Swim" -- as a 60-year old?!!?
Apparently the liberal intake of water during this "test run" obliterated the cramps! It is obvious that, despite being immersed in water, the body nonetheless can become dehydrated! As a result of another natural process that took place during this test run, the amount of dehydration might be more than 1 or 2 quarts!!
Oh i won't be up against Jim. We will just be in the same boat together, er I guess we will be out of the same boat together :-)
It sounds like an interesting challenge.
Tom.
So, with two swimmers, maybe we ought to have a double Site-Line® Beta version Mk III, or two escort vessels each equipped with the latest in Site-Line® Beta version, Mk II devices!
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