I Fell Down...Off My Kayak

It is the most amazingly beautiful day here in Redondo Beach, CA - right in front of my house. It's 82 degrees, sunny and the water is perfect for dipping. So, I decided to head down to the beach with my kayak and makeshift kayak carrier ( a child's red play school wagon). Little did I know that there was a surfing competition going on and hundreds of people blanketing the area (my backyard!). The first thing I had to figure out was where I was going to get in (launch) because I did not want to hit anyone if my boat became a little surly in the water. Well, it did not take long for me to make this happen. I quickly found a break in the people, jumped in, started paddling as fast as I could and the first set of waves descended upon me. I got through wave one and two, but wave three threw me. It rushed me backwards towards the beach, out of control. I am hoping that anyone wading nearby will get out of the way and I eventually fall out of the boat and it lands nicely on top of me as I make it to shore. Yes, embarrassing. No injury or pain, just a little humiliation. However, I have been in this philosophical place lately so I just stand up, get back in and try again. No skin off my back. Thankfully though, there was a nice guy and his daughter watching my little adventure. He offered to help give me a start through the next set of waves once I got settled and then I was finally off on my way to calm waters.

Now I am sitting peacefully out in the middle of the water, looking at kelp beds, watching birds, viewing people from a distance, and just being. I am lying- I am little freaked out. Is there a shark around? Is he angry? Does he eat blue boats that look like skinny whales? Hmm... how long should I stay here and is the tide going to pull me out? Okay, I guess it's time to go in so I can relax where something is not moving, which was my intent for coming out in here in the first place. Falling off the boat must have gotten to me more than I thought.

This time I am much more methodical in picking my place to land and possibly crash into the shore. I see a nice area that is relatively uninhabited and I can actually ride a wave in, jump off and cool off before I have to pull it out of the water and up the beach. I have drifted a few hundred feet so I will have to do some slogging through the sand to get back, but at least no one will get hurt and I will not have to face anyone who might have seen my original ascent.

Perfect! I am gliding in and jump out. I am pulling the boat up and there arrives a neighbor from down the beach. "Boy, who knew that wave was going to get you so badly. I was sure you had it made. You really took a tumble!" Great...