Tragedy Div - Rest in Peace

I can't count the number of times I've paddled one of my kayaks around the point where Church Creek enters the South River near Annapolis, where this home was located. Matter of fact, I watched some of its construction. It was quite a residence.
To the families of those who were lost, my deepest condolences.

Ouch !!!! div

One of the harder things about living in a townehouse is that you can't always get from front to back easily.
Unloaded the kayak from the car this morning and put it on the cart for the hike around the units and through to woods to my back deck. As I was removing the bungees from the cart, I was attacked by a swarm of these:

Was stung four times - hand, arm, ankle and thigh before I escaped into the house. Two of the little bastards followed me in and met with a violent end ! Found a couple of Benedryl and swallowed them. No respiratory problems but the "bite sites" sure sting !!!

Guess I'll have to "armor up" and scout the woods for the nesting site.

Geography Div ...... (driving directions subsection)

Many times, getting from Point A to Point B simply requires a good set of directions and the right equipment ............

Winter Sports .... div

There are times during the year when certain bodies of water (or portions thereof) here in the Chesapeake Bay watershed need to be avoided due to a rise in bacteria levels or sewage overflows during and after storms. The incentives to not fall out of the boat (or even roll it) are pretty obvious, eh ?

But with ski season almost upon us, why would anyone strap a couple of pieces of lumber onto the bottom of their legs and let gravity drag them down this slippery slope ??

I guess  a  

sitz·mark

 noun \ˈsits-ˌmärk, ˈzits-\

Definition of SITZMARK

: a depression left in the snow by a skier falling backward

Origin of SITZMARK

probably from German sitzen to sit + English ¹mark(impression)

First Known Use: 1935

                    (h/t Merriam-Webster online)

is better than the "fall forward" version.

Debate Alternative .... div

Got a choice  - -  watch the "decisive confrontation" on the teevee or take the kayak out.
No contest  ......... really.

Paddlin' .... div

Once again, had a great weekend on the Eastern Shore (Nanitcoke River, Fishing Bay and various creeks). Decent weather (though heavy rain on Friday nite), challenging water and a great group of people.
Now back to the daily grind of Driving4$$ and listening to the news.

(H/T  - Photos  -  Manauver)

Shiny Thing .... div

After a great weekend of kayaking and camping:

                                     (Photo thanks: Manuverer)
                                         
I return to the "real world" and see the news and the newspaper - -  and find that nothing has really changed.

Willard still can't seem to get anything right (except for his audience) and still ain't tellin'  us anything beyond "Trust Me and my lil' Buddy."

Lil' Buddy tells the folks at the valuable voters summit that he can't really say what the plans are, but can pretty well be summed up as, "Your money and my experience will soon become my money and your experience."**

Little Ricky tells the valuable voters that the Grand Ole Party will never win over the "smart" people (as if there was ever any doubt. I'd love tto go on, but Jim Wright at Stonekettle Station already brilliantly covered the subject.

Faux news keeps right on tryin' to convince us that most folks really don't care for that Kenyan, Muslim, Socialist, America hating person in the White House ( why don't they call him Mr. President?). Ah well,  a pretty face can only do so much. Perhaps she should have interviewed Clint's chair, eh ??

It's gonna be a long slog to November .............
I think I was safer on the water.

** stolen from Carsten Stroud's  Niceville

Summer Solstice div

The Summer Solstice occurred yesterday at 1809 EDT (6:09 PM for the civilians).
It's been celebrated for thousands of years (ah, Pagans).

Here's how the Bear celebrated (and yes it was, so far, the hottest day of the year here in the environs of the GWTP). Much cooler on the water.

                                                                  (Photo: Gayle Jackson)

Swim Support div

Got up early on Sunday and spent the day in one of my boats - and all for a good cause.
Every year, the March of Dimes sponsors The Great Chesapeake Bay Swim. This was number 21 and the sea kayaking group I belong to does the safety (kayaks are the only boats allowed near the swimmers) - -  to assist swimmers in trouble or give them a resting platform.

(photo: DJ Manalo)

Was one of the best days weather-wise that I can remember (and I've done nine of these); warm, sunny, not too windy with a nice fetch from the southwest and no extreme tides or currents as in many past years.

The swim (4.4 mile) is always oversubscribed and therefore is done by lottery (and all entrants must have open water and distance experience). This year there were 650 participants and the winner made it in less than an hour and a half !! No stats as yet on the open-entry one-mile swim.

I did safety for both the one-mile and the 4.4 mile (with a "biffy" break in-between) and ended up spending four hours in the boat.

Of course, any day on the water is a good one.

SEA KAYAKING div

One of the problems with any hobby is all the ancillary "gear" accompanying it.
This greatly simplifies the process:

Hobby div

Everyone should have a hobby or two. It makes even more sense to combine them when possible.