I think it’s fair to say that the trip to the canal was more successful than the first time I was there, if nothing else I could actually count the number of times I fell in. Twice. First swim was right at the beginning after lowering myself into the boat. I think I had told myself that I was going to fall in so I then obliged. After that first dip I actually managed to stay mostly upright for the whole 4k round trip. It involved 100% concentration and many support strokes to get to the end of the canal but I managed it. Turning the boat at the end was a nervy affair and I opted to turn in the confines of the canal rather than heading out into the turning basin (which seemed to have no places to swim the boat to in the event of a capsize). Heading back up the canal I found some confidence and was able to keep the boat moving for most of the 2km stretch back to the put in. The second dunking was as a result of my bouncing the boat to try and shift the branches and leaves that were accumulating on my bow (that brought my confidence level back to a sensible level).
My wife came along to walk the dog and recorded several videos of my paddling. Watching back I don’t look confident, each stroke is hesitant and clearly not delivering much power which is disappointing as I thought I was going to look really awesome this week.
When I was in Sicily it was approximately 30 degrees, the sea was warm and one morning I even watched a pair of Nelo K1’s heading out. I came into work today in the fog, my ice warning light was on in the car and right now I am trying to decide whether I should go kayaking at the weekend again. I know the chances of a swim in the cold grim canal is quite high and as I think about dragging myself out of the muddy, nettle fringed banks, Sicily seems a very long way away.
Sicily is just a mere 1,189 miles away... If the trend continues then the chances of a dip are <or equal to 1
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