Getting my feet wet at Seneca 5.1.16

[windydoug]

First time on the water for me this year.  It was going to be iffy at best, and I’m always a little gun shy in the early parts of spring, but I had a new drysuit I wanted to figure out, and I was also curious about how the water front improvements were coming along at Castle Creek.

Brad and Chris Groupme’d that conditions were okay, and they were launching from north of Castle Creek as construction in not complete south of the visitors center.

The short of my time on the water is a lot of back and forth not planing on big gear.  Chris was making his 17m kite work while Brad and Kevin accessed whether to give it a go or not (Brad had already been on the water). I am going to assume that a boundary layer may have been mildly at play even for the kites, because the flag up at HWS was straight out most of the time, and all we were getting was 15 mph at best.  It was worth it to get my legs underneath me for the first time this season though…packing and rigging routine etc.

The exciting part for me was getting in the water with a new drysuit.  I’d consulted with a few people on what to wear underneath and finally set on a thick pair of fleece pants and a fleece sweatshirt I’d had kicking around.  Ken told me it would be like sailing in my PJ’s….nice, and Gary has a nice fleece union suit from Kokatat.  Well, after burping the suit and getting in the water I’d say it was like raking leaves in the back yard.  A little chill at first but activity warmed me up and I mostly didn’t notice the temperature, except for my feet and hands in my mitts and boots, but they warmed too.  I’m going to like this suit I think.

I also got a chance to check out the shoreline work they have been doing.  The castle Creek parking lot is completely closed right now as is the entire shoreline promenade south past the Ramada.  Launching north of the Visitors center was the only option.  I chose to walk down the concrete stair”ish” features they built a year ago on the leeward side of the castle creek jetty.  Worked okay.

When I came back in I landed deep behind the jetty and walked up the rocky shore with ease.  The old Castle Creek bridge is still there, but the abutments for the new pedestrian bridge are complete and it looks as though they are awaiting a prefabbed bridge to be dropped on.  The entire shoreline has been reshaped, and a bit of a boardwalk has been extended out over the water (still not complete) for 100 yards nearer the Ramada. It looks really nice and given a month it looks like it should be complete for summer.

Another bonus was catching up with Brad about how things are coming together for the Seneca Surf Bash on May 28.  He’s got a shelter all worked out, and the fee includes burgers etc…  He mentioned hearing from a bunch of folks that they will be there, I will be, but getting a firm number is elusive until days before the event.

I personally would tell you/ask you to be there.  RSVP to Brad at flxkiters@gmail dot com.

Wd

[PharmaBob]

Hey Doug, glad to hear that your “shake-down” spring session went well with the updated knee and new drysuit…hopefully our north-dominated weather pattern will relent soon so we can enjoy more southern Seneca.
As for the May 28th Surf Bash, Brad and I have scored some significant swag for the attendees…hope to see everyone there.

[Geoff]

I think you’ll like your dry suit, Doug. They have much more freedom of movement than a neoprene dry suit.

Polartec underneath is fine, in my experience. A few years back I found a Kokatat uni on closeout, so I got one. The main benefit is that after a long session (or multiple sessions), the harness and motion tend to pull a top and bottom apart, leaving a cool mid-section area. The uni solves that.

Haven’t been out myself. Almost went 2 weekends ago, but with water likely <50º, air 41º, and nary a soul in sight at Myers (nor rescue craft in the water), I decided to hold off. Had the right gear for it, but decided that any trouble out in the middle of the lake and nobody to help could be a really bad day. Even with a dry suit. As a younger lad, I went out in that situation (and have had my moments of more excitement than I wanted!). Either I’m getting old, or 6.5 conditions just aren’t enough reward to overcome the cold once you’ve been at it for ~25 years. Too bad, it as 17-20 NW, right down the pike for Myers.

I agree with PharmaBob, we need the NW to shut off…it just keeps coming. Seems unfair to have a non-winter, followed by a spring that won’t go away.

[kinger]

Hey, at least you do not have to worry about sharks in the great lakes……Black fin shark came up right in front of me at the lighthouse this afternoon…He was more interested in the fish he was chasing than me…just the same ,I cut my session short for the day!

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