We had a high adventure paddle to the Goodwin Islands today. A healthy breeze and outgoing tide carried us from our launch at Back Creek Park , down Back Creek, through the Thoroughfare and to our first stopping point on one of the islands. There was a slight chop to the water but most of our kayaks sailed right through. We stretched our legs, ate a snack or two and met a new friend, Mike and his dog Pepper. Mike and Pepper were out for a ride on Mike's jetski and offered to take our pictures with a drone. So, as we departed the beach we looked up to see the drone flying overhead snapping our pictures! A few of our group opted to take a shortcut back through a cut-through while the rest of us pressed on to circle the islands. As we made to round the last island in the chain, we saw what looked like a man fishing. As we got closer he started to wave his hands, calling for "help". His fishing boat (a 17 footer) had gotten stuck in the mud and he was stranded. So, a bunch of us (including Mike and Pepper) beached our water craft and went to help "John" free his boat. It took a bit of effort but we managed to get the boat out of the mud. We were pumped up and feeling like heroes after our rescue but that did not prepare us for the paddle back across the open stretch of water between the islands and our lunch beach. We were paddling directly into the wind which felt like 15-20 knots. Two and three foot waves were breaking over the bows of our boats! This is what our sea kayaks were made for! It took awhile but we did make it across to our beach where we joined the rest of our group. We ate our lunches and then paddled back up Back Creek which was another challenging paddle due to the wind that was now sometimes on our nose and then on our sides, gusting at times to make headway nearly impossible. But we made it back to Back Creek Park where John (our stranded fisherman) was waiting for us with ice cold bottles of water and a willing hand to help carry boats. After loading our boats a few of us went for ice cream at the Baskin Robbins. They'd had some freezer problems and didn't have a lot to offer. So, a less than exciting end to a pretty thrilling day.
We had 17 paddlers today (plus Jim meeting us at the put-in to shoot some pictures): Ellis, Marti, Bob M, Jack, Jay, Bruce D, Vic, Margaret, Carolyn, Brian, Bill, Larry, Dell, Steve, Buck, Don, and me, Phyllis. We made 3 new friends: Mike, Pepper and John. We rescued one boat (and fisherman). And we got our pictures taken by a drone.
Another great day for the Tuesday Group!
Phyllis
View Jim's photos: https://imagesbyjimarend.smugmug.com/Sports/Kayaking/20170905-Goodwin-Island-Launch/
View Bob M's photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/jO2FubNIckoeRb8D2
Bill B's Pictures including drone pictures by Mike Henrie, APD-Productions https://www.facebook.com/AerialPhotographyDroneProductions/: https://photos.app.goo.gl/OWxvhReEObsuaWSB2