Improvised Kayak Shelter
Only thing is, there is a very small chance that I will not make it back to DB in time. True, I wouldn't really need to cross channels. But my body might protest loud enough that I have to get some rest before I go on. And if it's rough in Fun Lau area, I'm certainly not going to paddle alongside the hydrofoils in the dark.
Which means I need to be a good boy-scout and be prepared. For the life of me I can't seem to find my old camping gears (bivy, tent, exposure bag, etc) So I'll just have to improvise...
0230am and I still can't sleep, I have this kayak-emergency shelter idea cooking in my head, I just have to get it out.
This is what I've been saving up for that rainy day (and you wonder why I'm always in thisdress):
- land before dark (!!)
- remove foot rest
- place all gears in a spare XXL garbage bag (to stay clear of sand)
- sponge dry cockpit
- wipe cockpit down with dry cloth
- make safe call
- setup clothesline to hang wet stuff in case the rain stops ...
- inflate thermorest, fit it inside the cockpit. put aside pump if using one. (or large fluffy towel if thermorest is too much trouble)
- place sleeping bag in cockpit on top of thermorest, toss in food, drinks, and First Aid kit for good measure.
- hang a small led light and mosquito mask around neck
- insert paddle shaft into the "tube" of the tent fly*** (or secure with large clothpins)
- peg down/ tuck in free end of the tent fly under the kayak
- secure kayak position with divided up gears, support bow and stern on both sides. Secure the rudder.
- change into dry clothes, hang wet stuff or put them away for the night. Oh, remember to pee (TP)before climbing in or else... u_u
- wear the spare (dry) sprayskirt, loosen it up all the way around the waist, climb into cockpit and fit the skirt onto combing
- wiggle one shoulder into the sprayskirt and worm my way into the kayak, toss paddle-with-fly over to the other side of kayak to form loose rain cover
- turn on LED light, fix mosquito net onto sprayskirt waistband, (large ring, elastics)
- try to eat dinner with elbows tucked in ^_^;; and get some rest...
*** in case if I don't even have a tent fly, then split the paddle shaft and secure montana-windbreaker sleeves onto them with elastics. Then toss them onto either side of cockpit just before I wiggle inside the kayak.
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