Here we are, ready to go.
I launched at the City Beach boat ramp, with the water level at 2052.4' (measured at Hope) and the water temperature at 43 degrees Fahrenheit (measured at Albeni Dam). It was a sunny day. The water level was just high enough to adequately cover the sand bars established by the Sand Creek outflow. I paddled my Explorer (named Sedna) using my wooden Greenland Paddle. Sedna and I paddled downstream, following the shore to Rocky Point (3.66 nm) and returned to City Beach more directly (2.98 nm).
The water was flat calm on the way out, but with a slight cooling breeze in my face on the way back. Along the way I saw 2 eagles on shore, 7 cormorants, common mergansers, many buffleheads, coots, Canada geese (of course), and other watefowl I could not identify. The osprey should be plentiful soon and the Western Grebes should flock through later - leaving a few to stay locally.
This trip gave the first assessment of my structural impediments. My arthritic left shoulder was not great, but usable. My exercise program for that shoulder seems OK. On my return, my lower back bothered me quite a bit. It was injured about 40 years ago, destroying a disc and leaving my back a little crooked. Early in the season, my back needs to get into condition, but I need to look at some off-season exercises.
What about gear? My skeg was not moving smoothly, but did move. There must have been some sand stuck in the skeg box, because it cured itself over the course of the day. Last season I ended up with one of the hullavators (Thule kayak cartop carrier) not working perfectly. Recently I discovered the cause and successfully fixed it. Other than those issues, I was a little warm in my dry suit, but the water temperature dictated that I wear it.
