2024 kayaking - progress or not

In an earlier post, I had discussed some of my 2024 kayak season goals and now list progress so far. The items below mimic those in the February 28, 2024 post.

1. As wished, I sold one of my kayaks, the Current Designs Slipstream. 

Goodbye Glass-Slipper.

2. I have not yet modified the back band of the Valley Etain 17.3. This is an easy task, once I know I will keep the Etain for the season.

3. I have added some minicell padding on the Squamish, between the coaming and my thighs, meant to help my roll. Upon further inspection, any hip padding now seems unnecessary.

4.I have sold one kayak, but not yet two.

5. I sold the rather long Aleutian paddle, truly a work of art. I may modify the one piece Greenland paddle to make it into a two piece with a ferrule (lurking in the garage).

6. My goal to kayak at least 40 days and a total distance exceeding 200 nmi. is in jeopardy. The lake level is not being raised as usual, because of a gate problem at the downstream Albeni dam. Hence, the Sand Creek level is still quite low and the potential creek distance is well below where it usually is at this point. I often use the more protected creek when the lake winds are high - so in this windy spring I've not had this option.

7. I have abandoned my intent to enter the annual Sand Creek Challenge. Not only is my conditioning insufficient, but the race itself might be abandoned because  the low water level does not allow the usual course length. At any rate, I do not relish the laughter of the spectators.

8. Practice to recover my roll is not yet attractive with

• a water level that is too low for our practice site
  
• a water temperature still lower than our druthers
  

Unrelated: We may consider a kayaking trip to Nanaimo where there is splendid coastal texture for paddling. My wife and I had done many day trips there over the few years when I worked there. The Kalispell duo is sailing off Turkey. Upon their return, we'll see if we can make a plan.