This weekend was so much fun. It started on Saturday with the Great Island Adventure Triathalon. Kristy, Cristina, Matty, and I all volunteered for the event. Matty and I were at the boat take out and Cristina and Kristy were at placed along the bike course to help direct traffic.
I loved being at the boat take out and being able to see the start of the race. Seeing so many boats on the water lined up at once was really cool. There are so many fun things to do in the Lock Haven community, especially now that it is the summer.

On Sunday I headed out to the Lehigh again. It was another release weekend. Jared and I, along with other paddlers that we know, set out very early to reach the put in at 9:30. We played on the wave half way through the top section for over 3 hours. Jared can loop in his boat which is just amazing to me. I still have issues just staying and surfing on the wave. I did try the start of a loop though, sinking the bow into the wave, a few times. I also tried out a Jackson super star, which is abother type of boat. I am looking at the Jackson shooting star which is a much smaller boat. The super star had so much room in it that it felt like a bath tub. I sat with my legs crossed in the boat because I had no nother way to lock in my legs. It was interesting. The boat was so smooth on the wave and rolled easily. I just couldn't sink the bow becaue of how I was sitting and the fact the boat was just too big. Once we paddled to the takeout we were all quite tired. Over all it was a fun day out on the water (as always).

Posted by Carolyn Braun at 9:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well this week I was not able to go paddling because I am on duity at evergreen commons. I am currently a CA (community assistant) at the apartment complex. I love living there because I have my own bedroom, laundry in the apartment, and even a dishwasher. It is a sweet deal working there, too. I work with great people and have a good time doing it.

I did get a chance to go paddle before I went on duity though. Jared and I, along with other fellow paddlers, headed out to the Nescopeck Creek and made a fun run. I was brave enough to play in the chicken hole (which I had never done before). That is a hole that can get a little sticky, but is fun to play in. I swam unfortuintly. I was playing in the hole and got windowshaded (flipped over) and I rolled up and flipped againand rolled up and flipped again and then I was unable to roll again so I just pulled. THe hole had a hold of me and did not want to let me go. Its all good though, I still haven't made it down the Nesky with out swimming, but there is always a next time.

Posted by Carolyn Braun at 2:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So this weekend I went to my first Lehigh River release. I headed out super early Sunday morning and met up with some guys that I paddle with at the put in in White Haven. It was so much fun. The water was running around 1100 cfs so it was bumpin and quite fun.

I rolled a rew times in the rapids, but I had no swims and I was even brave enough to play in some waves with some really talented boaters. There was a guy throwing loops and everything. I was just amazed. I also did my firsl seal launch with was so much fun.

It was just a great day on the water.

Also this week I am so excited because I finally got a bow stall!!! If you don't know what that is, it is when you sink the nose of the boat into the water and you are basically kissing the water. It was a very exciting day out with Jared on the water when i got it. My kayaknig skills are growing everyday and I can;t wait to try more new things.

Posted by Carolyn Braun at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So I started summer class number 3. It is Learning Support, a special education class. I am ready to finish it as quickly as possible so I can really start the summer. Of course that includes working too because I have to save up for the school year.

I have been going out kayaking as much as possible lately. I am sure that is not a surprise to anyone who has been reading my blog since that I mainly what I have been talking about. The weather is getting better and I am excited to spend more time on the water.

Posted by Carolyn Braun at 1:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I know that I have been on break from the normal semester for a few weeks now, but I am really waiting for the warmer weather to hit. I am excited to be able to go kayaking without wearing as many layers that I currently wear. This will help with the strange tan lines that I currently have. Right now the back of my hands are tan and there is a line at my wrist where my sleves come to and the tops of my fingers are white because of how I grasp the paddle. It makes me laugh when I look at my hands right now.

I recently met a new friend out on the water who also likes to kayak. She is a grad student at Penn State. We have net up a couple times to go and kayak. We met up on friday to practice on the wave at Spring Creek in Belefont. Not only was I praticing basic skills I also did a lot of practicing rolling. I have no idea what I was doing, but I was upside down a lot. Saturday, Jared and I went to Wallis Wave again. The level was higher than it was on Monday when we were there. I was upside down a lot on Saturday too, but I keep trying. I don't give up. Of course Jared likes to point out what I do wrong which I appreciate because it helps me to fix it, but somtmes it takes me some time to fix what I am doing wrong. Just becaue I understand it in my head, it does not mean I can translate that to my motions right away... hense all the practicing.

I am finishing up the first two summer classes this week and I start another right away. THank goodness though that I will have just two more weeks of class then it is just work work work for the summer.

Posted by Carolyn Braun at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)