[Rhodes22-list] Summer 2021 Cruise Plans?

[ROGER PIHLAJA]

Mike,

I know what you mean.  Getting in and out of our Walker Bay RIB from the side or the stern of our Rhodes 22 is not a problem.  But, I don’t envision being able to get in or out of my Delta 145 Expedition kayak from the Rhodes 22 when the kayak is tied off to the mother ship.  I suppose if it came right down it, we could use the RIB instead of the kayaks.  Four of us, one canoe paddle in each corner, could paddle the RIB into most of the sea caves.  But, I don’t want to ask the rest of my family to downgrade from the kayaks unless we have to.  Right now, the plan is to dock the Rhodes 22, take the kayak fleet to the beach, separate the kayaks, and launch the kayaks off the beach.  Fortunately, there are NPS docks within a few miles of each of the sea cave areas we intend to visit.  This is kind of an ugly workaround and I’m not entirely satisfied with it.  It would be great if there was some way to anchor S/V Dynamic Equilibrium just offshore from the sea caves and be able to get in and out of the kayaks from the mother ship.  But, when the mother ship is a Rhodes 22, I don’t see a practical way to do that.  Implementing the current plan means I must be fit enough to get on/off the beach and paddle ~4 nm by myself on Lake Superior in pretty calm conditions.  We can’t paddle into the sea caves unless conditions are calm anyway.  One of the rules of our family High Adventure Trips is, “It’s not a High Adventure Trip unless there is some chance of serious injury or death!”  Part of the fun is in the planning how to reduce the danger to the level of an acceptable calculated risk and accept that challenge.

I wish the weather would warm up so I can get out on the water to get some paddling exercise in.  Right now, I’m logging a few miles on my stationary bike.  I’ve been out once on my real bike; but, only for a couple of miles on easy terrain.  It’s hard when you’re trying to recover from electrical burns and scar tissue inside the heart.  How do you rehab that kind of injury?  I did have my cardiologist reprogram my pacemaker to enable a cardiac redline of 180 bpm vs the factory setting of 100 bpm.  She wouldn’t set my cardiac redline any higher.  I promised my family I wouldn’t attempt this High Adventure Trip unless she gave her blessing.  So, I have a lot of work to do!

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium

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From: Michael D. Weisner<mailto:mweisner at ebsmed.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2021 11:26 AM
To: 'The Rhodes 22 Email List'<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Summer 2021 Cruise Plans?

Roger,

As I have aged, my ability to enter and exit my Pamlico 145T from my Rhodes
22 has become more challenging. Dinghy transfers are not a problem but the
kayak has proven too unstable to access from the side of the Rhodes or even
the swim ladder.

Maybe if I had a swim platform it would be easier.

Do you have any tips?

Mike
s/v Wind Lass ('91)
Nissequogue River, NY


-----Original Message-----
From: Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> On Behalf Of ROGER
PIHLAJA
Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2021 10:50 AM
To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Summer 2021 Cruise Plans?

Hi All,

So, here we are on Palm Sunday, 2021.  What are everyone's plans for a
summer cruise?

My plan for a Great Circle Loop High Adventure Sailing/Sea Kayaking Tour Of
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore continues to move forward.  Last week, I
was able to reserve a special campsite at Little Sand Bay Campground on the
tip of the Bayfield Peninsula for the beginning put-in and ending take-out.
After consultation with the campground manager, it turns out campsite #40
has an unused grassy area next to the campsite where we can park S/V Dynamic
Equilibrium fully rigged on its trailer.  Not only can we use the boat as a
pop top camper; but, site #40 has unobstructed access to/from the launch
ramp.  So, we don't have to rig/unrig the boat at the launch ramp.  Little
Sand Bay Campground will also let us park 2 vehicles + the empty boat
trailer in their parking lot while we're out on the water.

The National Park Service only reserves backcountry campsites out in the
Apostle Islands 1 month in advance.  I will have to set my alarm clock early
on June 22-24, 2021 to make sure I get on-line and reserve the campsites I
want.

I have the design for the kayak towing harness finished and I've started
accumulating pieces/parts.  After doing some research and modeling, I think
a towing harness that lines the 4 boats up side-by-side will tow the best,
be the most seaworthy configuration, and the easiest to deal with around the
marina and on the beach.  But, I plan to do some tow testing with S/V
Dynamic Equilibrium in late May or early June in Ross Lake, about 12 miles
from my house.  I have finished the 4 cockpit covers with their around the
hull retaining straps and verified fit/security on each of the kayaks.
Losing a cockpit cover and filling the cockpit with water on Lake Superior
might be the start of a bad day on the water!

But, my biggest potential show stopper issue is me.  As many of you know, I
am 67 years old with A-Fib and 2 arthritic knees.  I have a pacemaker and
last month, I had my 2nd Cardiac Ablation procedure.  For those of you not
familiar with a Cardiac Ablation, it involves making an incision in your
groin, snaking a catheter-like probe up the big vein in your leg back into
the heart, and then selectively electrocuting the biological pacemaker cells
that are causing the A-Fib.  It stops the A-Fib; but, you are left with
electrical burns and scar tissue inside the heart.  6 weeks after the
Cardiac Ablation procedure, I still tire easily and have very poor aerobic
stamina.  I have a lot of rehab work to do in order to be ready for the High
Adventure Trip in July.

So, what cruise trips are everyone else planning?

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium





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