River mile 1315-1301
Prerunning Baja is a lot of fun when you know you can gain or lose huge amounts of time by picking the correct line in a wash. The washes change shape every year so you take your time, following little trails hoping that they lead to the main trail saving time and energy.
Some times you hop on a promising line and 1/4 mile later you are stuck digging your car out because you can’t go forward and you can’t back up.
If you want to be successful in Baja looking at river washed for the fast line, you need a helicopter….. if you want to take all day looking for fast lines, you need a shovel and a solid reverse gear!
The wetlands grew substantially today. What started as fast lines, tight turns and easy paddling slowly widened into multiple possible little lines. While the river is calm it is easy to find the way looking at the subtle signs of moving current. I also found it interesting that the birds would always take off down river regardless of wind direction.
As the wind came up, the water ripples grew to a slight chop making reading the natural river flow almost impossible. There were sections of the river that turned almost into a large marsh with little cuts or shoots of water looking for the new path of least resistance.
Some of those little fingers would turn into great lines and will make the new river path, and some turned into complete dead ends so narrow I would just have to paddle backwards against the current and the wind. Those sucked!
There happened to be several sections of the river I could actually sail, making great time and saving energy. Even with light winds, sailing makes the day pass and keeps the mind busy. I think every little bit of energy saved now will pay off later down river.
I only had one portage today over a man made bridge that was lying in the water. I’m not sure I would drive over the bridge, but I needed to get out and work around it paying extra caution not to swim in the early morning freezing temps. Today was a day of one put in, one take out with no access in between.
As usual Sam was at the take out, ready to load and go. Our system is getting better, and we will have it perfected just in time to wish him well and head down river on my own.
Tomorrow will be the first section of River I skip. The state has closed several miles due to downed trees in the water that won’t be cleared for another several months.
With the lakes being frozen and the record low water levels between the lakes, we are jumping to the outflow of lake Winni tomorrow. I look forward to paddling something besides duck marsh!
