June 13 - Mantua Creek Race
When looking at the results for this race you all may wonder what the heck happened that Susan Williams beat Judy Jeanes in a canoe race. Well, what happened was that Judy agreed to paddle her C1 and stay with me while I paddled my C1.
Mantua creek is narrow, winding, tidal, and has current, and my steering in a C1 is more ambitious than it is accurate. Judy made me get in the thick of it right at the start, she would not allow me to hang back and let everyone else start ahead of me.
Because I paddle ICF, I do not have any stability issues in the C boats but I do have some serious lack of ability to steer issues! The start was fun with a big rolling wave and Judy coached me the whole time to keep me on course, "Paddle on the right, paddle right, paddle right, now paddle left, keep paddling, paddle, paddle."
Around the twists and turns we went, with Judy laughing each time she saw my knees move in an attempt to use my imaginary tiller bar. About halfway up the course I noticed that I was seriously huffing and puffing whereas Judy was barely paddling and in fact often stopped paddling to wait for me. There was a bridge with squirrelly currents to contend with, and Judy never stopped coaching me. The paddling was not easy for me but I was at ease in the boat thanks to her.
The only uneasy part of the race was when a thunderstorm with severe winds and lightning quickly rolled in. Judy and I took refuge on a private dock along the river and waited out the storm with another paddler.
Once the storm passed, we continued to race, or I should say I continued trying to race while Judy continued to laugh herself silly at my attempts to steer. I was learning a lot and having a great time.
As we approached the finish line, Judy told me I had to cross first. I refused, but Judy grabbed the stern of my C1 and literally pushed me across ahead of her.
And that is how I beat Judy Jeanes in a C1 race.
It was a good day.