Saturday my son Ben and I paddled Lake Michigan and Lake Macacawa in Holland Michigan to test out our paddling skills together in preparation for the North Carolina Challenge. Our goal was to paddle from Holland to Saugatuck, about 8 miles on the big lake, and back.
Here is Ben in his skin on frame Sea Tour 17 EXP, designed by Tom Yost of Yostworks. Ben built it in about a month and recently installed a rudder as well. Here he is by "Big Red" at the Holland inlet. Things look pretty calm. As we came around the point out of the inlet the wind was 10-15 knots with waves 3-4 ft. Since this was a test for us and our boats we paddled ahead into the wind and waves to see how we would do. After paddling 3.6 miles south we realized that if we made it to Saugatuck we would never make it back in time for our family gathering at 1:30 p.m. We each made beach landings that were not very graceful and took a needed break.
Paddling back was faster but more difficult with the waves coming from our rear and wanting to make us surf the waves. Surfing is fun if you can stay in control which in these conditions was very questionable. Heres a short video taste of what we were paddling in.
We finally made it back to Lake Macacawa and paddled a few miles before calling it a day. We had the thrills of testing our boats and ourselves to our limits and enjoying being with each other. North Carolina bring it on!
