Rack 'Em, the Rogue's session log.

 

Always good for a paddle- next sesh to include Ms. West. Dusk on the St. Martin, 7/18/2023.

     Been meanin' to get our latest purchase out for a test run. Found the board on Facebook Marketplace at the end of last season. Short drive (if 50 minutes was short) to Lewes, DE. Too late in the season to get a test drive in.  Did the test run couple days ago. Back fin drops down and locks in place...not very well. Launching from the DP's drop down dock; as the board slid into the water, the edge of the deck rolled the fin back up into the pinned fin box... unbeknownst to me. Standing up as I pushed away from the dock- two issues: 1) the rubber deck pad became a bit slippery when wet, so I had to focus on the foot grab (maybe a coat of wax will help - TBD), 2) the tail was extremely loose... every stroke of the paddle seemed to start me into a hard turn- looking behind at the tail I could see the fin back in the box. Paddling to the nearest empty dock, kneeling onto the board, I managed to drop the fin back down and lock it in place. The rest of the session went uneventfully into a stunning sunset on the river, maneuvering through a back canal, around a small island, and back out into the river. Got back to DP 's dock. Told him about the sea trial and said tribulations. To which he promptly reminded me - next time take a life vest... always on any watercraft in the bay, or on the sea. Good tip. In the surf? Uh, no.

     Wife's been on me all season to get the SUP's on a rack, and easy to access. Racks came in the mail about a month ago. All up. SUPs racked. Performance delivered as promised. Easy to pull out. Easy to rack 'em when done. Tonight proved the system out. Suspenz Storage. Highly recommend.

     Speaking of good tips...Kalypso's Island. Blonde Ale worth the visit courtesy of Alewerks Brewing in Williamsburg, VA. Pours a slightly cloudy straw gold. Finger or so head of white fizz. Aromas of grain, pineapples, and lemon zest. a little coconut, and hints of nutmeg. Flavor profile was primarily pineapple, not enough coconut, and still, the hint of nutmeg. At 7.5%, this tropical brew packed more of a punch than your average blonde. Enough hops in the finish to refresh, yet one can feel the bite. Dangerous on a hot summers day... or evening. Rated a B+.

So I'm gonna sit right here
On the edge of this pier
Then watch the sunset disappear
And drink a beer.
-Luke Bryan