Paradise regained.

the entire HKSAR celebrated my reunion with my beloved Kiska with the explosive vocabularies of a few magnificent firework displays -- one on Tuen Mun side, and one on Disney side.  The entire sea was bustling with activities as though everybody in Hong Kong is happy for me; I've never seen so many boats in this neck of woods, and the people on the boats shouted and flirted with me, even the police shone its search scope on me.  The sea herself got so excited she teased me with a few whirlpools in Kap Shui Mun; even the sky could feel my excitements of paddling Kiska again and started sending charges and lightning as I landed on DB again.  Throughout the entire journey, and even as I walked home, I kept stopping to kiss Kiska.  I didn't realize I loved my paddle so much!

DB - Kwai Shek - DB

Combed the beach for Kiska, still no sign, won't give up though.

Got into an argument with someone in the boat club this morning when I called to see if anyone has my paddle.  I'm a little ashamed to realize, after I've calmed down, that his accusations are true -- I am not taking very good care of my equipment.  I still don't think he has the right to tell me off though.

Dennis and Fred both volunteered to loan me their carbon paddles, I've lost something that costs a lot of money, but I've discovered something that money can't buy -- I've got some REALLY good friends.

Dennis watched my back for me again after a looong silence ... I think, a part of me was being selfish and sulking about his decision to leave our TW team.  that was really childish, I even had to laugh at myself, I know it can't be helped, and I am happy for him that he got the job that he wanted for so long, but I can't help feeling dejected.  Oh well, I might as well enjoy his support while it lasts.

DB 6:29pm

Disney Pier 6:55

Tsing Chau Jai 7:03

Arm Hao Shek 7:23

Kap Shui Mun 7:34

Kwai Shek 7:44

Kap Shui Mun 7:52

Arm Hao Shek 8:12

Tsing Chau Jai 8:30

Disney Pier 9:42

                              < ---- stopped between 9:03-9:13 to admire disney firework

DB 9:21pm

DB to Kwai Shek (Kap Shui Mun) back to DB

Kiska has been stolen. :(

DB 5:55pm

Disney Pier 6:23 

Tsing Chau Jai 6:31

Arm Hao Shek 6:50 

Kap Shui Mun 7:01

Kwai Shek 7:11

Kap Shui Mun 7:20

Arm Hao Shek 7:39

Tsing Chau Jai 7:58

Disney Pier 8:11

                              < ---- nearly got run over by a stupid DB ferry.  

DB 8:39

21km route from Tai Tan (and fecked by the HKO)

Got fecked by the HKO AGAIN.  What "moderate" wind blows me completely off course and into the pit of Nam Fung Wan!?

Very strong wind, at least a BF6 IMO.  Had difficulties maintaining course in the beam wind, especially in the stretch along Nam Fung Wan where it was directly exposed to KLW.  Also needed to use stern rudder to maintain course between KLW and Sze Tei on my way back.  I can't be that out of shape, I only "rested" (hiked instead) for a few days.  But I'm awfully tired from the short 21km journey.  I don't believe for a second that the wind out there is "moderate."

Tai Tan: 12:44

NFK 1:20

Ocean Pt 1:39

Bluff Head 2:15

Check Chau East ??? <-- was admiring the energy waves pounding against the rocks and got so distracted that I nearly paddled into the exposed rocks myself.  Didn't remember to check the time at all.

Kung Chau 3:20

KLW  3:56

Sze Tei: 4:32

Fred's: 4:38

70km of darkness, sunrise, and sunset (with Sam)

2302 愉景灣 

2328  迪士尼

2345 青州仔

0004  岩口石

0019  汲水門

0030  拐石

0108  長索咀  * * * took a long break, drifted half way back to Kwai Shek by 0127, made it back to 長索咀 by 0135

0324  東湧 green buoy ... held onto the buoy with my towline to prevent drift and rested until 0358

0428 東湧<-- landed to stretch and eat ... got very cold x_x  launched again at 0532

???  沙螺灣 * * * sunrise shortly after we left SLW

0745- 0858  Tai O  <--had breakfast and replenished  our sport drinks supply

0925  牙鷹角  * * * stopped for a long time to wash off the slime we picked up in Tai O

0945  青林角  

0959- 1008  雞翼角  <-- we stopped here for our final break before Lo Kei Wan

????  分流 

1200 - 1635  籮箕灣  <-- landed to sleep... z z zzzz

1821 - 1830  二浪  Drifted back rapidly as we stopped to bail water @_@

1918 Nav Beacon 177

1924  蝦鬚排

1955  萬角咀

2059-2110  愉景灣 * * * I lost Sam as I entered the "pincher" of DB O_O  Good thing I am not a coach, I do have a habit of coming back with one less kayak, or one less paddler... @_@

We were sitting for so long, my but seriously ached by the time I reached Nav Beacon 177.  Also took me a long time to get into a comfortable cadence, but once I get it going, I feel like I can paddle forever.

The one thing I'm majorly impressed with is my cache memory ...  I don't believe it, but I forgot to bring a pencil and a clipboard, so I had to memorize our arrival times at each of the checkpoints, and I have to say, I didn't do too badly (despite being so sleep-deprived yesterday.)  Can't remember what time we arrived Sha Lo Wan and DB Marina though.

The biggest challenge for me this time is lack of sleep, as opposed to the brazen    sunshine in August (we slept through the hottest hours: 1200-1630).  Meant to get some sleep before we depart in the afternoon, but I had to clean up Taurus (another ant infestation, this time in the front hatch, which is nearly impossible to clean out), and I hardly get any sleep on Thursday night.