We left our cozy campsite in the predawn hours once again. This is the usual pattern, but this morning just as we were starting out we spooked a school of fish and one made contact with Don's arm. Paddling next to him I heard him shout out an ouch and he said the fish looked at him before slamming into his arm. This is the resulting photo taken when we got to camp.
Glad that the fish hit a fleshy part of the arm versus a bone.
Today we paddle around Punta Arena. I think that this is about the longest point that we have paddled this whole coastline. It goes on and on and on!
We are thankful that there is very little wind. Even with no wind there are descent sized waves hitting the shore line.
We find a small point protected by some rocks that we can take a stretch break, Once we round the major point we will be getting some swells from the Pacific Ocean.
Finally the true point is rounded and we begin looking for a campsite as it has been another long day of paddling. But first we are treated to a large amount of Mobulus Rays jumping all around us. Several times I put up my paddle to prevent them from hitting me. Underneath the water one can see 100's of the rays as they swim under our boats. It was a magical moment for sure. We spend time just watching them in their ballet type movements.
Eventually though it is time to look for camp. Swells are hitting the beach and we plan to do a surf landing. The landing went fine, and I pulled my boat up as far as I could before unloading it. I even unloaded some of the water and pulled it up higher, but a large waves spilled onto the beach and took my boat with it on the return to the sea. I grabbed one of the lines and held on while my boat flipped and filled with water.. The undertow was quite strong. It was a lesson well learned. The power of the waves is not to be toyed with!
Mileage paddled 26 nautical miles