We completed the seven hour drive to Bayfield today, after driving the first 1.5 hours last night with Steve. Connor was left with his grandparents in southern Wisconsin. Upon arrival in Bayfield we met up with Dave and Denise and completed a Basic Safety Course that was required before renting kayaks. The most anticipated part of the class was when we had to tip our kayaks and then self rescue. The normally frigid waters of Lake Superior were just bearable, and the wetsuits took the bite out of the cold anyway. We all completed the course and the self rescue with only a couple events to note. Steve was the first to tip his kayak. While we all watched, he tapped the bottom of his kayak three times to signal "I'm OK" while hanging upsidedown in his kayak in 30 feet of water. Shortly after the taps, as he was wiggling his way out, a girl who was also taking the course that day worriedly declares "He's having serious problems! I don't think he can get out!". Yes, this was 5 seconds after he tipped the 'yak, and I'm sure she felt kinda dumb 2 seconds later after he had completed the tip and escape in less than 10 seconds. When Julie and I tipped, I think I was 2 taps in to my 3 taps, when I heard (my eyes were shut to save my contacts) Julie eject out of the front cockpit. I guess her hands came up to tap, but then immediately disappeared as she concentrated on escaping the capsized kayak. Dave and Denise's drill was textbook.
