fick·le
–adjective
from dictionary.com
1. likely to change, esp. due to caprice, irresolution, or instability; casually changeable: fickle weather.
2. not constant or loyal in affections: a fickle lover.

I don't know how I would rank as a lover, but lately I'm as fickle as the weather in D.C. I've cancelled on my kayaking partners twice this week. Monday I missed a paddle on the Potomac to see the Cherry Blossoms because Counter Intelligence arrived late at the house to install the new countertops. And today I cancelled out on the first Kent Island Practice Paddle (KIPP-1) because of a little snow, a little cold and more than a little wind.

Sometimes even those of us with the best intentions let down our friends. Friday night I heard hints of a forecast of snow but the weather is so fickle around here I didn't pay much attention. It was almost 80 degrees on Monday. It's hard to imagine that it would be snowing five days later. But this morning I woke up to the dusting of snow you see on my car and the kayak I had loaded the night before. It's actually pretty paddling in the snow and several times this winter I had complained to Marshall (who was leading the trip today) that we hadn't had any good snow paddles. But it's one thing to dream of paddling in the snow and it's another thing to wake up to the stark reality of paddling in frigid water on a frigid day. So the first thing I did after waking up was call Marshall and leave a message on his cell phone. I don't remember how many excuses I came up with. It was early. But less than 10 minutes later my phone rang. Marshall is the proverbial optimist and despite the dire forecast he was sure that I'd have fun if I came.



So I drove to the put-in on Prospect Bay, still a little sleepy and not yet convinced that paddling was a good idea today. As soon as I got out of the car and felt the wind I knew I should have stayed in bed. Out of 18 paddlers who originally signed up for the paddle today the group had dwindled down to a hearty four: Marshall, Todd, Bob and Eric.



I stayed around for the launch and took some photos of the intrepid snow paddlers, then I went back home and started cleaning up the dust from the construction.

-Susanita