Finally!!
We were able to ride the waters of Taal lake! And completed our island circumnavigation - and best of all, were able to solicit and donate around 14boxes of school supplies to 350 grade schoolers in the island! :)
We started kayaking at 6:20am Feb21, we were 12 riders in total, using a variety of kayaks. Our most challenging boat were the short (9footer), single plastic sit-on top. We only have 3 sit-ins (2 are said to be in questionable condition) - and the rest are sit-ons borrowed from somewhere. ;)
We arrived in the school after around 1hr of paddling; we distributed school supplies and participated in a short program (lasted until around 830am), before paddling on, and around the island.
We went clockwise - anticipating notorious winds in the afternoon, we thought it was best to ride the eastern part (hence clockwise), and worry about the wind and bad water condition as we exit the western part of the island (we assumed that wind will come from the NE).
By 10:30am, we stopped for a big lunch, I guessed that it was the half-way pt - and that we deserved proper break and rest. :) All team members were still on high, and very much eager to paddle on.
When we hit the southeastern side - our morale and interest started to drift away... ;(
Most of us (if not all) have gone tired, and the thought of paddling heavy sit-on boats just adds to our individual misery... We secretly chanted - "I want a sit-in, I want a fast boat.."
After covering around 28km (close to the northwestern tip of the island), we rested and complained! :) We ranted about how slow our boats were, how tired we were, on why we were doing this trip in the first place, and so on and on... Typical mountaineers!
As soon as we hit 'open water', and see the yawning gap between the island and Talisay proper - we all got possessed and just paddled hard and strong - slapping the water as if there's no tomorrow. We all wanted to finish this trip, to have a BIG lunch (take2), and just take a long REST!
We were on our own for the next hour, until eventually - we hit shore. YEHESS - WE WERE FINALLY DONE!!
We were just so happy that the trip was over, that we can put behind our misery - and live a better life off the water. hehehe. Of course we were complaining then - but the high of the trip is something we all felt even days after...
No pain - no gain! No hardship - No fullfillment!
We were blessed with a good weather, we were lucky to even borrow kayaks for free, lucky enough to even get support from sponsors - and happy enough that we all survived our longest kayak ride to-date (around 35km)!
=)
Will that be our last? We'll see... =)
