09/12/02 Paddling From McGillivray Boat Ram (South):
Back on my own after hanging out with some folks for the past couple of weeks. Marriage problems, extended drinking, etc. I needed a reminder why I'm out here by myself and I got one.
Shoulder is well rested and as good as it's going to get. Came up to Lake Koocanusa yesterday and was able to get the same beautiful campsite on the west side when I was reconnoitering a couple of weeks ago.
50's at 10am with bright sunshine as I launched from the boat ramp at McGillivray Campground on the west side of the lake. Lake Koocanusa (Koo for Kootenai National Forest, Can for Canada and USA for... duh!) is a long, narrow lake running from Libby Dam in Libby, MT to the Canadian border and into Canada for an unknown distance.
Tall, heavily forested slopes rise up from the lake 500-2000 feet with rock faces in some sections. No development at all.
I turned south into a 10mph wind that soon died away. I have to concentrate more on proper paddling technique to relieve the strain on my rotor cuffs or end my paddling career.
I soon felt new strain on the outer shoulder muscles, deltoids and the back of my neck as I tested unused muscles. That's much better than on the joints. It will take a while to build up those muscles.
I passed a moderate sized island after 45 minutes or so. After an hour or so of paddling with no direct stress on the shoulder joints they seemed to become lubricated and no longer cracked.
2 hours brought me 4 miles to the dam. It's 10 miles by road. Turning back I found a 5mph wind blowing at me but it soon died.