New Year's Day Sunrise, 48th Street, VB

The Sun was just up a few minutes on New Year's Day and i was ready to hit it. A surf launch in a kayak is cool, there's always the promise of the Unknown when dealing with the Sea and it's waves...

The launch went well and after a few determined strokes, i was out of the surf zone and worries of that rogue wave or big set dissipated and i could relax and enjoy the paddle...

 I quickly got offshore a ways and dropped a jig over the side to troll on my way out. The striper fleet had been in pretty close yesterday afternoon and i was hoping to hook one...

 They must have moved offshore overnight; as the fleet assembled, it was on the horizon, a bit out of my reach. I paddled around for about an hour, just enjoying looking out over the bow of my tiny craft, something that brings me a wonderful feeling of contentment...
i just feel like i'm where i belong...

It was wonderful being out in the Ocean, with the Sun still low and fresh, taking in all the details the Sea offered...
Just little things, they don't show in the pictures... some baitfish leaving a ripple on the surface as my craft comes into their sensory range, the seabirds cruising by on those delicate wings that can beat right through raging winds when they must... the little glint of light off a distant boat's windshield that flares into a prismatic crescendo as the Universe's angles align...

Such a beautiful tour of the Ocean, off the Beach i feel so drawn to... what a great way to start the year...

 The winds and surf stayed down and i rode a small wave up on to the Beach to complete my morning tour...

A few images of my AquaSteed for posterity and to contribute to the Legend, and it was back home for a NewYear's breakfast with the feeling that it was a fresh new start to a fresh new year... there was Hope, again, to go along with the newly lengthening days...