I've been to Rawlings often during the winter. Biggest threat is if the entry beach is iced over...easy to land on your butt. Given how mild this winter has been I suspect this isn't an issue...
Downers:
The water is freakin' cold, Maynard. Gonads-climbing-back-up-inside cold. Come prepared to freeze if you're in a wetsuit.
(Or run the heater in your car and bring a blanket to change out of your wetsuit inside!)
Seriously, some shops put up a tent to change in and put a tent heater inside it. With snow on the ground this is a huge bonus (although the tent floor gets pretty sloppy - bring lots of towels), but in the absence of snow I'll bet you'll simply need to do the shuffle on top of one of the picnic tables...
Bonuses:
Bonfires. Great big ones. They generally have a huge woodpile around back, and if someone has a pickup and doesn't mind using it to get a load of wood you can build a roaring bonfire that warms things up considerably.
Things not to forget:
Toilet paper. The portapotties are 'open', in a manner of speaking, but TP is sort of hit and miss. BYO.
If the weather is reasonable Rawlings can be fun under nearly any circumstances.
Its a bit of a grind to get there if you've never been there before - your best bet is to hook up with someone going whose been there previously and can show you the way. Alternately, meet up at the Cracker Barrel in Fredericksburg and caravan down.
I'm not available the next couple weekends, but may try for February, weather depending.
Those of you going, the weekend might be nicer with other divers there, but whatever works for you.
Have fun,
Doc
Downers:
The water is freakin' cold, Maynard. Gonads-climbing-back-up-inside cold. Come prepared to freeze if you're in a wetsuit.
(Or run the heater in your car and bring a blanket to change out of your wetsuit inside!)
Seriously, some shops put up a tent to change in and put a tent heater inside it. With snow on the ground this is a huge bonus (although the tent floor gets pretty sloppy - bring lots of towels), but in the absence of snow I'll bet you'll simply need to do the shuffle on top of one of the picnic tables...
Bonuses:
Bonfires. Great big ones. They generally have a huge woodpile around back, and if someone has a pickup and doesn't mind using it to get a load of wood you can build a roaring bonfire that warms things up considerably.
Things not to forget:
Toilet paper. The portapotties are 'open', in a manner of speaking, but TP is sort of hit and miss. BYO.
If the weather is reasonable Rawlings can be fun under nearly any circumstances.
Its a bit of a grind to get there if you've never been there before - your best bet is to hook up with someone going whose been there previously and can show you the way. Alternately, meet up at the Cracker Barrel in Fredericksburg and caravan down.
I'm not available the next couple weekends, but may try for February, weather depending.
Those of you going, the weekend might be nicer with other divers there, but whatever works for you.
Have fun,
Doc
