kayaking

[uh_oh]

I have a bunch of sore muscles. They aren’t killing me, but obviously kayaking this Saturday did it.

Comments

[eusashead]

I'm glad you didn't get swept out to sea. :-) Sounds like fun!

[uh_oh]

It was fun, and my body seems to have handled it well. My shoulder muscles have recovered and are no longer sore.

[xtine_38]

How much does your kayak weigh? I imagined it as being light like a raft, but much sturdier.

[uh_oh]

I would guess close to fifty pounds when all the needed equipment and paddles are stowed in the large canvas storage bag.

[somewherebean]

Congratulations!

Getting the boat to track will become easier with practice. A tip, in case you don't already know this -- don't let the paddle blade that's in the water come back past your hip -- just past the knee is good, but much further and you're creating a turning stroke and making the boat wiggle.

Also, short light strokes are better than slower, more powerful ones, at least for keeping the boat moving in one direction. In other circumstances, needless to say, your stroke is a far more private matter.

[uh_oh]

Thank you. I will practice the techniques you described and see if that helps with the tracking.

Is there a more advantageous way to hold the paddle? Also, I noticed the paddle (which snaps together) has different holes in it so I could orient the blades so that they are twisted in different angles of each other (though still parallel with the shaft). Do some people adjust their blades like this and why?

You know, I probably would have missed the double-entendres if you hadn’t mentioned it. Now I can’t help but laugh! Even though I said “the paddle” and not “my paddle.” Lol.

Your Paddle

[lyriclemon]

LOL

water snakes

[lyriclemon]

I remember seeing big black water snakes at the swimming beach here at Lake Clinton. The kids swimming there never got out of the water when the snakes made an appearance, and some of the kids actually tried to "play" with the snakes. I guess that I was under the impression that water snakes are fairly harmless and that they will try to get away from humans, if possible.