cyn
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
kayaking
Kayaking is definitely one of my favorite summer sports. I have a no frills boat I can drag over rocks if I need to, and one with a big enough cockpit for my dog, who is so crazy about kayaking that she starts whimpering when she hears me getting out the gear in the basement.
I'm lucky to live only about a block from a launching ramp which gets me into Rhode Island's largest salt ponds. In fact, it's so big that I still haven't paddled the length of it. There are many spots to haul out and take a swim or have lunch.
The upper body workout is great, especially when I have to paddle against wind and current. I especially like being able to get into shallow bays and coves and seeing wildlife up close.My dog sits up front with her front paws on the bow, ears blowing in the wind, wearing a cute yellow doggie pfd. Boaters, especially kids, get a big kick out of seeing her.
(Hey, maybe we should have a thread about our pets!)
My husband and I had a memorable kayaking experience off the coast of Maine the day before our wedding nearly 10 years ago. We were in pretty shallow water (about 25 feet) and I thought I saw a spout off in the distance. Our kayaks were about 15 feet apart and we were just cruising along, when, about 15 minutes later, a minke whale surfaced between our two boats!!!! Minkes are not considered large whales, but believe me, when you're in a kayak and one surfaces that close to you, it seems immense. It sort of rolled over and looked at my husband, then kind of slipped over to me and did the same thing. It looked me right in the eye, then quietly swam away. No whales had ever been sighted there, and people were skeptical until several others saw a minke in the area throughout that summer. It was an experience that left me speechless, and something I'll never forget. What a great wedding present!
Kayaking is definitely one of my favorite summer sports. I have a no frills boat I can drag over rocks if I need to, and one with a big enough cockpit for my dog, who is so crazy about kayaking that she starts whimpering when she hears me getting out the gear in the basement.
I'm lucky to live only about a block from a launching ramp which gets me into Rhode Island's largest salt ponds. In fact, it's so big that I still haven't paddled the length of it. There are many spots to haul out and take a swim or have lunch.
The upper body workout is great, especially when I have to paddle against wind and current. I especially like being able to get into shallow bays and coves and seeing wildlife up close.My dog sits up front with her front paws on the bow, ears blowing in the wind, wearing a cute yellow doggie pfd. Boaters, especially kids, get a big kick out of seeing her.
(Hey, maybe we should have a thread about our pets!)
My husband and I had a memorable kayaking experience off the coast of Maine the day before our wedding nearly 10 years ago. We were in pretty shallow water (about 25 feet) and I thought I saw a spout off in the distance. Our kayaks were about 15 feet apart and we were just cruising along, when, about 15 minutes later, a minke whale surfaced between our two boats!!!! Minkes are not considered large whales, but believe me, when you're in a kayak and one surfaces that close to you, it seems immense. It sort of rolled over and looked at my husband, then kind of slipped over to me and did the same thing. It looked me right in the eye, then quietly swam away. No whales had ever been sighted there, and people were skeptical until several others saw a minke in the area throughout that summer. It was an experience that left me speechless, and something I'll never forget. What a great wedding present!
