Trips 2-B Taken

This has been a very slow kayaking season for me due to the rain. I have yet to go on a river!!! Rivers are what I prefer when kayaking. Here are a list of places I hope to get to before the end of the season.

1. Big Darby Creek - Grove City, OH

2. Whitewater River - Brookville, IN

3. Hocking River - Logan, OH

4. Mohican River - Loudonville, OH

Well that's it for now; as always have fun and PADDLE ON!!!

The Amateurs

"The Amateurs" by David Halberstam

I found this book to be very entertaining, it tells the story of a group of rowers who are fighting to get a spot on the U.S. National Rowing team. This book will let you into the world of rowing and give you an idea of how the politics work in making an Olympic Team. You will be shocked to find out that the best of the best may be left out of a boat. In this sport its about who gets along with who and if the two best rowers can work together as a team. You find out that sometimes it depends on who the coach is and who he gets along with.

If you are looking for a book that will tell you how to row and how to do this and that, sorry this is not the book for you!!! This books focus is on the relationship of the rowers to one another and how hard they train and work. It also provides a look into the personalities of the athletes and how hard they are to get along with. You will find out that rowing is a loners sport, most of them like to train alone.

I liked this book and hope a few of my readers get the chance to check it out. I give this book 3 1/2 KAYAKS --- It would have been 4 but there is one section of the book that seems to drag on forever. Once you pass that section it is smooth sailing. Have a great day and PADDLE ON!!!

Cockpit Cover

I finally got a cockpit cover for my kayak. I had looked for one several times this past month and had trouble finding the right size. I went to Dick's Sporting Goods in Columbus OH; Grove City and Easton and had no luck. All of there covers were to big.

I had to pick up some family members from the Tri-State Airport in Huntington, WV yesterday. There is a Dick's Sporting Goods in the Hunting Mall so I decided to go and check it out. Lucky for me they had it. I got the very last one in that size.

Side note the Huntington Airport is really small, I thought it would have been bigger. Have a blissful day and PADDLE ON!!!

The cover is Large by Field & Stream

We had a few people try kayaking for the first time on the OBX trip. This is a picture of Joe in my kayak with Amy's paddle. We also got Hanna out on the water and she loved it.

It reminds me of my first trip down the river on a kayak. I went to a canoe livery with Keith and Amy. On our way there we discussed what type of water craft we would be using for the day.

Keith and Amy were set on kayaks, which also ment that I would have to get a kayak as well, no way I was going to do a canoe by myself.

Keith, Amy and I decided that we would each get a kayak and once we were on the water if I was feeling uncomfortable we would return to shore and get a canoe. I liked this arangement and it made me feel like taking the chance on the kayak. I have always loved being on the water however the thought of being in a kayak always scared me. I always wondered what if you flip and you get stuck in the kayak underwater and you can't get out!!!

I got in the kayak and made my way out on the water, it was different then what I had expected. I stayed close to the bank and maneuvered a few turns and realized that I loved it...their would be no returning this craft back to the banks for a canoe, nope not at all.

Of course I was still a little nervous about getting stuck in the kayak if I flipped. That was also taken care of on my first trip. On that trip I flipped and the good news, was that I came right out. I think it was good for me to flip on my very first kayaking trip, it made me more comfortable with kayaking. I wasn't going on every trip wondering what was going to happen to me if i flipped. Well that is the story of my first time out on the water in a kayak. I would love to hear from some of my readers about their first trips. Well as always have a great day and PADDLE ON!!!

Kayaking Job

Today was another day of me looking for a job in kayaking as a guide or doing anything. I would love to get a job doing this. I also put in for other jobs as usual however it makes me feel better to end the day with a good search for a kayaking job. I know that all of the jobs for this season are probably all ready filled. I will just keep applying and maybe they will keep it on file for next year. Any of you bloggers' out their got a job opening in kayaking let me know...I am taking interviews. :) Well have a joyful day and as always PADDLE ON!!!

ANOTHER OBX PIC

This is me in Tim's kayak once again. I loved this kayak it was so much fun and it tracks threw the water so easy. However, I think I want a kayak that will turn quicker. I may want to look at kayaks that are in the 14-14.5ft range, maybe!!! Thats not to say that I am ruling out getting a kayak that is 16ft or over. As always have a great day and PADDLE ON!!!

OBX PIC

Hanna in Amy's kayak and I am in Tim's, notice the size difference in them. I am not for sure if I want a kayak as long as Tim's. I would like to try out a 14ft kayak and see how that is, 16.5 may be to long.