In my neck-of-the-woods one of the popular fashions is camouflage clothes because they are used so often by the hunting community here. And who doesn’t like blending with nature?! There is such a variety of clothing that feature different seasons. However, if there was any potential of becoming lost or injured and immovable, it would be more difficult to be spotted by rescuers. An exception might be if the hunter was wearing blaze-orange gear that increases their visibility to other hunters and could help rescuers as well.

When I go kayaking or canoeing I wear bright clothes so that in an emergency I can be spotted more easily by rescuers. In the worse case scenario, if I were to drown my body could be more easily spotted for recovery. For similar reasons outdoor tools are often marked or manufactured with bright colors so that they are easily seen when placed or dropped onto the ground (see Lost Or Found).

So, your clothing can serve a number of functions, whether for insulation, comfort, or style, but it can also be used for a measure of visual safety as well.

In truth the river waters that I have traveled have been easy-going with enough action for the beginner that I am to learn how to navigate. The waters have been shallow enough with rocks often enough to occasionally get hung up and I’ve had to learn bow to get loose to remain afloat.

Along with the action of the waters each trip offers awesome scenery. In my region it’s not uncommon to see squirrels, great blue herons, kingfishers, mallard ducks, Canadian geese and various song birds. Occasionally we have seen beavers, otters, snakes and deer. I think that the tracks left in the mud shown in the photo may well be otter spoor. what do you think?

In addition to the enjoyment of being on the water, kayaking and canoeing provide another mode of transportation that can be used in an emergency. It can be used for egress or simple transportation from place-to-place… perhaps to otherwise inaccessible places for safety. I’m preparing for a camping trip via kayak this Spring/Summer with eager anticipation. I’ve acquired a dry bag but I may need more. I’ll be sure to share that experience with you!

In my excitement to get on the water I forgot to pack two important items: drinking water, and my hat! I only planned to spend a couple of hours in the kayak so I knew that the lack of drinking water would only be an inconvenience but not having a hat meant the possibility of a sunburn that I didn’t want. I decided to improvise. I had a second shirt available so I twirled the cloth around the outstretched arms then placed the roll on my forehead, tied the sleeves behind my neck, then pulled the remaining cloth over my head and tucked it under the sleeves. It made a nice dew-rag with plenty of cloth to cover my neck, protecting me from the sun.

Not being on the river meant that I had to paddle everywhere. It was a beautiful Autumn day so I wasn’t in a rush to get anywhere but took time to explore the shoreline in a number of inlets. I didn’t take fishing gear as I hadn’t purchased a fishing license but there were fish jumping in the water and I knew that this might be a future destination. I spotted a deer in the woods and we eyed each other for quite a while. I saw birds of prey soaring, crows cawing, heard woodpeckers chipping, and a great blue heron took flight low to the water as if staying under the radar.

I enjoyed the time alone in solitude to drink in the beauty, but truth be told, I prefer sharing the company of a friend. Of course that also provides better safety. Hopefully while the weather is still decent, I would like to do an overnight trip so I will be shopping for a dry bag for my camping gear. I think that any leisure time on the water is a great reward for your effort and if you haven’t tried a kayak yet I recommend it.

I was able to learn a few things with a little guidance from my friend: a single upstream pointing “V” indicates a rock to avoid; when encountering a double upstream pointing “V” you can pass between them safely; on the downstream side of a rock there is often an “eddy” that you can steer into which is generally calm and can sometimes draw your kayak upstream slightly – this is a good place to “park” and rest a bit. I had a variety of experiences, sometimes reading the current correctly and shooting through and a few times reading it wrong and hanging up on the rocks… a very educational experience.

When we beached the kayaks it was relatively easy to disembark and then re-board, however, I took a dump at the final exit point at some stairs along the bank of the river. I was glad to have a waterproof case for my phone. On the bright side I was able to collect two new lures just prior to my exit from fishing lines that had snagged in some trees so it helped to off-set my embarrassment.

There are more difficult passages to conquer in the future but this was a great entry into my first river experience and I’m sure more training will provide more confidence and safety to meet the new challenges ahead.

This is an eight foot entry level kayak in a market that offers differing purposes, qualities, and price ranges. On my inaugural voyage I noticed some significant differences: I sat straight-legged, it had a smaller draft line with less stability, gear space was limited, it used a dual paddle whose technique differed than a single paddle, it carried a single person, and it was light enough to carry in one hand. It weighs only 27 lbs. and I can easily load it by myself for transport which enables me to store it safely at home.

Initially I tried to apply my canoe paddling techniques to the kayak but wobbled all over. Subsequently a friend has helped me to learn the ways of kayak paddling and had great suggestions for various accessories to make a more safe and pleasant experience.

I realize that the pond is a peaceful environment and someday I may want to graduate to a placid stream or white water river but that will require additional safety gear and training. That endeavor may also lead to a higher grade of kayak but for now I am getting acquainted with the fundamentals and I’m looking forward to making new memories with this versatile and affordable water craft.