Let's Go Kayaking!

So here I am living in Northern Michigan, almost 63 years old and I had never been in a kayak.  I’ve been in my share of boats and canoes but never plopped my backside in a kayak.  I can remember as a kid that kayaks were something that Eskimos (now properly called Inuit) used. They were constructed of wood and sealskins.  I don’t know when they became popular. I suppose it was when someone discovered how much easier it was to make them out of fiberglass.  I’m sure the seals appreciated that immensely. The word “kayak” means “man’s boat” or “hunter’s boat” but they are no longer limited to just us guys. There are almost as many different styles of kayaks out there as there are tennis shoes, but that’s the topic of a future column.  They have been designed for white water, surf, ocean, racing, recreational…the list goes on and on. I have a good friend who I’ll just refer to as Dave.  Dave and his wife live in a beautiful cottage along the Manistee River.  Recently, I got a call from Dave reminding me about a previous plan we hatched to do a day trip down the Manistee River…. In kayaks!  I had always wanted to try one but thought that a nice calm lake would be a better place to attempt my maiden voyage. The big day arrived and Dave picked me up in his pick-up with our craft hanging over the tailgate.  Life jacket in hand, my wallet and cell phone in zip lock bags, and a half-melted Snickers in my pocket, we took off on our adventure.  We drove South on M-66 past Taffeltown and put in below the bridge in the old campground. I must admit I was a bit nervous thinking that I would dunked just getting in the thing. Dave said that “if” I made it all the way without getting wet, I should be proud. I didn’t like the “if” part. At first I felt like I was sitting on eggs in that I was afraid to make any sudden moves.  After a few minutes I became more confidant until the current grabbed me and before I knew it, I was proceeding downstream backward thinking that the end was near.  Soon I figured the whole thing out, relaxed and took in the beauty of the nature that surrounded us. There were few cottages and even fewer people along our 8-mile float. It was totally quiet except for the sounds of our paddles dipping in the river and our conversation.  If you’ve never experienced it, I encourage you to give kayaking a try. It’s another great way to enjoy outdoor Michigan.

 

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