Kayak Trip

We took our first Kayaking trip this weekend.  We live in an area that has lots of small creeks and bayous.  My husband has for years said he would like to "drop a canoe in one of those and see where it goes".  So, this year for father's day, I booked a kayak trip.

We have recently started camping with plans to camp more and more.  I think kayaking will be a great supplement to the camping.  Instead of just sitting around we could kayak, fish, etc.

Our guide, Marshall.

This weekend we set off from a Park close by that is a nature preserve also.  Our guide Marshall provided our kayaks for us.  We had seen some kayaks at academy that were less than $300 so we thought (because we knew NOTHING about kayaking) this was typical.  Um, no.  The kayaks Marshall let us use were $2000 kayaks.  Okay, well, this is different than we thought.

After a few tips on rowing, steering, etc. we set out.  Apparently the State of Texas has Texas Paddle Trails.  Who knew?  We were on one of these so we saw lots of people in all kinds of kayaks.  He talked about the different kinds of kayaks, why some were good, why some were not good.  We did see some of those $300 kayaks and really saw they wouldn't be the best choice and why.  He doesn't sell kayaks so we took his word as an expert.

It was really beautiful and so quiet.  It really never occurred to me that kayaks were so quiet.  He told us if we saw a bird we wanted to get close to we should paddle to get some momentum and then sit still while we drifted towards the bird.  We could get very close before they would fly away. 

Sure enough!  I got so close to this one (I took the picture before I got closer because I was sure it would fly away).  I got so close that the front of the kayak got hung up on the branches he was sitting on!  It was amazing.

This was the most exciting thing.  Alligators!  I thought I would be scared but I wasn't.  I tried to get close to this big guy but he just disappeared underwater.  You can see his head and the place to the left was his nose!  Marshall said he was probably 10 to 13 feet long.  Yay! 

My husband "lookin' fer gaters".

There were lots and lots of fish, too!  The fish were jumping all over.   My husband almost got a couple jump in his boat.  The birds were fishing too.  We saw one that had caught a snake  and was struggling to eat it.  It was wonderful.

Huge and gorgeous crane.

I didn't take my good camera on this trip because I was afraid I'd get it wet.  I was using a cheap disposable waterproof camera.  I really missed my good camera.  If we do this again and repeatedly I will invest in a better camera that is waterproof. 

This is me. 

We had a wonderful time.  I enjoyed the kayaking immensely but I also so enjoyed trying something new.  My kids are almost grown and after spending so much time making them a priority (which they still are but require less) I am enjoying getting out there doing things I want to do.  Living life, not letting it pass by.  I can't wait to take my kids. 

Marshall looking for alligators.