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Post by hazelrunmama on May 9, 2016 17:38:37 GMT -5
 Yes, I survived the maiden voyage! I've wanted a kayak forever to explore the local lake and get to the hard to see places in the headwaters. Well, hubby saw an 8', flat back kayak on sale at the local hardware store and brought it home. (The theory goes that, at the very least, trying out the cheap version before investing in a more expensive model is a good idea...) Today I tried it out on the lake. And it was AWESOME!! Not a lot of birds out there right now, but during future migrations it should be very useful (I hope) in getting closer to the birds. Today I didn't know what to expect so I didn't bring the camera, but I think I'll give that a go on the next voyage. My arms are going to ache tomorrow. 
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Post by luv2bird on May 10, 2016 9:00:00 GMT -5
Yes, I survived the maiden voyage! I've wanted a kayak forever to explore the local lake and get to the hard to see places in the headwaters. Well, hubby saw an 8', flat back kayak on sale at the local hardware store and brought it home. (The theory goes that, at the very least, trying out the cheap version before investing in a more expensive model is a good idea...) Today I tried it out on the lake. And it was AWESOME!! Not a lot of birds out there right now, but during future migrations it should be very useful (I hope) in getting closer to the birds. Today I didn't know what to expect so I didn't bring the camera, but I think I'll give that a go on the next voyage. My arms are going to ache tomorrow.
Wishing you the very best, but, please be careful and have a life vest with you at all times. Looking forward to photos from the water.
Take care, luv2bird
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Post by hazelrunmama on May 10, 2016 12:05:17 GMT -5
I'm a clutz, so the life vest was the first thing I put on before loading the kayak in the car! So no worries! |
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Post by BarbK on May 11, 2016 9:49:47 GMT -5
It sounds wonderful, Hazel.
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Post by hutchgigi on May 13, 2016 10:42:59 GMT -5
We have a friend who has been kayak for years, owns very expensixe ones. We bought the cheap at Job Lot. They are all up at the lake at this point. When uses the plastic he is fine but harder to move. When he used Daves metal low sitting feet in the chamber it was very tippy. you move fast but your taking 4000.00 bucks. he aventually tipped and got confused what was up what was down, in spite of the lessons over the years from Dave. Last trip he was back to our cheap ones. Ginny H.
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Post by downylover on May 16, 2016 23:13:45 GMT -5
Sounds great Hazel. Enjoy!
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Post by hazelrunmama on May 17, 2016 12:57:58 GMT -5
Mine doesn't even have a skirt, Ginny--that's how cheap it is! LOL But at least I can't get trapped in it! After the maiden voyage, I haven't had a chance to take it out again. It's been a rather hectic week with odd jobs. But I've almost talked myself into bringing the DSLR along--I figure it's old and if it gets dumped in the drink, it'll give me an excuse to upgrade... heheheh And I'm only sort of just kidding--I really think I'll try to bring it along (maybe in a plastic bag to protect from splashes) but I think the kayak is stable enough that I shouldn't have any problem with 'spillage' (crossing my fingers, knocking on wood, and running through the rest of my anti-jinx routine now...) |
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Post by hazelrunmama on Jun 30, 2016 22:55:00 GMT -5
I've only gotten out 3 times so far and still not brave enough to bring the camera along, but I had to share a story about the last trip I made (last week...but I can't remember what day it was...sigh). At any rate, we'd had a lot of rain, so the lake was high and I ended up getting into a channel that had been inaccessible the time before because it was blocked by a sandbar. Right at the entryway, there is a little island or peninsula and on it grows a mid-sized white pine. As I was paddling under it I heard a screech and looked up just in time to see an adult Bald eagle swooping into the tree, carrying a snake in its talons and being attended by two irate Red-wing blackbirds, one of which was literally hanging off the eagle's neck! The tree blocked the view from that location, but I could just make out the edge of a stick nest and could hear the unmistakable sounds of at least one youngster being fed! (One assumes the blackbirds had let go by then! LOL But I sure hope they don't do that every time an adult flies by! If so, those eagles are very dedicated parents!) On the way back, I paddled by from a different direction and could not only see the nest better, but got some excellent views of a young Bald eagle perched on a limb just outside the nest (not sure if there was another juvenile in the nest proper or not). That's as good a look as I've ever gotten of an active eagle nest! They used to nest in a different white pine not far from there--but it was way across the lake and in the top of the tallest tree along the shore, so it was far away even if you were right at the base of the tree. That nest was destroyed when lightning hit the tree and snapped off the top section a few years back. I thought the eagles had left the lake. But there they were! The current nest is in a much smaller tree and only about 2/3 of the way up, so much closer to the ground (or the water)--plus having the kayak allowed me to get much closer to the tree than I ever got to the old nest site. It was pretty thrilling! Maybe I'll work up the courage to bring the camera along next time! |
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Post by BarbK on Jul 3, 2016 9:18:31 GMT -5
Having the kayak is really allowing you to explore and see so much more. Congratulations Hazel! Are you nervous about dropping your camera in the water? If so, why not buy one of those throw-away cameras? Would love to see pictures of your travels in the kayak.
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Post by hazelrunmama on Jul 3, 2016 13:12:37 GMT -5
I'm a little nervous about that exact scenario, Barbara! LOL But I do have a dry sack that will probably float for a short bit if I tip it off the boat. And if the camera tips off while I'm using it, I guess I'll just have to update! O.O LOL The camera is sort of old--for a digital--it's a D90 and I bought it back in 2009.
That being said, though--I had it out on the lake the day before yesterday and the kayak is so stable there weren't even any close calls. So I think if I'm careful, it'll be a really long time before I get that new camera! LOL
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Yes, I survived the maiden voyage! I've wanted a kayak forever to explore the local lake and get to the hard to see places in the headwaters. Well, hubby saw an 8', flat back kayak on sale at the local hardware store and brought it home. (The theory goes that, at the very least, trying out the cheap version before investing in a more expensive model is a good idea...) Today I tried it out on the lake. And it was AWESOME!! 
