Kayak Trip

Today was the day we finally took the kayak trip which we had planned for this trip. We found a place only a little way down the road and set up a one-half day trip with a guide. Although we have owned boats for many years and have taken three canoe trips into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Minnesota, kayaking was a bit different. For one thing you are closer to the water so can't always see as far as you'd like. For another, in a two man kayak the person in front is close enough so that your paddles can collide if you are not in sync. Third, your legs are stretch out in front of you with little room to move or adjust their position.

The kayak had a pull up/down rudder which is controlled by the person in back, in this case, Dan. The guide asked for Dan's inseam to set the rudder controllers. Unfortunately, they were set too short and Dan had to scrunch up his legs in order to use them. Leg cramps were the result of this problem. Secondly, the rudder controls were set up so that you pushed the left one to turn left and the right for right. For whatever reason this was just the opposite of what Dan's brain was telling him to do. Consequently, he ended up pulling the rudder up and paddlling without it for much of the trip.

We were luckly during this trip as we saw 3 river otters (yes, river otters) along with many harbor seals, assorted birds and one large jellyfish.