Hailey, my favorite 8-year-old, has been a kayaker since she was an infant. She learned to walk by using the stack of whitewater kayaks at the lake house, she paddled solo at age three (albeit in circles and with her mom and me hanging around close), and last year she paddled the Coaster and learned that edging made it easier to turn. So when Sue and I were told that we'd have her for part of the weekend I gathered up all the kayaks and gave Hailey her choice for a paddlling adventure. She chose the Express and became the frist in our group to paddle that boat. So yesterday, after school, she and I loaded ourselves into the boats (me in the F-1) and set off. We paddled north... then south.... then east.... then west... then more south... then north.... and an impromptu race east (whcih I (ahem!) won)... and finally, as it was getting dark, west to find a campsite. By this time it was almost dark and we felt lucky to find a place to camp while we could still see a little. The campsite was in a grove of trees (three) only 20 feet from the water's edge. We landed at a rickety dock and pulled the boats to safety on the shore and then set up the tent. After a catered dinner we retired to our tent and camp cots for a harmonica duet. It was getting a little nippy out and Hailey made a try at talking me out of my one blanket but then her bed warmed up and she decided to let me keep it. Once the lantern was out she asked me for a story but when I told her that classic old tale about "The Hook" she got mad at me for telling her a scary story. Go figure. This morning (Saturday) she and I were up early and in the daylight discovered that we had camped in the back yard of the lake house. I guess we must've gotten a bit turned around what with all those changes in direction. The joke was on us. There was nothing left but to go inside, have breakfast, and watch a movie on tv. (This did explain the "catered dinner", however.) But first Hailey wanted to hear the rest of the story about "The Hook". Go figure. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA www.nwkayaking.net *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Craig Jungers wrote: > Hailey, my favorite 8-year-old, has been a kayaker since she was an infant. > She learned to walk by using the stack of whitewater kayaks at the lake > house, she paddled solo at age three (albeit in circles and with her mom and > me hanging around close), and last year she paddled the Coaster and learned > that edging made it easier to turn. So when Sue and I were told that we'd > have her for part of the weekend I gathered up all the kayaks and gave > Hailey her choice for a paddlling adventure. She chose the Express and > became the frist in our group to paddle that boat. > > So yesterday, after school, she and I loaded ourselves into the boats (me in > the F-1) and set off. We paddled north... then south.... then east.... then > west... then more south... then north.... and an impromptu race east (whcih > I (ahem!) won)... and finally, as it was getting dark, west to find a > campsite. > > By this time it was almost dark and we felt lucky to find a place to camp > while we could still see a little. The campsite was in a grove of trees > (three) only 20 feet from the water's edge. We landed at a rickety dock and > pulled the boats to safety on the shore and then set up the tent. After a > catered dinner we retired to our tent and camp cots for a harmonica duet. It > was getting a little nippy out and Hailey made a try at talking me out of my > one blanket but then her bed warmed up and she decided to let me keep it. > Once the lantern was out she asked me for a story but when I told her that > classic old tale about "The Hook" she got mad at me for telling her a scary > story. Go figure. > > This morning (Saturday) she and I were up early and in the daylight > discovered that we had camped in the back yard of the lake house. I guess we > must've gotten a bit turned around what with all those changes in direction. > The joke was on us. There was nothing left but to go inside, have breakfast, > and watch a movie on tv. (This did explain the "catered dinner", however.) > > But first Hailey wanted to hear the rest of the story about "The Hook". > > Go figure. > > > Craig Jungers > Moses Lake, WA > www.nwkayaking.net Sounds great! Now that my son is in another town, and answering emails and returning phone calls with sporadic indifference, I miss the days when we'd do stuff together. <sigh> It goes by so damn fast!! -- Darryl *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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