Kayaking the Little Miami River

[BirdbyBird]

After seeing Nasoosie's canoeing trophies, I know that my travel up and down the river doesn't compare but it was the first time I have been kayaking in over twenty years.... I pushed up stream first and then enjoyed the float back down. I didn't stay out all afternoon, b/c the woman that knows she has no strength in her upper arms wants to be able to move them in the morning. I did remember to put sunblock on! Next time I think I might pay the canoe livery the $10 charge for the pick up or drop off and just travel one way..... On the positive side the kayak fits inside the Kia once the dog crates are out, all but about 3 inches and the hatch tied down just fine. I can load and unload from the car without having to lift the kayak over my head. I am not seeing me trying that in the near future. The turtles were out everywhere sunning themselves. The red bud are blooming also. Now I am going to rest for awhile and watch the Amazing Race later....

[Liz]

Great pics...I love kayaking too, but sold mine because I have no way to carry it. I'll have to rent one if I want to go. Enjoyed drifting along with you. Your upper arm strength will surely improve.

[Getupngo]

Nice pictures Birdie ... I LOVE rivers! I'm a whitewater babe -- or was just before my DH died. Our last trip on Idaho's Main Salmon River was at high water. I paddled an inflatable kayak and he was in a 14-foot oar rig in high water. The largest wave train was 10 - 12 feet (hard to tell when you're swallowed in between waves) and that little craft went down Salmon Falls without even a threat of capsizing. It's a busy little river, with rapids about every quarter-mile. At that water flow, they all were about 3-4 feet. It is a wonderful memory with DH, and that was 30 lbs. ago. LOL

This year we are having a gi-normous snow melt ... which means when I go to Jordanelle Reservoir next month, the water will be lapping near my rig. Can't wait. But I DO plan to bring my snow shovel.

[Nasoosie]

Great pics, Tina! Sure wish I could have gone with you on that excursion! White water rafting and paddling has never been my forte, although those early-spring races down the AuSable river provided some fun little rapids! I have been looking at kayaks, and I would need one I can carry by myself and load and unload from my truck. I now have an 18 pound kevlar handmade canoe which I can lift with one hand. I love it, although it's so tippy with Molly in it that I have bought outriggers to keep it stable with her! I used to love canoe camping, but nobody will go with me any more. Maybe this summer Molly and I will try a trip on our own.

[BirdbyBird]

My plan is to train Stuart, my swimming phenomena, to travel with me in the kayak. He is only 27 pounds and loves the water. This is as long as I don't mind sharing space with a wet dog. He couldn't be that close and not swim off and on.

[Paulette]

Liz, I bought an inflatable Kayak...Sea Eagle. Haven't had a chance to get it out yet, but am hoping to this year. It compacts small enough that it fits in a duffle type bag and stows in one of my bays. It's a thought.

Birdbybird, beautiful pictures and looks like it was a nice peaceful day.

[Cedar518]

Thanks so much for taking me along with you!

My daughter has a kayak and I have tried it once,... it was fun being close to the water. I'm an old dog,though, and still like my canoe.

[sunshinecruiserTN]

I also bought a SeaEagle 330 kayak and so far I love it. I have only had it out a couple of times but I feel certain I will get more use of it when I'm out "there." It is easy to inflate and deflate and rides nicely in one of my bays. I bought the long paddles and in hindsight, wish I had gotten the shorter ones. I sprung for the studdier seats and am glad that I did. It has a wgt limit of 500lbs so big enough for two small people or one big/one small. Of course I have room for Sedona. She's not too wild about it but once I get going, she kind of settles in. I need to find some sunblock for dogs, her hair is thin on top and I don't want her to get burned.

Love your pix.

[AlmostThere]

Wonderful pictures! The lazy looking river seems to be just my speed for a relaxing paddle, which I enjoy much more that white water rafting.

[OutandAbout]

I use to canoe at summer camp in upstate NY as a kid and teenager. I loved it. Cedar and Soosk, I think the camp was somewhere in your neck of the woods on Lake Balfour, the town of Minerva. We were fairly near Lake George. We went on a number of overnite canoe/camping trips every summer. What fun. I also bought an inflatable kayak 2 years ago. I haven't had it out in public yet. I did inflate it and put it into the pool to check for leaks and to practice entering and exiting it so I would not be a source of entertainment when launching.LOL We had a bad summer last year with lakes overflowing and campgrounds being closed for most of the summer. I am looking forward to kayaking this year.

Linda

[Liz]

Maybe someday I'll give the Sea Eagle a try. I did buy a cheap($80) Coleman inflatable kayak from Walmart. Used it once at a State park near the Everglades. It worked about like a pool toy....no steering control. Gave it to my dd for the kids to play with at the lake. It wasn't worth the space it took up in my rv.

[Cedar518]

I use to canoe at summer camp in upstate NY as a kid and teenager. ...somewhere in your neck of the woods on Lake Balfour, the town of Minerva.
Linda

The town of Minerva is in the same county where I live. Soos is a bit northwest of here in Franklin County. If you decide to come this way please get in touch and we'll GTG!

[bluepinecones]

Thanks for sharing those photos and your peaceful little river. Looks as if it would have been a great trip.

[snowball]

I read this earlier today and started a post then added to it and then went to submit it and it didn't so now have to try and remember what it was that I had to say!!!
first really like the photo's I would really like to go down this river...as would dh he likes the scenic type of rivers and lakes ones with squiggle to them and trees!!
When we were first married we were living in Iowa in a town where two rivers merge into one. We were married in the fall and that spring dh asked me if I wanted to go on a canoe ride well as any good bride would I said sounds like fun. Never in my wildest imagination did I think we were going to go on the river at flood stage!!! here I was due in July and he takes me out on the river that is when I admitted that it was my first canoe trip!!! but not my last really enjoy them but like I said I'm whimpy and love the meanering stream/river/lake...we now have a rubber raft as it is easier to stuff into the dungeon of our castle. looking forward to finding a place to float it this summer the desert is lacking of water....we even filled it thinking it would be a hot tub didn't warm up enough to get into
sheila