I finally got Mrs. Phred off to look after the seven grandchildren. Her flight out of Sarasota was canceled two days in a row after the big snow and ice event in the Southeast. I've been here soaking up sunshine by myself since Thursday.
Ken asked me and Gary to go kayaking with him today at Trout Creek in Tampa. He gave me a "sit on" single-person kayak. I've never done one of those before. They seem to be extremely unstable, the more you weigh, the higher your center of gravity and instability becomes.
I gave Ken my cell phone and Gary my camera....sort of anticipating an upset.
The little creek looks like it must have looked 5,000 years ago. Full of big alligators and ancient Cypress trees.
Ken developed a bad leak and returned to the launch point. Gary and I pressed on until I finally dumped into the creek about two miles in. It was deep and cold so I got up on a sunken log and managed to get back up on the wobbly kayak. I lost my prescription dark glasses, soaked my change of clothing and wallet.
It was interesting. Swimming in murky , cold, gator-infested deep water and trying to climb back onto an unstable watercraft. Gary loaned me some dry clothes back at the launch point. I think I'll stick to canoes.
Oh I'm so sorry you tipped over. We have sit on top kayaks that are VERY stable and have never tipped them. I think it was the type of sit on top that you were using. It looks a little tippy in the picture. I imagine that water was very cold. Please give kayaking another try...it's really a fun and safe sport. Glad you weren't in Flint Creek (another area nearby on the Hillsborough River) that has a LOT of gators!
ReplyDeletetoo bad about the sunglasses...you r lookin pretty good in the photo..sil
ReplyDeleteLesson Learned: Hope your wife come's back soon.....Bandit!
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