Bumper cars on the water: that’s what it felt like as my friends and I strategically paddled our way between dozens of other kayaks, canoes and inner tubes, carefully making our way down the Kickapoo River on a hot Saturday in July. Today was an adventure, all new kayaking territory for the four of us.... Continue Reading →
Beads of sweat trickled down the side of my face, down my arms and chest. My daughter and I sat atop our kayaks in our bikinis and baseball caps, paddling slowly across the water, baking in the sun. The lake was quiet this sultry summer day, the hottest day of the year, a day almost... Continue Reading →
Swoosh… swoosh… silence. Swoosh… swoosh… silence. The air heavy with humidity and temperatures in the mid-80s, a slow, relaxed paddle fit the day and my mood. Today was my first time kayaking on Lake Wingra, a small lake located inside the Madison city limits, the smallest of the five major lakes drained by the Yahara... Continue Reading →
The more I write and talk about kayaking, the more friends I discover who like kayaking, too. Take my former Plainfield, Illinois, neighbors Michelle and Dan, for example. Whenever we get together, we challenge each other to game after game of intense bean bag competition, but in conversation during our last visit, we learned they’ve... Continue Reading →
Dark skies, heavy rain, thunder and 19 mph gusting winds. My shoulders sagged in disappointment as I looked out the window upon waking this dreary day in Minnesota. My friends Troy and Carol, who reside part-time on a house boat on the Mississippi River in Saint Paul, had booked our kayak tour with Minnesota Adventure... Continue Reading →
I worked with a local screen printer to get a few new shirts for my family and I to wear when we go kayaking. There’s nothing wrong with a little self-promotion! I’d love your help as well to spread the word about my kayaking blog. If you and your friends like kayaking, follow my blog... Continue Reading →
Classmates reconnected: Traci, Shari and Kori When I started Two Orange Kayaks, I asked if anybody wanted to join me on a kayaking adventure, and the first to respond was Kori, a high school classmate. “How do you feel about beginners?” she inquired. I was pumped to introduce my favorite pastime to a newbie! My... Continue Reading →
I grip my kayak paddle and I see my hands, wrinkled and aged, thin skin and noticeable veins. My breath catches. As I gloomily move across the water, a baseball cap and sunscreen protect my face, yet I know they won’t erase the brown age spots already marking my face. I can only hope to... Continue Reading →
I recently read an article titled "Why is Nature So Good for Your Mental Health?" in Greater Good Magazine, published by the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California Berkeley. The article cites a study led by researcher Craig Anderson and colleagues suggesting that nature may make us happier and healthier because it... Continue Reading →
