Bon Voyage

 

This inflatable kayak has been w a i t i n g  for its maiden voyage. Months ago we purchased it, inflated it in our living room to make sure it held air/no leaks. We were not brave enough, however, to endure the cool, winter lake water and actually try it out. When the weather did warm up, we were gone. This week, we finally loaded it up in the car and headed to the lake. The kayak, yet to be named, met the water at last.

This maiden voyage was very short. It was primarily to determine

(1) if it was water safe and (2) if Papa and I could handle it without tipping over. Yes, we had life vests with us! The good news is the kayak is good. Papa and I, well, we need a little practice.

Inflating was super easy, thanks to a rechargeable, USB pump. I wouldn't want to use the hand pump that came with the kayak. The power pump inflated the five tubes of the kayak and both seats in 10 minutes. And, yes, deflating was equally as fast. That's a big deal when setting up on a blacktop parking lot in full sun.

The seats are comfortable and adjustable. There is enough leg room for Papa in the front. The challenge was getting the seats adjusted while IN the kayak ON the water. We should have them figured out now. Might be worth marking the seats so next time we know which goes in the front and back for quicker setup.

It would also be a bit faster if the paddles were assembled. And we double-check that they're assembled correctly. We had two "right" paddles on a pole, which made it difficult to maneuver since only one side of the paddle actually worked correctly. AND we forgot to add the fin at the bottom of the kayak, which would help with navigating. Needless to say, I think we had the young people on the beach laughing at the old people.

The last challenge is getting out of the kayak. Since it is inflatable, there isn't the solid surface of a hard kayak to push against to get out. I'll try removing the end paddle and using the handle as a cane to help next time.

Good news, yes there will be a next time. We need to go out earlier in the morning and limit ourselves to weekdays (we did go on Monday mid-morning--busy) to keep the crowds to a minimum. Of course, the more people there, the more we entertain with our novice skills and old-people antics!