Friday Kayak Trip

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Lucky is the word that continued to come out in thoughts and conversation throughout this day. First of all - I'm lucky to be in circumstances that allow me this pleasure. This, kayaking, is not what I thought old men did after they retired. Lucky: that this activity is a possibility, the equipment exists, to have the necessary combination of curiosity and energy to try it, to be associated with like minded folks who will share their time and or equipment. I'm lucky to be in Indiana where the terrain is moderate. First time kayakers would be seriously killed in the mountains (or probably just not try it). What we had on Big Walnut Creek Friday was NOT hardcore whitewater kayaking but it had its moments.
While the challenge of the maiden voyage last month was to stay afloat and not run aground, today's challenge was to not let the current sweep you into the rocks or the uprooted trees. Sometimes it took paddling for all I was worth; sometimes that was not enough.
I did not walk down to the stream at the take-out near Reelsville with DEAN. Bryce and I waited at the car to meet Jeff who was delayed. We left Bryce's car there and went in two trucks along a series of roads that were never far from either Big Walnut or Little Walnut creeks. Although it is near the population centers, this is a very remote and isolated part of Indiana. I thought I saw a still.
Eventually, we decided upon a put-in place west of Greencastle on Walnut Street downstream from the bridge. I walked out on the bridge to get a look but my camera was packed away in the truck so I missed taking a picture of that place. We unloaded the trucks and got on the Big Walnut Creek there.
Some kayakers prefer a sit-in kayak; some a sit-on-top. The sit-on-top might be a little less comfortable because you can't lean your thighs against the sides and the back support achieved by straps is less rigid than leaning against the back of the cockpit. These are the considerations I'm measuring. I'll make my decision this winter and be ready for spring. I may need one of each.
I did not measure the amount of water taken in by the sit-in I was piloting Friday when the current brushed me close to a tree and a limb snagged my T-shirt and turned me sideways and tipped the kayak to fill it to the brim with cold creek water. Jeff was nearest and I could hear him holler out for me to "Hang on, John!" and he was trying to get to where he could help but the stream is narrow at that point and there was little anyone could have done. I had to figure out what was caught and pull it loose to release myself while letting go of the kayak. I could have measured the holding capacity of Rob's kayak at that point because it was completely full. Full of water, it was still easy to guide to the nearest sand bar where Jeff helped me empty it of water. I checked the water tightness of the supplies and was soon ready to head down stream again.
After that it was mostly a peaceful float where we could admire the nature and the bridges over it at times and at other times had to decide if the current was going to take us into troublesome rocks and trees and if you could get downstream by paddle or portage. Once we had to portage, once we had to help each other over a submerged tree in very tricky current but most of the trip we were lucky.
The take-out was harder than we expected and I was (again) lucky to have plenty of Deet to guard me while I guarded the kayaks until the trucks arrived.
Have you noticed that this first person journal slipped into first person plural (i.e. from I to we)? That is the effect of a day with comrades on flowing water.