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July 20, 2006

Kayaking

by Kathryn Higgins
Sometimes, believe it or not, my kids are a little reluctant when I announce a new adventure. But they couldn't wait to try kayaking.

They were up, had their sunblock on and were ready to go before I had a chance to holler at them.

We got to Rowayton Market in Norwalk in time to fortify ourselves with coffee (me), muffins and flaky croissants, which we ate on the deck overlooking Five Mile River. Then we headed below deck to Below Deck, the beach and boating store under the market.

There we met the manager Kim Beaumont and her crew of amiable teenagers, who fitted us up with life jackets, bottles of water, paddles and kayaks. The kids had dressed appropriately in bathing suits and rash guards (surfer T-shirts that you wear in the water, offering protection from board burns and sunburns). I was more of a greenhorn in shorts and a T-shirt. Kim, who grew up boating in New Zealand, gave us a five-minute instruction course on the dock in her charming accent. How to hold the paddle, how to paddle the paddle, how to stop, and how to avoid the boat channel were pretty much all we needed to know to have a successful first trip.

The amiable teenagers held the boats while we awkwardly settled our butts into them. I shared a double kayak with Matthew (7 years old), while Charlotte (9) was up for taking one on her own. Then we set off upriver. My mom radar was up at first, but it quickly settled down as the kids paddled happily. It was a glorious morning, sunny after all the rain, calm and smooth. We skimmed along, Kim describing the sights and wildlife and giving us occasional kayaking tips. It was fun to paddle hard and go fast, and it was fun to relax and bob on the water. Matthew, stroking in front of me, started getting bossy ("Mom, do the left one, we need to turn," and "Left. Right. Left. Right, Mom, c'mon, let's go.") Charlotte was doing fine solo.

Kim thought Matthew could try it solo, too, so we decided to switch the kids for a bit. She showed us how to "raft up," or hold the boats together while the kids scrambled back and forth. After our awkwardness on the dock, I was imagining a phalanx of litigation lawyers waiting for an accident to happen, but we managed it successfully.

This was just the first of several empowering experiences we had (chuck your self-help books); our guide was open to almost any suggestion. Kim taught the kids how to "capsize," something that was reassuringly difficult (me) and a blast (the kids). While Kim held their oars, the kids took turns playing "Poseidon Adventure," flipping over in the single kayak, scrambling around on the overturned boat, righting it and climbing back in.

I looked for the litigation lawyers again when Matthew asked Kim to throw him his oar.

"I'll throw it like a spear," she said, "and you see if you can get your boat to it." She chucked it about 15 feet to him; he successfully retrieved it.

We paddled past Rowayton Seafood, marked by a big American flag, where you can tie up and get something to eat. The seafood market has a new takeout window called Bites, where you can order classic New England seafood shack fare, and Brendan's 101 is a couple of doors down with a grill and deli and delicious ice cream. (My favorite is Major McKinley Mint with chunks of junior mints.)

After our two-hour excursion, we arrived back at Below Deck exhilarated and hungry. Matthew suffered while Charlotte and I browsed the irresistible surf shop, then we walked up the street to Brendan's 101 for lunch.

Kayaking turned out to be something the whole family loved. It wasn't cheap: Our beginner excursion with two kayaks and two hours of expert guidance cost $180 ($50/hour for guide, $45 for two-hour rental of double kayak, $35 for the single kayak).

But as the kids and I debriefed, we shared the feeling that we had been "on vacation" for the day. Now that we know how to do it, we could go without our guide, although Lord knows I'll miss her. The kids are already lobbying to take the Below Deck kids' kayaking classes on summer weekdays. I am thrilled to have boating become accessible to them.

For more information, visit www.coastalprovisions.com and click on Below Deck.

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Posted by getout on July 20, 2006 12:39 PM