Tipping points and falling out…

A brief post this week, and not as dramatic as it sounds – oh no, not the tipping point! Falling out? The drama! Nothing exciting like that. Simply a short piece about not falling out (so far)…

An uphill struggle?

We picked up a couple of kayaks a little while back. Hours and hours of research, window shopping, daydreaming, comparing different boats and their capabilities (bearing in mind our limited capabilities), materials, and price points. What fun I had, and how happy Mrs. PC was that there was a little project to keep me quiet. Once I’d made a final choice – and there were many final choices, me being a decisive sort – Mrs. PC pointed out that the real limitation wasn’t what would fit on the car, wasn’t even price, but the fact that we have limited storage space. I’m not the practical sort – I like boats because they’re old and/or blue, remember?

So we picked up two short kayaks a little while back, and they fit into our storage space. You have to be practical…

Green – from a blue boat

I love bobbing about in my little (blue) kayak! I always find kayaks feel a lot more tippy than a canoe, but so far – at the time of writing – I’ve yet to tip either, more through luck than skill or judgement. We’ve stuck to very calm bays and inlets along the shore, and made every attempt to choose the least windy parts of the day. This seems to be mornings, and late afternoons and evenings. No doubt, as I become overconfident, I’ll discover the tipping point, and rest assured, I’ll write about it on here. No misadventures will be hidden by this almost outdoorsman. Of course, if there are no pictures, that’ll be because I should have put my camera in a better dry bag…

Not too blurry?

I like playing in the boat, and I like taking pictures. A new challenge is combining the two! Canoes on lakes are wonderfully stable, and mountains and trees keep wonderfully still. Kayaks on tidal waters, with wash and wake from other vessels – you should see how many photographs I’ve deleted. I like that they can be straightened after the fact, but how off the mark I’ve been is something. I was tempted to post a few of the really poor ones with this piece, but I’ve tried your patience long enough.

More about our kayak adventures and explorations in the future. Much like our initial excursions, I’ll keep it brief – as promised. Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful weekend!

Published by

plaidcamper

I am a would be outdoorsman - that is if I had more time, skills and knowledge. When I can, I love being outdoors, just camping, hiking, snowboarding, xc skiing, snowshoeing, paddling a canoe or trying something new. What I lack in ability, I make up for in enthusiasm and having a go. I'd never really survive for long out there in the wild, but I enjoy pretending I could if I had to...

26 thoughts on “Tipping points and falling out…”

  1. You’ve captured the evocative aspects of the kayak experience! Those slim little tubs have really grown popular these last few years and even I have toyed with the idea of messing about in one, but so far I’m afraid I wouldn’t sit without dumping out my carcass and my camera and fly rod. I’m sure it’s easier than I fear. You make the whole experience look wonderfully poetic!

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    1. Thanks, Walt! I have to be honest, if it isn’t calm, I don’t go out, and when it starts to be choppy, it’s a quick return to shore.
      There seem to be any number of kayaks geared towards fishing, and I’d imagine on the right waters and right conditions, it’d be very pleasant – and the boats really aren’t tippy, I promise!
      I hope your week is going well.

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  2. I hope that when I grow up that I will be as adventuresome as you! I don’t know if I could brave the waves and elements in a kayak though, my admiration is growing even more so. If I could imagine myself in a kayak, I’ll be satisfied enough. Love those trees on the first photo, you can tell that they take a beating. Great post, have a fantastic weekend!

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  3. Thanks so much for taking us out with you in your new blue kayak, pc. Your comments had me chuckling, so funny. I know you and Mrs. PC are going to have great times in these kayaks. Many thanks for this adventurous and beautiful post.

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    1. Thanks, Jet! Glad you had a chuckle or two – you’d laugh some more if you could see how elegantly I fall into the boat and hit the water. Graceful it isn’t…
      I hope you had a fun weekend heading north (how far did you get?) and that your week is going well!

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      1. We spent the weekend in the Gold Country, went to a friend’s birthday bash, and did some great hiking. I hope your week, too, is going well….

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    1. Haha, thanks for the advice, Wayne – you must’ve seen me ride a bike!
      I seem to have found myself back in Calgary…but we’ll be out your way again soon enough!
      Enjoy your week.

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  4. I’ve been waiting all summer for the kayak adventures and it was worth the wait! Wonderful photos and thanks to Mrs. PC’s guidance it sounds like you finally have the right blue boat for your lifestyle! So looking forward to your first falling out adventure and further tales from out on the water. Enjoy your weekend!

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    1. Thank you! Took some organizing – and common sense from Mrs. PC – and now we have them, we’ve enjoyed the kayaks. Hoping the falling out post won’t be written for a while (or ever – yeah, right!)
      Glad you enjoyed this one, and I hope your week is going well (and you’re taking steady photographs from your kayak – it’s some skill you’ve got, and one I’ll be working on for a long, long time…)

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    1. Thanks, Miriam! Rest assured, misadventures are only too likely…
      (I hope this reply finds you – your comment was in the spam folder, and this reply message is glitchy to say the least. WP can frustrate at times!)
      I hope your week is going well!

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    1. Hi Lynn,
      Hope all is well with you! Yes, Mrs. PC is the sensible one! If you get the time, you’ll have to head out to this coast, try your hand at sea kayaking – you’d love it!
      Now if only we had some outbuildings for boat storage…
      All the best to you both!

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  5. Just found your blog. Really enjoy reading your posts, quite a few good laughs! I do a bit of kayaking and it’s always nice to see images from foreign waters! I would love to kayak west coast Canada. Maybe some day. I’ve seen the south coast on a skiing trip to Canada years ago, and it looked just fantastic. Cheers / Göran

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    1. Thanks, Goran! I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment, and apologies for the late reply to you. I’m looking forward to heading over to your blog and reading more – you’ve got some great photographs and experiences on there!

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