It’s been several years since a bunch of friends and I got together to float and kayak down the broad river. The first time, I was in grad school. Hubs (still dating at the time), and my two best friends decided it was time to rent kayaks, paddle down the river and have a great time. We were SO under-equipped, got raging sunburns, and due to the drought, had to drag our boats a few feet every hour since the river was so low.
After Hubs and I were married, we wanted to go again, this time bringing along our other married, engaged and dating friends (no one had babies at the time!). We learned how to navigate ourselves down the river, but this time, forgot extra water, and snacks. There was no reapplication of sunscreen (the stupidest thing ever did). We brought canned drinks, but by the time we arrived back into town and to the hallowed hibachi restaurant, we were so sun poisoned and starved that we were sick as dogs. And then we made the hour’s drive home. Needless to say, we learned some hard lessons that day!
Prior to this weekend, it had been over 3 years since we last went kayaking. Weddings, babies, and life had gotten in the way! I guess you could say that it took that long to plan for the next trip… We left all the babies with their respective grandparents and loaded up for the Broad River. Poor Red was nearly passed out before we got to Pop’s house!
Hubs and I were delighted to be back in our college town – we visit our old bars and haunts, shopped for school gear, and had a few drinks for happy hour! (More of those awesome signs and drinks this week). We look so refreshed and ready to have a weekend in the sun!
So how did this weekend of kayaking differ from the others? We learned a lot and applied it all. No sunburn, no tummy aches, and despite our fair share of tipovers, we didn’t lose a thing. I have some great tips for a day on the river. Follow these small pieces of advice, and you’re sure to have a great time! (Thanks to Alex for the awesome pictures while we were on the river!)
1. Large water bottles full of ice. Fill to the tippy top with water and it will stay cool for most of the day. And drink up. Don’t just bring it. DRINK it.
2. Food. Not just snacks, but PB&J sandwiches will keep your tummy happy. Granola bars or helpful, but packed in a ziplock bag, PB&J doesn’t spoil easily. Pack one for every 3 hours on the river.
3. Reapply sunscreen every HOUR. Liberally and well. Spray sunscreens will apply on wet skin, and make sure to get the tops of your feet, ears and especially your hands. Weird, exposed stuff shows on the river – cover yourself!
4. Drybags! These inexpensive bags are one of the best purchases I’ve made. An 8L bag will hold a few bottles of sunscreen, snacks, a t-shirt and few other necessities. They fold and clip together, with D rings that you can attach to your boat. Super dry, and awesome to have. They pay for themselves in one or two trips.
5. Strap everything to your boat. Carabiners and bungee cords help to strap down your cooler, water bottles, drybags and lifejackets. Not all kayaks are created equal. Most of them are older and missing bungee cords. Be smart and bring your own – you can never have too many carabiners, either! It bears mentioning, if you stop by a sports store, grab a kayak repair kit. If you are using an older kayak, the last thing you want is a gash in the boat 2 hours before your take out. Ask your rental place if it’s ok before you apply it.
6. Water shoes, croakies, hats all attached to you! Wear real water shoes that are not just flipflops, make sure your hat that you don’t care for, and wall wicking fabrics (swim suits!)
When you get off the river, get showered and head to a big dinner. We and our friends love to hit the hibachi restaurants. It’s all the food we can handle and leftovers to boot. I guarantee you that after 3-5 hours on the river, it will be the best food you’ve tasted in a long time! Plus, the weekend dinner doubles as a little date night. 🙂
What are your tips for keeping safe and having fun on the river?
We had a blast! Great tips! You should also add…”Know your limits and trust that your friends will save you!”
great tips! I pinned!
I saw your tweets over the weekend and was hoping you’d blog all about this trip. 🙂 Sounds like a ton of fun! Reapplying sunscreen is crucial. (And I’m so bad about bringing water and not drinking it!)
Great tips.Sounds like you had a great time.I am not one for kayaking bit scared of what might happen.
Sounds like a great time! We used to go tubing back in the day…a long time ago! The same tips apply.
Looks like you all had a great time! I’ve never been kayaking before.
How fun. I have never been kayaking before. I can’t swim (yes, really), so I am not sure how I would do.
I totally want to go kayaking soon!! Looks so fun, and there is a local place nearby us!
This is great! I am so afraid to get out on the water, but if I was more prepared I would do better 🙂
The closest thing I have ever done that is close to kayaking is white water rafting! I have always wanted to go. Looks like so much fun. It’s been on my Summer bucket list forever.
It has been so long since I got in any type of boat. I think once this kids are a bit older this could be a fun family type trip. Great tips!
I just went kayaking last week. It is SO much fun!
I have not been Kayaking before.. looks so fun. Great tips, best tip is the sunblock for sure. Always important.
Oh my gosh so fun! I love kayaking!
So much fun! We go tubing a lot and even bought a tube to hold a cooler and other supplies. Essential to stay hydrated and not get burned!
Ahh, that looks like a blast! I haven’t been kayaking in ages!
I absolutely LOVE your kayak tips. I would have never thought of securing everything in the kayak!
I used to white water raft before I had my daughter, but only went kayaking once. I think your tips are great (I especially recommend buying the special water shoes).
I have never been kayaking. My husband went last year on his friends river and had a blast Now he bugs me all the time about renting one so the two of us can go. Maybe I’ll give in this summer 🙂
I bet you guys had a ball! I went kayaking at 11 when I went to summer camp! It was fun!
Dry bags are a must when you are in or even near the water. Gotta keep that phone dry!
Great tips! Looks like you all had a great time!
I’ve never been kayaking, so I have no tips. I will say, it can be hard to find time to get away for stuff you enjoy once you have kids. Yay for you guys for making it happen!
My only tip would be lather in sunscreen and then stay out of the river… 🙂 I bet you all had a blast. I have never been… actually I have never been in a river. a creek yes. stream yes. a lake I stepped in freaked out cause the water was dirty and there was a chance of a fish touching me as well as swimming in fish poo holds no appeal to me.. a river I haven’t yet been around to make a decision.
I have never been kayaking. Have been canoeing and your tips are great.
We have only done short trips so we rarely pack anything but water. But we do usually have a picnic on the bank.
Totally agree with dry bags! Everything seems to somehow get wet!
I wonder if we’d laugh tipping over here, or freak out, hahaha I guess in Michigan we’d laugh (if the water wasn’t too cold) and in FL. we’d freak out (alligator factor). 😉 It does look fun!
Looks like a fun afternoon! We live on a canal so I need to learn to kayak! It would be so useful.
OMG I’m so glad that you put that tip about applying the sunscreen to the top of your ears! I never think to do this and then my ears ALWAYS wind up sun burned. As for kayaking, I’ve never tried that but from the pictures it looks like you guys had a blast this go round 🙂