Spring Paddling in my Inflatable Kayak

Finally the weather has cleared and my inflatable kayak got some paddle time this past weekend! We had a very mild winter but any real sunshine and warmth had been eluding us this spring here in the Okanagan. The last month has been nothing but wet and unusually windy.

After taking a road trip down South and hoping to spend my days kayaking, I was instead bombarded with more rain and extreme winds… ugh. However this past weekend was beautiful and much more like the dry, warm weather we are used to here.

My inflatable kayak and gear had been sitting in the trunk of my car for almost a month, ready and waiting to go. Last weekend my mom and I packed up our sunny weather essentials and headed to the lake.

View more of our kayaking pictures on Flickr.

The Joys of Spring Paddling

The water was as calm as glass. In fact it was absolutely beautiful as the vibrant trees along the shoreline reflected in the water and created some beautiful scenery to look at.

It was perfect spring weather… not too hot, not too windy and totally refreshing.

I inflated my kayak and as always marveled at how quickly it sets up. We tossed our gear, lunch and bags into my Sea Eagle 380X and off we went. Within minutes we were both breathing deep and feeling far away from the busyness of our daily lives. The whole day was peaceful, calm and utterly relaxing.

At the end of our paddling there were a few things that I noticed:

1. My arms were tired. They always get tired at the beginning of kayak season and I realized that perhaps I should start lifting some weights to get them back in paddling shape.
2. My two new additions to my inflatable kayak were 100% worth every penny (see below).

My Two New Paddling Additions

I bought two new things this year for my inflatable kayak…

1. The first thing I purchased was a couple of pairs of YakGrips kayak paddle grips. These are little padded grips that go on the kayak paddle to help stop blisters and calluses on your hand while paddling. What a difference they make!!!
   
   My hands used to always get really sore after paddling for some time and consequently I usually wore paddling gloves. In the heat of the summer however I didn’t like to wear the gloves because my hands would get too hot.With the YakGrips my hands were completely comfortable and there was no indication whatsoever of any calluses or blisters. I was extremely happy with the comfort of the YakGrips and would highly recommend them to anyone who has ever suffered from sore hands while kayaking.
2. The second thing I purchased was a waterproof camera. I bought the Fujifilm FinePix Z33 waterproof camera. It wasn’t a very expensive one but I thought it would work great for kayaking.
   
   It was actually quite thrilling to be able to put my camera in the pocket of my PFD and use it at any point while kayaking with absolutely no concerns of it getting wet. I am really impressed with the quality of the pictures it takes and it is such a relief to not have to be concerned with ruining it (as I have with two previous cameras).I know that I am going to have a lot of fun with this waterproof camera and am really happy with the purchase.

All in All a Great Day

The day ended with tired arms, a little sunburn (oops… I didn’t think I needed sunscreen), some great pictures and a couple of happy girls.

I can’t wait to get out again and start exploring some new areas. Happy paddling everyone!

Still need a kayak? Read our inflatable kayak reviews to find the right one for you.

Yakgrips Kayak Paddle Grips

These are the absolute best invention for a kayak paddle. If you have ever suffered from blisters or calluses while paddling, the Yakgrips kayak paddle grips will help immensely.

I always seem to have a problem with getting blisters and calluses on the palms of my hands while I am kayaking. Consequently I wear kayak gloves, but in the summer my hands sweat and I am uncomfortable.

I actually never thought to look into some type of paddle grip in the past. Once the Yakgrips hit the market they become instantly huge and very popular with all types of kayakers.

These Yakgrips not only help protect your hands but they also give you a better grip which makes your paddling experience far more efficient. Take it from me, when your hands are comfortable you can paddle a lot further with less fatigue and with a lot more joy.

There are other grips that can be put on kayak paddles but the Yakgrip is by far the best and the most comfortable. The Yakgrips are:

• simple in design
• very light weight
• easy to install or remove
• available for take apart shafts or one piece shafts
• come in a variety of colors

This is one kayak accessory that I really feel every single kayaker will love. I personally will never be without these. In my opinion this very simple hand grip makes a very positive difference to a short or long paddling excursion.

The Yakgrips are very affordable and the absolute best price I have found on these is at Amazon.com For more details view the Yakgrips Kayak Paddle Grips at Amazon.