Kayaking

Last Sunday we finally got the kayaks out.  And this time we didn't send them flying off the minvan into an intersection or break a windshield :)

Though we did order a trailer and hitch for my van this weekend so that it will take much less time to load and secure the boats.  We are hoping this encourages us to go more often!

We kayaked on Percy Priest Lake up in Nashville.  We launched from Smith Springs Park and then went around Hole in the Wall Island and Pig Island.  I attempted to map our route afterwards and got almost 7 miles.

The wind wasn't horrible but we were going with it on our way out and we knew it was going to be tough on the return.

Carter used Brian's sea kayak and I used mine.

We finally got our new boat on the water (the Feelfree Corona - nice name) for the first time with Brian, Gray, and Rylan in it. 

It was a pretty quiet morning on the lake with enough but not ridiculous boat traffic.

The first island we got to was called Hole in the Rock Island.  We discovered this little passage (which the island is obviously named for) and ventured in.

This quiet little area was peaceful and it gave Rylan a chance to try out Brian's kayak before deciding he'd rather stay on the big boat.

Heading back out ...

The rock walls were tall on this side of the island.

This monster tree was at the end and it's were we stopped and let the boys play in the water for a bit.

After a swim we headed over to Pig Island and started battling the wind.  I ended up attaching a tow rope to Carter's boat to help him out.  It was still easier than maneuvering Brian's 3-man boat.  We took another shorter break at Pig Island to rest up before the long paddle back into the wind.

It was great to finally be back out on the water.  We are hoping to do it a lot more often now that we have open weekends.