In June of 2020, I found myself in Austin, TX. The Covid-19 pandemic was in full swing. Non-essential businesses were either on lockdown or at limited capacity creating a renewed interest in the great outdoors. I’ve always loved nature. I come from the mountains of east TN where there’s lush, rolling hills to hike, and clear lakes and streams to explore. Quite surprisingly, I had never tried kayaking! When I was presented the opportunity on Lady Bird Lake, I couldn’t resist.
There was a long, socially-distanced line of equally eager folks outside of the Austin Rowing Club. Luckily, the line followed a trail of shade trees and the occasional “rabbit-crossing” signs. I booked a single kayak, grabbed a life vest and awaited my turn.
To book your aquatic adventure, visit https://austinrowing.org
Life-vest donned, I lowered myself down to the dock and scooted albeit haphazardly into the kayak. It swayed back and forth but didn’t flip.
I had no clue how to paddle, which was evident about an hour in when I developed a blister on my ⚠️right thumb. Ouch! ⚠️
Avoid my malady with this super helpful tutorial:
Lady Bird Lake is actually a reservoir on the Colorado River with unpredictable currents. I learned pretty quickly to go with the flow, which meant paddling a little more on one side to achieve forward directional movement.
The city of Austin banned swimming in the lake in 1964 after several drownings occurred. A dip in it’s waters could cost you up to 500$
A few simple things you can do to set yourself up for success before kayaking:
▫️S T R E T C H.
▫️Protect your skin with clothing, sunscreen and a hat.
▫️Wear water shoes or your favorite outdoor sandal.
▫️Drink plenty of water!
