My wife and I once tried a canoe at Big Bear Lake, but the
craft wobbled, threatening to capsize, with the slightest ripple of water. As we live near the Pacific Ocean, more than
likely we would have to brave stronger currents, even in a sheltered bay. A kayak, with its flatter bottom, suggested
more stability. We often thought of
renting one, but never got around to doing so. We’ve also thought of making a kayak out of
wood, but that hardly made sense. Building a kayak would take a
great deal of time, energy, and the sacrifice of many other activities. While they might look beautiful, building a
wooden kayak would remain a dream project, right up there with finishing our Arts & Crafts-style chair.
For just a little more than the normal admission price, Brevard
Zoo in Melbourne, Florida offers the visitor a unique experience: to take a
guided kayak tour of their Expedition Africa section. Frankly, this seemed like the opportunity we
had been waiting for. We arrived shortly
after the zoo opened, and once through the entryway, headed for the kayak
launch. Our guide assured us that we had
nothing to fear: kayaks were easy to operate.
So we strapped on our life jackets, grabbed our oars, sat in the boat,
and let him push us out into the dark, still water.
As we had surmised, our kayak proved more stable than a
canoe. I sat in the back, taking on the
responsibility to navigate. This I did
by dipping my oar into the water periodically, and holding the blade
perpendicular to the craft. As we were
his only customers on this tour, the guide took his time, keeping a watchful
eye on our progress. The
kayak slid easily through the still water, freeing me up to periodically rest
the oar on the top of the kayak, pull out my camera, and take a few photos.
“Yes, Honey, of course I’m rowing too.”
Along the way, we passed a small alligator sunning on the
bank. A blue heron looked for fish along
the river’s edge. Giraffes towered above
us (more than usual) as we passed. First
one, and then another Impala stuck its head above some rocks, watching us as it
chewed a mouthful of grass. Marabou
Storks huddled beside a wire fence, waiting for their coffee. But the West African Crowned
Cranes strutted their stuff like Billy Idol dancing with himself, even if they
lacked a peacock’s abundant plumage.
Too quickly, we neared the launch area. The guide told us to wait while he grounded
his craft. Then, propelling the craft forward,
we slid ashore between two empty kayaks. Our guide pulled us higher onto the sand, and
we left the kayak to divest ourselves of our life jackets and oars. Then we looked at our watches. Half an hour had passed!
Suddenly, the idea of building a kayak seemed like more than a dream project. Perhaps it’s just
the prompt we need, to get us back into woodworking.
Dragon Dave
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