Kayaking...

For some reason (maybe it has to do with center of gravity), males have a difficult time kayaking. I think I could probably stand up straight and bounce around in a kayak without issue, but every year, at least one or two of the male staff roll into the water.

The mission trip kids wanted to try out kayaking and so this afternoon, myself, 2 girls and 2 guys headed out to have a relaxing afternoon paddle. None of them had kayaked before, but after a short lesson they seemed ready to go... except D. D is a 250, 6'4 football player. He looked terrified and was so unstable I wanted to tell him to get out of the kayak and go do something else. But he really wanted to go, and after a little practice, he seemed to have the hang of it.

Until we got across the lake. Just as I started thinking, "wow! He's really got it!" I watched him, in slow motion, roll to the left and then into the water. It was a sunny day, but around 50 degrees and the water is still recently-thawed-ice-cold April temperature. I heard him gasp and could see the look of shock on his face as he bobbed in the water.

I managed to keep him calm as I attempted to talk him through re-entering the kayak. Unfortunately, between his SUPER long legs, heavy jeans and sweatshirt and frigid water, he was having a REALLY hard time. We were near the shore and so I had him swim to shore, as I dragged the swamped kayak back. When we got to shore, I had the other boy (a cross country runner in school) run the mile back to camp with the instructions, "don't freak everyone out. Just get my dad and have him come with the truck."

D took off all of his clothes (except his shorts) and ran back and forth. He was miserably cold, but I was reasonably sure he wasn't at risk for hypothermia. My dad arrived in under 10 minutes. D sat in the truck and warmed up while the rest of us loaded the kayaks and sat in the back while we drove back to camp.

I wouldn't have let him kayak across the lake unless I was reasonably sure he would make it- I really didn't think that was going to happen. But it all turned out okay, so I guess it was a good adventure...