[Sparkle]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

Wow great information and much appreciated advice, Sparkle and Oiler!

Sparkle - the only thing around here is calm waters, except for the ocean. I don't think I would be too keen on that. My dream though would be to do white water kayaking though (but, I could never do that on a regular basis due to location, so that is out). Our trip is the bay side down the beach.

The information on the tandem is very useful. It would annoy me to have to work with someone else. I have never had patience for "group projects"!

Well the great thing is that there is a huge amount of variety in "calm waters" - big lakes, little lakes, meandering rivers, small-rapid rivers, ponds, estuaries, bays etc.

I'm interested in sea kayaking but I've not had too much experience at it. I usually rent a sea kayak when I'm in Ptown and paddle cross the bay to Long Point which is the tippy top of the curve that is Cape Cod and sometimes just around Long Point - I am in ocean waters but mainly in the protected cove of the bay, and otherwise very close to the shore. I feel comfortable with that but I get nervous about going out very far, there have been a couple of news stories about kayakers off the cape spotting great whites, and the seals and manatees swimming by my boat make me nervous.

I LOVE white water kayaking, but it takes the cost of kayaking to a new level. Specialized equipment, classes at each rapid level, travel etc.

Most of my kayaking these days is done on some form of calm water. Its just more accessible and practical.

I know a few people that have kayaked around Manhattan *that* is the type of kayaking that scares me. Too much traffic on the water, it makes me nervous.