Gearing up for Adventure! My boat is the green Old Town Vapor and my husband's is the Yellow Vapor

A Mad River Adventure!

The Sabine River was flooded!  Yet my husband and I were about to embark on a three day/two night kayaking adventure on this mad river!

“Were we crazy?”  I questioned as we pulled up to the put-in point.  Several Dallas Down River Club members welcomed us, and helped us with our gear.  We had decided to go with the Dallas Down River paddlers for this 29 mile journey downstream.

My heart pounded a bit as I studied the cocoa colored water and watched as logs surfed the current down river, pausing every once and a while to  eddy in whirlpools, then continue their dance toward the ocean.

Gearing Up for Adventure!

“Ok, focus!”  I told myself.  “Time to pack the boat and get ready for the trip!”  I was really looking forward to this journey, but a little anxious at the same time.  I had been canoeing for many years — but kayaking and kayaking with gear was a fairly new experience for my husband and I.   We prepped for our kayak journey almost as if we were going backpacking.  Our camping gear had to be small and lightweight.

Down the Mad River — Into Adventure!

FINALLY our boats were packed and we were ready to go!  My husband offered a steady hand as I climbed into my kayak.  I took a deep breath and then launched out into the mad Sabine River!  As the current captured my boat, my anxiety melted away and was replaced by a sense of freedom and an overwhelming spirit of adventure! My heart soared as my boat was spirited downstream into Adventure!

To Be Continued... Stay tuned to read more about our adventures on the Sabine River.  You might be surprised to find out what we encountered on the trip!

Have you ever been on a kayaking trip?  I’d love to hear about your adventures!

What adventure lies ahead? Kayaking the Sabine River in Texas

  ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

Jeremiah 29:11, 12

Kayaking Nature Tour

The crisp cold wind blew around us as we paddled along the shoreline of a small lake.  This was just the second time we had our kayaks in the water, and we were having a blast!  We saw lots of birds as we glided quietly through the water.  My husband told me that people hunted birds on this lake earlier in the season.  (Boy was I glad it wasn’t hunting season!)

Lewis & Clark Exploration — sort of…

At the end of the lake we discovered a small stream.  Feeling a bit like Lewis and Clark explorers we followed the stream as it meandered through twists and turns, revealing natural wonders along the way.  We had been on this lake before in a motor boat, but had never had the privilege of exploring this far back.

The Poachers!

Suddenly I heard voices ahead!  Remembering that my husband said some people hunted on the lake I decided to make our presence known.  As we came around the curve I yelled, “Hello!“  There were two fully outfitted camouflaged hunters standing there  – at lease one with a hunting rifle —- GULP!  When I said hello from a distance they were totally astonished to see us!  They took off  “like a shot!” 

Bullets in our Boats? 

I sat there frozen for a moment – expecting a bullet at any time… Whew!  When I realized there were no bullet holes in my boat or elsewhere I was very relieved (an understatement.)   I was really glad when the poachers turned and hustled away.  They apparently  didn’t want to be identified!    (No – unfortunately we cannot identify the poachers.) 

Whew!  Who knew kayaking could be so exciting… and dangerous?

Have you ever encountered poachers?  I’d love to hear your story about it!

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mentalman1369/4171540935/