Add some excitement with Kayaking

Never really have much new to report, life is pretty basic right now. It's me and Fritz. I go to work, I come home. When I have a day off that works for the family we play games. That doesn't leave too much to report on. This summer I found Riverroots, who give kayak clinics and do guided rafting trips. I've enjoyed taking the clinics and got my siblings into it also. Pretty soon I'll have a whole fleet of paddling partners. Della, Pat, Marina and I all went on the main of the Payette river from Beehive Bend to Horseshoe Bend yesterday. It was the second time for me and Pat, but we chose to go in hardshell kayaks instead of the inflatables. Pat had trouble with the eddy lines flipping him, which really isn't surprising having no experience in the current with a tippy boat. When it came to paddling he did awesome, it was just the edging that got him, since he never really had to in an inflatable. The guide was impressed with his skill, and his determination (stubbornness?). Della and Marina were both rock-stars in the inflatables. We all went for the hard line on the last rapid, Climax. The other 3 made it through and into the eddy, but I got flipped and the end and couldn't roll back up. Mom snapped a picture right as I was going over and it's clear as day my head is leaned the wrong way. The rapid was different from our first run because the flow of the water had decreased. I thought it was more fun the second run through, but I was disappointed that I didn't make it through upright. I tried to roll up but again had my head leaned the wrong way. Stupid instinct to breathe. I need to spend a lot more time practicing. The most disappointing part about having to bail out was it took so long to drain the boat that it didn't give me time to take a second try at the rapid. Overall I was a lot more conservative in the hard-shell because I really didn't want to have to wet exit all the time and swim to the side. I didn't do as many eddy turns and never tried to surf. I just wanted to get comfortable in my boat. I also wasn't feeling that great, so didn't want to use up all my energy. I'm a little torn between the no pressure of an inflatable - not having to worry about rolling, and the better maneuverability and less work paddling of a hard-shell. I think until I feel really confident in rolling and bracing the inflatable may be my favorite. I had a good time though and glad my siblings are willing to try stuff with me. It was fun having them along. Pity the summer has been so short and we haven't had a chance to play more. Playing is my favorite.