Adventures for Anyone: Kayaking is Something New and Fun For Me, So I Thought I Would Share

It all started for me a couple of years ago. I started to go to a little town close by and rent canoes to take out with my at that time young son. I used to live in a canoe when I was a kid. Not literally, but every summer, me and my friends would continually take off in our parents' canoes and go up and down our local river. We camped out like Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn, and we probably got into more trouble than we should have. But, the long and the short of it was this. It was a great way to get away from it all and it was fun.

As an adult I tend to revert to some of my old ways that were part of my childhood, but at this point in life I enjoy them for different reasons. After a bout with breast cancer which has obviously caused a little cash flow issue as anything will these days with the state that health care is in, I find that I am not traveling far right now. I am the type of person that needs to get away from it all on a regular basis, and since surgery and cancer, I need it even more. Knowing that about myself, just after Christmas I went and bought my little Pelican kayak. This thing is barely seven feet long and weighs only 26 pounds, so I can handle it. It allows me to get away and with the variety that my travel bug requires. I can do all of this and have some serene time, good exercise and a great view; all not far from home.

The little gem you see above is Burr Pond State Park and it's right in my town. This place is a beautiful wooded mountain lake with smooth water, a beach, hiking trails, and a waterfall. It's beautiful and it was a lot of fun kayaking there. Spending an hour on the water can make you feel calm and happy. It's not travel per se, but it is an alternative during the lean times.

Also right in my town is Stillwater Pond. This is another beautiful place to get away from it all. It's right along a main thoroughfare and It's still peaceful and beautiful. You can't beat it. Especially in Connecticut there are a ton of lakes that have state boat launches on them. With a kayak, all you have to do is get your gear which should include water shoes, life jacket, paddle, and I recommend a waterproof pouch. I use my waterproof pouch to put my iPod in so I can listen to music and take pictures on the water. Kayaks are extremely portable, so you can take them to a variety of places for a little gas money. It's a great bargain travel idea.

This one is Highland Lake and it's a huge residential area in the next town over from me. One of the things that I do to have the most fun kayaking is to check out new and interesting venues for my new hobby. In my case, our state Department of Environmental Protection has a map of all the state boat ramps right on their website. You will find that most state DEEP websites have a list or a map or something. This way you can find new and interesting places around you.