Dane and Lynda Kayak

Time: 3 hours Distance: 8 miles We paddled up-river first. Heavy currents made it impossible to paddle in two places. The first we got out and carried our kayaks a short distance to calmer water. We turned back at the second. On the way back we also took a short trek up one of the side sluices. Nice sunny day and a good outing. The Wheatland Ferry Lynda heading South on the Willamette River Lynda hauling her kayak at one of the two places the current was too strong to paddle Dane heading South on the Willamette River Lynda takes a quick selfie Lynda on one of the sluices After-beers at Ancestry Brewing

Time: 2.3 hours Distance: 4.8 miles Haag lake is a reasonably sized reservoir and we had a beautiful day for kayaking though the tremendous number of speedboats was somewhat annoying. We spent some time practicing our deep water re-entries which was much more difficult (and painful) than we'd anticipated. We both came back sporting a number of bruises from our adventure. Lynda suiting up Lynda on the lake Lynda getting ready to flip her kayak for re-entry practice

Time: 2.7 hours Distance: 7 miles Put in on a beautiful sunny day the last morning of our anniversary vacation. The water was very calm most of the trip. Really nice paddle. About to put in at Willapa Bay On the water

Time: 2.4 hours Distance: 7.3 miles Kayaking on the Lewis and Clark River outside of Astoria OR. We put in just after high-tide and had to turn back a little sooner than we'd have liked because of the dropping river levels but we both loved this river and want to go again. On the Lewis and Clark River Lynda coming to the end of the trip After-beers at Astoria Brewing

Time: 3.5 hours Distance: 9.2 miles Our 25th anniversary. Stayed the night of 7/5 in Pacific City and kayaked up the Nestucca River in the morning. We got hit with a terrible headwind over the last mile back that made it feel like we weren't moving at all. Lynda putting in Lynda on the Nestucca On the Nestuca After-beer and anniversary dinner at Buoy Brewing in Astoria OR

Time: 2.5 hours Distance: 8.8 miles The second day of our kayaking trip for Lynda's birthday. We were hit by substantial downpour in the first and last quarters of the trip but we came prepared for the weather and had a great paddle. Lynda suiting up prior to us putting in. Dane on the Nehalem River Necanicum Highway bridge over the Nehalem River

Time: 3 hours Distance: 8.6 miles First day of the kayaking trip to the coast for Lynda's birthday. The forecast was for rain but we had sun for the first half of the trip. At our furthest southern point we hit a burst of rain and wind which caused the swells to pick up instantly. Lynda heading South out of Garibaldi. Dane heading South in Tillamook Bay After-beers at De Garde Brewing in Tillamook OR

Time: 2.5 hours Distance: 5 miles First outing with our new kayaks. Lynda on Smith Lake After-beer at Stormbreaker Brewery in the St. John's area of Portland

The first time Lynda and I kayaked together was on vacation in Kauai Hawaii in early 1999. We rented one tandem kayak and my parents rented another and we all paddled a couple miles up a river to a trail where we hiked into a beautiful waterfall. My parents had a terrible time of it but Lynda and I did quite well together even on our first trip and we loved it. Over the years we kayaked a dozen or more times always looking for the opportunity to do so on vacations or trips to Manzanita. This last July was our 25th anniversary. For years we'd discussed taking a trip to mark the occasion but as it drew closer we decided we'd get much more enjoyment out of years of kayaking together with our own kayaks than we would from a week of vacation. We bought our kayaks (and all necessary gear) in May. We haven't regretted our choice for a moment.