During this crazy time of Covid and politics, our priorities have shifted from dining out frequently, to attempt a more healthy lifestyle of cooking most meals at home, and seeking out alternative sources of entertainment, ones that permit us to breathe in fresh air, enjoy what nature has to offer, and maintain social distancing.
So, after visiting a few terrific Virginia State parks, renting kayaks, we decided that this would be something we would like to do regularly, and purchased our own boats.
How many times have you crossed Huguenot bridge and thought, oh neat, look at the people kayaking, what fun? Yea, that has been me for years. So we decided to check out the Huguenot Flatwater put-in area and while it is a challenge, it is doable. By this, I mean, it is CRAZY steep, there is a ramp that the "fit and brave" smaller and experienced kayaker can attempt. For us, we carried our kayaks down the steps and were able to launch from there with relative ease.
The main issue we had, was that it got super busy, and it was really noisy with the constant sound of vehicles on the bridge. We paddled down river for a bit but decided to play it safe and head back up river so we could float back and were not fighting the current and didn't get too worn out. When we were about ready to head back in, there were so many people trying to put in, that people were having to wait to get out. And then a bus load from a tour company came and we decided to head over to where a trail end let out on the river, decided it was safe, and we carried our kayaks through the trail and back to our car. Not far.
The "coolness" and novelty of urban kayaking wore off within 5 minutes of being in the river. It wasn't peaceful at all, but we did get a decent workout and enjoyed the views.
We will definitely continue to seek out different places to kayak, and kudos to those who love the adrenaline of being in that environment. I personally just prefer more quiet and fewer people. read more