Most trips you will never forget but some will be ingrained into your memory as something special. Taking my daughter to Chain-o-Lakes State Park
When I was around 10 my dad started a tradition with me of doing something special for my birthday, just the two of us. For several years we took a canoe trip, we would leave in the morning on the canoe trip and then camp that night. The trip was through a local outfitter and we camped at the outfitters campground; that was my introduction to wilderness travel, which has become a life long love and passion. This wasn’t a trip to the Boundary Waters but it was special to me all the same. It has become important for my wife and me to start this tradition with our children. Since my wife and I both love to do things outside we decided that it would be a trip with just that child and the other child would stay with grandma and grandpa.
Our daughter has been saving any money for about a year and a half to buy a kayak. So my wife and I decided it was time to “recycle” the birthday trip my dad had started 30 years ago. She had saved about half of what she needed for a kayak and met our requirement that she start to learn how to swim so we paid for the rest of the boat and planed our trip. I also made her a Greenland paddle in just her size. I’d like to think that she wanted the paddle because dad uses a Greenland paddle or the since of tradition and history it represents but no she wanted it because I could stain it purple. I’ll take what I can get and teach her about the rich history of traditional paddling later in life.
After making multiple trips to Nurpu River and Mountain supply and discussion with the Kevin, and Garry about what kayak was right for her she had her boat, PFD and a custom purple Greenland paddle. I also bought a tow rope so when she got tried we could get her back safely and she would still enjoy the trip.
We packed our camper and headed to Chain-o-Lakes. Our first day out we told her after we paddled a little we would go to the beach and she could play around. That was all that was on her mind so not much paddling happened. At the beach we let her play and swim; also we worked in a few wet exits. I think this a skill that is essential for kayaking, knowing how far your boat will go before it goes over and having the confidence that you can remain calm and get out are as important as knowing which end of the paddle goes in the water. We started by holding the boat and letting her jump out, by the end of the two days we were there she was flipping the boat completely over and swimming out. We also attached both of our paddle floats to her paddle and let her play around with them. She started to learn what it takes to climb over the paddle which will translate into self rescue later.
Over the coarse of a couple of days of paddling she got to see a muskrat swim by her boat, a beaver lodge, and slides created by river otters. Knowing the kind of kid she is this just translates into a deeper love and appreciation of the outdoor world. It also meant she wanted a kayak themed birthday party complete with a kayak themed cake but that is a whole other story in what a parent will do for their children.
While at camp she reached another mile stone. She decided she wanted to ride her bike without training wheels. We had attempted this several times before with disastrous results. So after a long day of paddling she decided to try. The training wheels came off and we started our first attempt. Within three steps she was out of my hands and flying through the grass around the campground on two wheels! I think it was an hour later before we actually got her to stop riding and take a break. It all just came together. I guess this trip was one of those times that you see your child grow up right before your eyes. Since I was in Afghanistan
Now my youngest son’s birthday is in February and we are trying to figure out what special trip we should do for him, maybe climb Mt. Washington
