Kayaking | mahanaimadventures.com

Last Night

Last night I had the privilege of leading a sunset kayaking adventure for a Mom and her three kids. When the Mom scheduled this adventure, she told me that her family had been through some really rough stuff. The Mom was looking for something for them to do together for fun and to be a family creating a good family memory. After we got off the water last night as we were walking back to the cars, Mom told me thank you for all we had done for her and her kids that they would be talking about this adventure for a long time.

This reminded me of one of the reasons why Diane and I started this business and for some of the success we are having. You see, when our family was young, we spent lots of time out camping, hiking, horseback riding, canoeing and many other outdoor activities. The vast majority of the times all went well, some not so well. Those of you who spend lots of time in the outdoors with kids know what I mean. However about 7 years ago when my son-in-law started dating Hillary, he made the mistake of going camping with us one weekend. Our kids spent the whole weekend sharing with him all the fun family memories we had doing all of these things together. Listing to our kids laugh and carry on with each other remember this time together was a precious gift to Diane and I.

Last night I was reminded of this simple fact; that we got a chance to help this family create a special memory that they will cherish now and in the years to some. I guess that I am sharing this with you because we each have chances each day to make a difference in other people lives. I guess it comes down to perspective and remember that life is not all about me, but how I can be used by Christ to be a blessing to someone that I meet.

Alligators!

I am amazed at how fearful most people are of alligators that are found here in the Wilmington NC area. This is one of the most common questions I get when I am leading a kayaking adventure. Yes, we should have a healthy respect and view these wonderful creatures from a safe distance. However it amazed how the fear keeps some people from exploring the majesty of God’s Creation just because they may encounter one of these animals. As a boy growing up in gator country of central Florida, you learned to understand the amazing creatures. So, like any good Boy Scout here are some facts about alligators that my help you know more about this magnificent creature, and be prepared on what to expect when you see one.

This alligator was seen at the southern tip of Keg Island in the Cape Fear River.

The American Alligator is the most prevalent of the three species of crocodilians found in the US. The Gator’s range from North Carolina down to Florida and then around the Gulf Coast to Texas.
There are very few American Crocodile and Caiman that can be found in the extreme southern part of Florida mainly in the southern portions of the Everglades.
Gators live in freshwater wetlands and coastal brackish waters. Their diets mainly consist of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. They are more known for their savaging for food than hunting and attacking larger prey.
Mating season beings in May as the spring warms up and the females will lay their eggs in June, with the eggs hatching in last July.
Between 1948 – 2004 there were only 391 injuries and 18 deaths caused by alligators in the US.
Alligators are active both day and night, but mainly feed at night and resting during the day light hours digesting their meal from the night before.
Don’t let your pets swim in known waters where alligators live. The alligators will see the smaller pets at natural prey.

Dispose of fish scraps in garbage cans and throwing fish remains in the water can attract alligators. Also, do not feed alligators.

Before the Adventure Begins

For those of you who grew up in Boy Scouts, you will know that the “Scout Motto” is to “Be Prepared“. This was drilled into me during my days as a scout and I can say, most great scout troops still place a great deal of emphasis on this. To be honest, one of the biggest things that gets to me is watching the vast majority of people take off with their kayaks are woefully unprepared for what they are fixing to do.

This was brought home to me this past weekend when I saw a young couple jump out of their vehicles, toss their kayaks in the water and jump in and go! No PFD, no sunscreen, no WATER, no clue to the weather coming or going, much less of the river currents that will affect their paddle. When I pointed out the oyster beds they were fixing to walk into, they could care less (yes, they had no shoes of any kind on). I could only imagine that they had a less than pleasant time on the water.

It is because of this lack of proper preparedness that I write the next blog. I hope over the next several weeks to add additional blogs that will help you be “Prepared” when you head out on your next adventure.

Here are some very basic things that need to be considered before you take your next kayaking adventure.

Always try to plan for the unexpected “what ifs?” What if I get delayed? Lost? Injured? Am I prepared to cope with that?
Always have a map and compass with you. This means that you know how to orientate the map and use the compass, so make sure you learn basic map reading and compass navigation skills before you head out on the water.
Pick a trip, even a short day paddle and study your intended route on a map at home. Doing this when you’re not stressed allows you time to become more familiar and comfortable with the unique markings of a topographic map and where you will be going.
Additional essential items that can save your life when out kayaking:
- Plenty of water to drink
- Hat
- Sunscreen/bug spray
- Flash light
- Cell phone
- Matches for a fire
- Extra clothing
- Rain gear
- Snacks
- Knife
- Dry bag for all your essentials to be placed
Float Plan. It is critical that you let someone know where you’re going, what route you plan to take and your estimated return time. If you get lost, the sooner a rescue operation begins the better for your searchers and you. If you change your plans before you start a trip, call and update someone, even if you simply leave a voice mail. This also implies that once on the river that you stick with your plan and not deviate.
Oh, I am assuming that you will have your PFD with you before you get into the water.

Mahanaim Adventures provide wonderful adventure in the Wilmington and Carolina Beach areas of North Carolina. We can also customize a guided kayaking adventure to Florida as well as any other location in the Southeast US. We specialize in creating that memory of a life time for you and your family and friends. Check out our web page and find out more details about all of our adventure locations.

Team Building and Fear of the Unknown.

Over this past year Mahanaim Adventures, had the opportunity to take several different groups on either a kayak or on a high ropes team building event. (The high ropes course is called COPE and the elements are the challenges on each COPE course) Our events are designed to challenge each person and group to learn new skilled needed in successful team work. As a COPE Course facilitator, one of the cool things I get to witness is how these folks with different prospective and backgrounds learn to come together as a team and solving some difficult challenges/elements. To see learning taking place while having fun is really cool.

Our team building adventures, especially those that involve a COPE Course, challenges each person to learn new things but also to deal with known truth and overcome their fears. This is especially true when each group walk the COPE Course and see the elements of the course for the very first time. I have to admit myself that the first time saw the elements on my first course I was a bit scared.

I remember that these elements looked like fun, but I began to think what had I gotten myself and those who worked for me into. You see, I had planned a team building adventure for those who reported to me when I working at UNCW. At that time, our department had some radical changes forced on us and I really needed to challenge them to come together. I knew at the time it was going to be hard work to deal with these forced changes and I know we had to do this as a team and no one person could do this themselves. So I signed myself and my staff up for a COPE Course offered by the university.

When we got there that morning, I had not realized that it would be so challenging and I would have to deal with my fear of heights. That morning I was forced to deal and act on what I knew to be true and to place my fear aside to help my team accomplish our goals. In other words, I had to put my faith in what I had learned and knew was truth into action. I was reminded that Faith is not faith at all, if that faith is not put into action. This is the same no matter who you are. You see, I had to act on what I knew to be TRUE and not let my feelings seize the moment. Once I did that, I not only was I able to help lead my team through some challenge events, but I also realized something else.

That something else is what I call the excitement of real life. The fun of accomplishing something that earlier some of us had said, “Yea, right, I’m not doing that”. This was something that we had learned together. We learned that even though something may be hard and scary, we can act on what we know to be true and move forward. When we learn to do this, the challenge is still the same, but we learn we can overcome by working together, using each other strengths and having fun at the same time. We learned that stepping out in faith does not get any easier time goes by, because challenges are constantly being through at us in Life. Yet, those lessons learned on the high ropes course that morning helps each of us keep focusing on what is True and Right.

Where are you being challenged at today? What Truth do you need to focus on so that you can take a step of faith and accomplish what scary challenge lies before you?

How to Choose A Kayaking Paddle

I often get asked about how I choose a paddle for kayaking or what the difference between this paddle and another paddle is. So, I figured that we would spend some time talking about paddles in this blog.

Kayak paddles vary in styles for the different kind of water you will be paddling. Usually, the shorter the paddle the better is for quick stroked needed in swift water and the longer the paddle, the better for touring and for longer boats. Also a longer paddle is needed for a wider boat. Also one thing to consider on a paddle is the weight of the paddle, especially if you paddle for long periods of time. Always remember, the lighter the paddle the better, but the lighter the paddle, the more expensive the

When selecting a paddle, the most important thing to consider is the comfort of the paddle in your hands. The better paddles have an oval shaft that provide better control and comfort and will help you get the correct angel. A lot of kayakers have straight shafts paddles, but there are a few designs that are bent at the grips to ease the strain on the wrists.

The length of the paddle will be determined by several factors like; type of water you will be paddling, the width of your kayak, you size and length of the blades on your paddle and your preference. The majority of the paddles we use with our tours are between 210 and 230 centimeters long. The general rule of thumb for choosing a paddle is to hold the paddle over your head horizontally. With your elbows at a 90 degree angle, you hands should be 6 to 8 inches from the blades of your paddle.

Now for the blades of your paddle; if you have not noticed the blades of the paddle come in various designs. The larger the blade, the more power you will get out of your stroke; the smaller the blade, the less power per stroke and thereby more gentle to your arms and shoulder joints. Most blades are spooned for increase water resistance, helping with a more powerful stroke. Also, some blades are asymmetrical. This design is for balance of the force on the top and bottom of the blade when paddling and for angle placement in the water.

One last thing about paddles, you have choice between a single and two piece paddles. I would recommend a two piece paddle. The reason or this is that you can choose the angle of your paddle with these paddles. For beginners, it is usually better to have your blades parallel with each other; then as you become for comfortable with kayaking you can then angle the paddle for feathering of your paddle in the water. Feathering is important for longer distance paddling, especially if you are paddling into the wind for long distances.

Join Mahanaim Adventure for one of our upcoming kayaking adventures or why not schedule a private kayaking adventure for you and your family or friends. We even offer Team Building Kayaking Events.

Family Camping Part 2 / How to Prepare for Outdoors Activities in Colder Months

Why do some people consider it unthinkable to spend time in the outdoors during colder months? Yea, it can be cold, but don’t let that stop you for enjoying outdoor adventures when the thermometer drops below 45 degrees? Consider the reverse of that situation; when that thermometer rises to high 90’s during the summer? There is not much keeping people from heading out to a mountain lake and enjoy some camping and other outdoor adventure. What about the people who head to the beach with all those other tourist? During the summer months, it is almost impossible to get a last minute camping site at your favorite camp site at Carolina Beach State Park. Yet in the colder months, you get your choice of site and if you are lucky, there are no more than a half dozen sites filled in the whole campground.

I think part of the reason is a fear of the cold and not knowing how to deal with it. I hear from people who worry that their children will get sick if they camp outside during the colder months. Granted, I’m sure this can plays a role in how we get sick, but we are probably just as likely to get sick by being cooped up inside all winter also. As a parent of three kids, my wonderful wife and I wondered the same when our kids were smaller. I also must admit that it is harder to winter camping, but the rewards and memories have been priceless.

Over this past Thanksgiving Holiday’s our family went camping once again. Each morning, it was in the upper 30’s at Carolina Beach State Park, and then warmed up into the higher 50’s on Thanksgiving Day. So in my opinion the temperatures were just perfect. Yet, we were prepared and knew what to expect in the way of weather for this adventure.

So you ask; how to you prepare for cold weather camping? Well here are a few important tips that will help you when you want to attempt to try a colder weather camping expedition.

The first tip is to make sure that you layer you clothing when you go out. Layering is the best way to stay warm as the temps cool off at night. It is also important to properly layer so that as the temps change throughout your cold weather adventures, you can adjust your layers for comfort. More layers as it cools down and fewer layers as it warms up. Remember, layering allows you to control your warmth level by adjusting your clothing. Another important fact is that you can also have too many layers on. You can get warm quickly by properly layering but you can also get over heated quickly. Why over heated? Because with too many layers you will begin to sweat and once you start sweating, your clothing gets wet. With these damp or wet clothing from sweat, as the temps drop you will get colder. If you have a full day of activities planned, you may want to change clothing, getting out of the damp sweaty clothing.

Another part of layering is to stay away from cotton clothing in the winter months. Why? Because cotton dose not wick away your sweat, causing your clothing to remain damp. So when you are packing make sure you pack plenty of clothing that will keep you dry. Clothing made out of quick dry nylons, polypropylene, suplex, polar fleece, wool, thermax and other materials are great for layering.

When getting in your sleeping bags at night, also remember the layering principle. On cold weather adventures with my scouts, often I hear the next morning that a scout was cold. When asked what he wore to bed, I get this layer and that layer of clothing, or the clothing I wore yesterday. WRONG answer. The same layering principle applies when sleeping. First, find out what your sleeping bag is rated for. A 30 degree bag is designed to keep a person warm down to 30 degrees. The problem is that too often what happened is people will have two layers on and then get into their bag and get warm quickly. In the middle of the night the bag gets damp from the sweat and you get cold. In most instances a single layer of dry clothing or long underwear worn in the bag is just fine.

One last thing, dry socks are critical to saying warm. Don’t make the mistake of wearing the same socks you had on that evening in your shoes to bed. These socks are damp and your feet will get cold. We teach our scouts to take off their socks, dry their feet and place on dry socks. When you do this, you will be surprised how warm your feet stay.

The second important item to have is a good sleeping pad. A good sleeping pad between you and the ground is critical. You can have a 5 degree bag and still get cold without insulation between you and the ground. A good closed cell pad or a Therm-a-Rest type backpacking pad are great to use. If you don’t have one of those, you can use wool blankets or even several comforters from you linen closet at home will also work. The key here is getting a good layer of insulation between you and the ground. One last thing about standard air mattresses, they do not insulate you against the cold from the ground. These types of mattresses will allow the air in them to get cold, creating cold mattress for you to sleep on.

Third thing to have is a pair of warm gloves and a warm hat to wear. I typically carry two winter type hats to wear, one for the day’s activities and one to wear at night, even while sleeping. Enough said.

Lastly is a warm fire and warm drink. Having a nice warm cup of hot tea or hot cocoa by the fire at night is warming and cozy. The added benefit is that the fire is something special at camp that no camping adventure is complete without. You don’t have to have a huge bonfire to keep warm, but plan accordingly. Remember don’t let your fire burn unattended in camp, even when you head to the tents for sleep.

Check out Campmor.com for all your family camping gear, click here for a Campmor coupon.

So, are you ready to give a Family Camping Adventure a try in the colder months? If so contact Mahanaim Adventure and we can help you have a fantastic and safe cold weather camping adventures!