The New Toy

 My water toy is not exactly new.   I was gifted it last November in fact.  But I couldn't use it til summer.

It's an inflatible kayak, but its really short, about 8 feet long and a paddlable water toy really.  It's like a short inflatible surf board almost.  No hull so cannot be called a kayak.  Super short paddle board with seat?  Only its too little to stand up on it like a paddle board.   The seat back doesn't stay in place.    I pumped it up tight and you attach it to some hooks at your side.  There's nothing to sit on but the board but you can lean back against that ultra air padded back.  But anytime I wasn't leaning against that air padded seat back, it fell forward, against my back.  I finally let it fall completely forward flat to the board, and sat atop it.  I liked sitting up higher.  

I can pump it up in minutes with a hand pump.  It weighs only 15 pounds, which is why I love it. I don't need a boat ramp with it.  Which is really nice given the bad attitudes of some motor boaters to kayakers and paddle boarders using the ramp to launch.

I was really quite shocked it would hold me up, being so short.  It's got no hull but it does have placements on the bottom for two skegs.  For its maiden voyage I used both, but after having difficulty beaching it with that front skeg in place, I ditched the front one and found it almost as good tracking across the water with only the rear skeg.  I've never seen an inflatible board with two skegs.

With two skegs clipped underneath, it runs a straight line like you can't imagine, when paddling.  I can move fast, across the water paddling it too, which also surprised me.

It's not a paddle board.  It's not a kayak.  I will have to think of a name for it.  An inflatible.  A fun inflatible I can paddle that is lightweight.

I watched some people parked beside me blow up about four paddle boards.  It was a family.  They were all at ease upright paddling them.  Two people were on one of the paddle boards.  People navigate on those with with such grace, getting up and down, moving around on them, like its nothing to balance on them.   Those have to really improve people's balance.  The family even had a small lawn type chair attached middle of one, for sitting down.  These were much larger longer boards than whatever it is I was on and I still don't know.

I had a grand time today!

I took a nap here on the rocks.  I was very sleepy.  I put down my little boogie board, to lay on and used my life jacket as a pillow.  Soon I woke to noises behind me, looked, and it was a mom Canada Goose with three older babies.

The blue square raised thing in middle?  That's the seat back, but since it wouldn't stay upright, I let it lay down flat and sat on top of it.

It may be short, but its very pretty!  And it can move fast across the water!

Upside down, right before I left, with just the rear skeg still in place. 

The lake is a little low but doable.  I saw blooms of algae not far up the South Santiam today.  A USGS research boat loaded with people was at the dock.  I was swimming then.  I swam over and asked what they were researching this time, and received a chilly vague answer so I swam away.  Don't want the national guard called up, lol, over a simple question.  Got to watch out for all the feds now.  

Some friends didn't need this gate and asked if I could use it.  I set up the two pieces outside the garage door, so I could have the door open and keep Gigi in still.   She likes to look out on the world.  She's old, fat and not athletic so little chance of her attempting to climb over it.

I am thrilled with this 15 lb water toy.  So easy to carry, set up and paddle around.   It's not even long enough to be considered a boat and require the $19 permit the state requires.  Another plus.

I may collect a few more water toys over the summer.  You never know what people might not want.  This summer I hope to give away two I don't use.  Maybe three.