Archive for March 2nd, 2016

Spring Break: Kayaking

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016
Kayaking on Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas. Photo credit: ©2011 Chase A. Fountain / TPWD

Kayaking on Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas. Photo credit: ©2011 Chase A. Fountain / TPWD

This is Passport to Texas

Looking for a fun outdoor activity you can do solo or with friends this spring break? James Graham says traveling aboard a kayak is the ultimate means of individual navigation.

It’s what we call people power… it’s a way to experience waters that are less crowded, that are more pristine.

The Houston kayaking instructor teaches folks the finer points of paddling. Since these boats don’t use motors to move, they can access more places than …say… a powerboat…

And that’s one of the things fishermen are really appreciating now…they can get up into some very, very shallow water…the fish aren’t used to people in those areas and you can really enjoy of lot of Texas this way

He says there is a perception that kayaks are dangerous because people see them going over white water rapids on TV…

Well white water is only a small part of the sport…in fact kayaks are more stable than canoes because you are sitting lower in the water, the center of gravity is lower, your balance is better.

Learn more about kayaking and canoeing on the Texas Parks and Wildlife web site.

We record our series at The Block House in Austin, Texas, and Joel Block engineers our program.

That’s our show for today…the Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series and works to increase fishing and boating opportunities in Texas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.