Just bought my very own Dragon fishing kayak. I am not sure if I will be game enough to fish yet but I do like paddling. I over did it on the first day and spent the next day in bed lol. I am determined though and will hopefully have it in the ocean again this afternoon.My big 25 year old son who is grossly over weight (about 180kg) has taken to coming with me and wades in the shallow water giving me a push start every so often. I finally got him off his computer. It is fantastic exercise for him although he got a bit sunburned. I ordered him a fancy squid pattern long sleeved 9xl shirt so he doesn't need so much sunscreen. I got myself a fishing shirt too with a Barramundi on it. Gee its a cool to wear shirt even though it is long sleeve. I also got the fingerless gloves from the cancer council to protect my hands from the sun as for some reason on Tamoxifen I cannot tolerate sun on my skin.

@Brenda5 i love having a paddle in my kayak, my girl dog loves going for a ride too, i'm yet to try it with my boy dog though. I've not been in the water with it for nearly a year now though... mighty time I did I think! Good on you, and good on your son for coming out with you too. Pic was from 26/01/2017

This might take a while. Here I was printing out the nautical maps of all the ocean outlets and creeks in my area but when I actually got to paddling I only made it about 500 meters along the beach. Perhaps I was fighting a current or I am just weak at paddling? It's going to take longer to suss out than I thought. Nice big naps after an outing too lol.

Well I still have yet to catch a fish from my kayak however I did catch a mudcrab but how do you tie a crab from a kayak? I just opened the hatch and he walked on under the yak. It took ten minutes of juggling it up and down to get it out once i got home. It was delicious. Everything hurts today. It was a long way. It took 2 hours paddling with the tide just to get there. The scenery was just magic.

I would love to try kayaking seeing as i live on an island and we'd planned on buying some but ended up with a boat instead (it came with a house we bought) now we gotta figure how to use the boat, :)

Hi @Brenda5 I received a kayak for Xmas last year. We used it once. Then I was diagnosed with DCIS on 6th January last year. I had a frantic almost 3 month wait for surgery, when I just couldnt focus on anything, then the mastectomy and then the recon operation in July. My new boob felt very strange, my arm was sore and I had lost quite a bit of movement. Lap swimming is my sport. I tried in October and could not swim, my arm was too stiff. Last week I had another go at swimming and lo and behold, I was able to complete 500 metres, slowly but surely. I think it is time I had another go in my still brand new kayak, so thank you Brenda and other ladies for the inspiration.

Anyone in to kayaking? | BCNA Online Network

39 Replies

arpie
Member
8 years ago
Well done on your fish, Brenda. Just be careful yakking at night .... you don’t have your normal ‘visuals’ ie landmarks that you can see during the day. If you DO go out, make sure you have an ‘all round’ whit light that is taller than your head .... that way, boats coming from any direction will be able to see you.
Also, be careful of anchoring up at night too, as the rising tide may swamp the kayak.

Personally, I would NEVER go out at night on my own - only with someone else - and make sure you have waterproof phone or similar for communication in case you get into trouble.

Having said lol that ...... take care and have fun
Brenda5
Member
8 years ago
I saw my lymphoedema physiotherapist yesterday and yay, I don't have to give up kayakking. I do have to drop anchor and have a spell from paddling more often and if the swelling is up the kayak stays home but other than that I am good to go. It is full moon time and last night I fished from the beach and caught a couple of whiting and catfish. I ended up with palpitations though which I am putting down to me taking Nurofen after this tooth extraction. I am truly drug sensitive nowadays so I am back to just plain Panadol. Am I game enough to take the kayak out at night tonight or tomorrow night? It is quiet with no boats and absolutely glorious looking on the water. In day time I can't tolerate sun and have to be decked out top to toe in clothing but at night I wouldn't need all that clobber. The only thing I am worried about is pesky sharks. If there a guardian angel against sharks? That'd be good.
arpie
Member
8 years ago
Well done @Brenda5 - especially on getting the muddies, getting them out & not being bitten! I hope all works out well - without getting the lymphoedema!
Sister
Member
8 years ago
Good on ya @Brenda5 Fingers crossed for no lymphoedema.
Afraser
Member
8 years ago
What a lovely way to spend time! I hope your arm continues to behave as that time really is something to savour.
Romla
Member
8 years ago
Looks like great fun and that you enjoyed yourself - am sure there are ways around any treatment conflicts kayaking might cause.Enjoy!
Brenda5
Member
8 years ago
I took the yak up to Teds creek crabbing and fishing yesterday. My aeroguard started petering out by late afternoon but fortunately I got no bites to my lymphedema arm. I got 6 mud crabs all too small to bring home but I did play around picking them up to get over my fear of all their legs and nippers. They were quiet and well behaved this time as the weather was cooler after all the rain we had. I caught no fish but did surprise a barra in the narrow creek but he wouldn't take my lure. Mangrove trees scored two new lure decorations.
I put my compression sleeve on as soon as I got home and again this morning and so far I might have gotten away with my exercise escapades. I see my physiotherapist this week so we will have to have a little discussion on kayaking as I love it and don't want to have to give it up.
Afraser
Member
8 years ago
You're lucky if you can wear just the sleeve - I find that wearing the sleeve alone actually causes a bit of puffiness on the hand. I don't mind the sleeve at all but the hand is a magnet for anything that marks - biros, newsprint, flower pollen, just managed to avoid raspberry juice while pinching them out of the garden (delicious).
Brenda5
Member
8 years ago
Why must there always be a consequence to whatever I do? I have a fat lymphedema arm today. I hope the compression sleeve works its magic. At least its not in my hand so I don't need the glove as well. <sigh>
arpie
Member
8 years ago
Well done on the crab!! Maybe leave it in the crabpot til you get back next time?? Take it easy ... start off with short sessions first and build up to longer ones ... 8 am out for 6-8hrs normally!! You are using lots of new muscles too, so they need to be trained. Xx