Anyone in to kayaking?

I smile every time I think of you kayaking @Brenda5 . What an inspiration to get up and get going ! Looking forward to a photo of you out there.

@Imo thanks for that. I was thinking the same thing, an easier way to go up a tidal river. There is only one problem atm, I need a set of wheels to drag said kayak all the way to the low tide mark and our Burrum Heads tide goes out about a kilometer lol. Once I have the wheels (just got a bcf $10 discount to spend) I am sure I will be out in the low tide gutter ready to shoot up the river when the tide changes. :D

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.  

Hi @Brenda5, I love kayaking and used to do so in Adelaide and Coffs Harbour but in Darwin it's out of the question due to crocs and box jellyfish so it's been a while.  I might look into dragon boating though.  Hopefully all those paddles plunging into the water will keep the crocs at bay. 

My trick for an energetic AND relaxing kayak adventure around Coffs Harbour was to put the kayak in at the mouth of a creek on high tide and paddle up stream.  Without a tide to battle it was an easy and beautiful trip poking around the mangroves.  By the time I was sick of it the tide had turned and I could just gently float back to the mouth on the current.  I also didn't need to worry about getting pushed out too far to sea or encountering chop.  If there are small creeks around Burrum Heads this technique may be a good way to start. 

Hi @Brenda5 - congrats on finding kayak/kayak fishing.  It is one of my passions and I love it.  I've been doing it for well over 10 years now .... but newly diagnosed with breast cancer now - so have been doing as much as I can in the lead up to surgery & treatment which I hope will be soon. It will definitely be part of my therapy after I am able to get back onto the water!    :)
DEFINITELY - take it slowly & always wear a life jacket and cover up from the sun.  Get help loading & unloading the kayak.
I was at Burrum Heads back in 2009 - launching at the boat ramp near the camp ground - I had a lovely time but didn't catch many fish!  LOL  I don't often go offshore as my kayak is only about 3m/9ft and they bounce around like corks - but if it is dead calm, it is fine!  
Maybe try the creek the next time.  Just make sure you stick to the edges (the current is too strong out in the middle) and maybe time it for the change of tides or NOT when the BIG tides are running (Full Moon.)
Offshore kayaks are usually a minimum of 4m+ - they slice thru the waves/chop, not so the short ones!  
I would recommend that you join a kayak fishing forum (ike the one I am on), so that you can head out with others who know the area well - the camaraderie is wonderful.  
One day I'll get back to Burrum Heads & we can go out together!  :smiley:  

https//www.ausdbf.com.au/about/our-members/  @Irb_03 you might be able to do dragon boating while you get well enough to do your kayaking again ..... 

I bought my kayak a couple of years before my diagnosis. It's a sit-in kayak, not a sit on. I haven't paddled since diagnosis. The first summer I was going through radiotherapy. By the next summer I had developed tenosynovitis in my wrists and was advised against it. Shortly before this summer, I started having problems with my shoulder. I also struggled to get out of the bath, so figured that getting out of my kayak would be even harder. I am thinking about an inexpensive sit-on, as i really miss paddling, not so much from an exercise perspective as from a mental health perspective.  
Take it slowly, to start with @Brenda5, it's well worth it in the end.
As a casual paddler, I don't paddle in winter - Canberra gets a bit chilly. If any of you are interested, check out the Kayakcameraman on facebook. He started paddling after treatment for testicular cancer, and takes the most amazing photos from his kayak.
Lyn

@Brenda5, baby steps, you will get there... just take it at your own pace, you're getting out there enjoying the fresh air, water & sunshine, and most of all having a bit of fun, that's what's important! 

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, 
 :) 

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.