Wendy Does Waco
Waco transplant Wendy Gragg offers her spin on life in the city.
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2008 > June > 16 > Entry
Sink or float?
By Wendy Gragg
| Monday, June 16, 2008, 02:18 PM
So, “No one” brings up something I’ve been meaning to ask you about. Does anyone out there kayak or canoe?
My editor is really pushing me to do the kayak thing and I’m beginning to think she just wants me to so she can laugh at the inevitable humorous, yet near-death experience I am bound to have.
I have never kayaked, but I have this image in my head of getting in one and immediately sinking to the bottom of the Brazos. Or Bosque, whatever. Or, if I actually float, a tiny ripple in the water will flip me and I will drown upside down in my little kayak cocoon.
As for canoes — did I mention my traumatizing experience in college that involved a canoe, seven people, and a very cold South Carolina lake on a late winter night? Once again, the key word here is ‘traumatized’.
I feel safer in boats with motors and coolers and cup-holders and little ladders to help you climb out of the water. My offer still stands — me, y’all, refreshments, the lake …
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By C.F.M.
June 16, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this
If you kayak are canoe, on the Brazos, and turn over, do not swallow the water, Oh yea, and wear long pants….lololol
By peke-a-boo
June 16, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
Well, it just so happens I have a canoe and a river house on the Brazos… If all the pool people from this weekend go, I will set a trip up for the movie quote gang…
By KDF
June 16, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this
Many moons ago my brother and I canoed with the current on the Colorado (I think) river down near Austin. Great fun. The paddling back upstream became a work of historic purportions. <><
By Mark Osler
June 16, 2008 8:33 PM | Link to this
There are some pretty stable kayaks out there, and I’m told that the Middle Bosque is even pretty scenic…
By Fred
June 16, 2008 9:32 PM | Link to this
Wet T-shirts on the Brazos? Sounds like great photos to me. But I don’t think that Waco or CFM is “mature” enough for wet T-shirts.
By CD
June 16, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this
Wendy we kayak on Lake Waco, the Brazos,and the Bosque. We have an extra kayak and would be glad to have you come along with us.
By Doug
June 17, 2008 5:07 AM | Link to this
Wendy,
We have a couple double-kayaks in the park and would love to take you out on the Brazos. This weekend? The cliffs of Cameron Park are really pretty from below. And you get to see turtles.
By mark
June 17, 2008 5:28 AM | Link to this
I don’t know squat about 7 (?!) people and a canoe, but I know when I was living in North Carolina my NC native buddies talked me into “coon” hunting. So somewhere around midnight I was following these guys and a pack of Plott hounds into the NC woods when I went sliding down a muddy river bank into the New River. It was only about 34 degrees out and the water wasn’t much warmer. I was wearing a pair of heavy ski overalls and a heavy coat. I slid into the water til I was up to my chin in ice cold water. Lucky to be alive I had to walk downstream on my tip-toes till there was a place that my friends could grab me and pull my now water soaked 300 lbs. out. I made it and they did it and hauled my a** to a farmhouse nearby where I stripped to avoid hypothermia around a huge fireplace. Oh, and in between we had to stop and kill the racoon, gather the dogs and all the accompanying fanfare. Those who know what a toothpick bone is know what I mean. Not cool at all. Makes a person glad to be alive. And thank God for Thinsulate and 3M. Wendy if you don’t want to do kayak or canoe I don’t blame ya, but I also had one of the most surreal days of my life with the same people on the Dan River in NC/Va one January day. Sicker than hell I went on the canoe trip and to this day there have been few that rival it for pure outdoor enjoyment. I guess the point of all of this is if you don’t get out there you aren’t living. Take a small chance and go do it. If you’re not sure, go to San Marcos (great road trip town, check out the Triple Crown bar) and watch the folks at Rio Vista park. The 100 year old dam was due for replacement and the town replaced it in 2007 with man made boulders/white water rapids which were the site of a USA Kayak Open olympic trials just a couple months ago. Oh, and one of the first things you learn about a kayak is how to get it upright if you get flipped over. Get wet Wendy! You can do it!
By poopsandwich
June 17, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
Kayaking is not only fun, but a great upper body workout. The scenery is great, the quiet is wonderful.
You really should try it Wendy.
By Katy
June 17, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this
Wendy, your new kayaking guru is probably seated down the hall from you. The only time I have ever kayaked in my life was on the Brazos with fellow former Trib girl JenA, Carlos, and Carlos’ son. They took us out on the river to film Cameron Park from its best view for our 100 Things to Love About Waco video in 2006. Carlos is the man!
By Todd
June 17, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this
Hey, Wendy. Diane Massey and the Waco Paddle Club go out every Wednesday and a lot of weekends. Tomorrow, I think they’re launching from the Cameron Park East ramp at the horseshoe pavilion. 6 p.m. launch. Call her at 715-6173 and tell her I sent you.
And a big hello to my old buddy Mark. From first-hand knowledge, I know that’s not the ONLY time he’s been up to his neck in ice water.