Paddlefest 2011...Our First

check out this article about Paddlefest....

Last year we followed the boats down the river to Sawyer Point/Yeatman's Cove in the van, stopping everywhere we could get an opening to the river and that's when we decided then we would give it a try this summer.  We have been watching the weather all week long. So this morning we were up at 6:30AM heading down to Coney Island to find out three kayaks among the thousands that were going to join us...

Wyatt and is family were somewhere in this mess of color...and we found them!

getting ready to go under our first bridge.

our little paddler...notice the hat with sunglasses

Michael and Wyatt...the paddle was 8.1 miles but the way we zig zagged across the river I know we hit 20 miles!

Still has hat and glasses

Wyatt's parents

Compare the size of Wyatt and his kayak and
'the castle'

Notice no hat or sunglasses.  Not two miles into our trip somehow Michael tipped his kayak and landed in the water...cold water.  We managed to get his to shore, save the kayak but the mud about sucked everyone in.  To say the least it was freaky!!!!  We got the hat but lost the sunglasses  I was amazed that he got right back in the boat but was visibly shaken.  But all it took was a pit stop to see Emmy and Brooke and some beef jerky to bring back that smile and loud voice..

Almost  downtown

Every once in awhile Wyatt and Michael needed a little tow .

THEY DID IT!  The finish line makes it official!

We visited the vendors and got an Italian ice before standing in line to catch the shuttle back to Coney to pick up the car and head back to the river to pick up the kayaks.  We got to get on the back seats of the bus so they boys were thrilled every time we hit a bump.  Me...not so much!

Don't ask Michael just yet if he plans to do it again next year.  Give him about a week and then I am sure he will say yes.  Not to be one of those Mom's but....you didn't see too many kids their age on the river.  I'm proud of both of them!  And they were the only ones that had their own cheering section...thanks Emmy and Brooke.