The Bubble Family hits the Water!

I don't know about anyone else - but many of our family outings and adventures are much better on paper than in real life. Usually the stress and cost of our outings far out way the enjoyment that's wedged between dealing with cranky children.

Yesterday may have been an exception.

We went to the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center in Grasonville, Maryland - on the Eastern Shore. We had attended their annual "Wade-In Festival" earlier in the month, and ended up getting a year's family membership. The family membership entitled us to unlimited access to their hiking and bike trails - AND free canoe/kayak rentals.

Yesterday we hit the water.

Please understand - we're not the most outdoorsy of families. All of us, including the five year old, prefer to curl up with a good book. So outfitting our pasty white bodies with life vests, sunscreen and bug spray is a major deal.

The grown-ups had experienced canoes before - if 30 year old experiences count. The children were unsure about putting their bodies over water - and trusting their pasty parents. Certainly the first step into the canoes from the floating pier had all of us wobbling uncertainly. It didn't help that we had to split up - the nine year old and I in one canoe, and Dad in another with the two younger ones.

We eventually figured out the paddling techniques needed to propel us away from the pier. There's a relatively large, calm area to explore - and if one is brave enough one can go ashore on one of the reed covered shores and explore. We weren't brave enough. We did see ducks, swans and an eagles nest.

One of the best points - from this family's perspective - the water rarely gets over 2-3 feet deep - so even if we tipped we could simply stand up and step back into the canoe. I'm happy to say that didn't happen.

The current, however, was a challenge. I especially had difficulty getting the canoe to go in the direction I chose - can you say "chicken arms"? After three attempts to return to the pier, only to end up sideways, floating towards Kent Island, my lovely husband came to our rescue, and towed our wimpy butts back to shore. My hero!

All in all - a fun day. I think mostly because it was close to home, and not expensive - and we didn't have outlandish expectations. I should probably note that the children have declared they are NEVER doing it again. But they always react to new experiences like that.

And, as a whole, the family has decided we need something with a motor!

The husband and I would like to try the kayaks - without children. I'm hoping for something a little easier to maneuver!

All in all - a good day - with children! (and really, can you ask for anything more?)

Enjoy!