About twice a week, I get on the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg with hubby and friends to experience the thrill of whitewater kayaking. Actually, there's not much thrill in the Susquehanna, but the twice a week thang is a great skill-building session. The Dauphin Narrows have all the features of a good river run-- rocks, eddies, waves, swirly thingys, and sometimes a hole or two to side-surf on. After all, the Susquehanna IS a river the last I checked. No, I'm not side-surfing
yet, but the other parts are great practice. We usually get in at either the Narrows, or today, at the Rockville bridge 'cause the river level is a tad high for the narrows (optimum is between 3.5 and 4 feet) and the workout begins by attaining up to the rocks. Then, we ferry and surf our way across the river to the other side, and back again - about a two hour session. All the while, practicing those essential WW skills of surfing, ferrying, eddying in and out and getting a "feel" for the water. Is it a workout? My arms are mush 'til I'm done if I really work it. Some days I don't feel like it, and sit in eddies while Rick plays - those aren't worthwhile workouts. I like to float into a wave backwards -- Rick is big on eddying in and out. Rick's been trying to teach me the "proper" way to paddle with appropriately named paddle strokes, etc., but nooooooo, I just wanna paddle and do what I need to Git r Dun. So he gave up on the proper strokes and I'm happy, he's happy. Rick is much, much more obsessed with the sport than I - he'd go every day if he could. I'm balancing it, biking, and gardening -- a pleasant mix of activities. 
yet, but the other parts are great practice. We usually get in at either the Narrows, or today, at the Rockville bridge 'cause the river level is a tad high for the narrows (optimum is between 3.5 and 4 feet) and the workout begins by attaining up to the rocks. Then, we ferry and surf our way across the river to the other side, and back again - about a two hour session. All the while, practicing those essential WW skills of surfing, ferrying, eddying in and out and getting a "feel" for the water. Is it a workout? My arms are mush 'til I'm done if I really work it. Some days I don't feel like it, and sit in eddies while Rick plays - those aren't worthwhile workouts. I like to float into a wave backwards -- Rick is big on eddying in and out. Rick's been trying to teach me the "proper" way to paddle with appropriately named paddle strokes, etc., but nooooooo, I just wanna paddle and do what I need to Git r Dun. So he gave up on the proper strokes and I'm happy, he's happy. Rick is much, much more obsessed with the sport than I - he'd go every day if he could. I'm balancing it, biking, and gardening -- a pleasant mix of activities. 
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