Why you should take a River trip this Summer.
As has been the case for many of our activities this year. I’d never really given Kayaking much thought. As daft as it may seem I didn’t even really know that River trips existed for people who didn’t own boats.
You will be surprised at how inclusive a River trip can be. Sure you’ll be spending a night or two in the great outdoors but you don’t have to be super fit, extremely brave or even crazy to enjoy a few days on the river and you certainly don’t have to be Bear Grylls.
The big difference between River trips and Hiking for example is the amount of gear you can take. If camping trips are spoiled for you because you can’t function without your morning coffee, favorite book or even a nice meal then a River trip could be just what you’re looking for!
Picking the right Guide is absolutely crucial. Particularly if you’ve never done anything like this before.
Pick the wrong guide and you’ll be squeezing out your underwear whilst crying into a dehydrated mac and cheese at night. Pick the right guide and you’ll sit gazing up at the stars warm and dry with a belly full of steak.
Because you don’t have to carry all of your gear with you, River trips can afford you some more luxuries than you’d expect. So within reason, you can take the heavier tent, the warmer sleeping bag or even that bottle of champagne you’ve been saving for a special occasion.
As for your experience on the water. A good guide will take you from complete novice like me to negotiating your first rapid safely almost as soon as you hit the water. Choosing a guide who knows the river well and who guides there often will be a huge advantage. They’ll be able to navigate you through the water according to your ability which means that the entire family can come along on this trip.
And for me, the biggest piece of advice when looking towards your first River trip is to choose the ‘Duckie’ option! A ‘Duckie’ is a single or double inflatable Kayak which puts you firmly in the driving seat. Skip the tour where you’re a passenger on a guided raft and get stuck in!
Images - Tiff Renshaw