rev:text
| - I love traveling on the water. Whether in a giant ship, or a tiny hunk of plastic, there's something inspiring and just a little bit romantic about water travel. Kayak Pittsburgh is a cheap and close way for me to indulge this.
They advertise kayaking as a new perspective from which to see the city, and it really is, moreso than you might have guessed. Once you're out there on the water, it's sort of marvelous how quiet it is, even though you're right in the heart of the action.
The location's cool, and everything's really simple. You check in, sign the obligatory "I will not sic my lawyer on you like a normal American" waiver, and they get you kitted out with a paddle and a life preserver. They'll ask you once if you know what you're doing. In my case, the answer was "yes," and then they left me alone. No safety lecture, no training classes, just respect. I liked that.
The river itself is quiet, and easy to work with. Obviously it's easier to paddle downstream than up, but it's not really tough either way. In the hour I gave myself, I could have made it to the 40th street bridge and back without a problem. You can go as fast or as slow as you want: it can be a workout, or just some relaxing fun. I did a bit of both. And you really can't beat fifteen bucks an hour for this sort of activity.
I recommend Kayak Pittsburgh heavily. It's a chance to get out and do something different, whether you're a parent taking out your kids for a day in town, or an adult trying to have a good time with a few friends.
|