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Kayaking I bought an inflatable kayak as a retirement present to myself when we moved to Oregon.  My kayak is an Innova Safari, made in the Czech Republic.  It's a small solo kayak that is easy to carry around in a backpack.  The hull is very fast, but very unstable like a traditional hardshell kayak.  So I have to be prepared to swim in the river.  I have a helmet, and wear a wet suit and splash jacket when the water is cold.  I've paddled in temperatures as low as 43F, but don't really like it when it's below about 50F. Colliding Rivers, a Class III rapid.  It's a 3-foot ledge drop that is not too difficult during summer when the flow is low. Back in 2006 I paddled for a day on the Rio Grande river in Big Bend National Park. My kayak with Mexico's Sierra del Carmen mountains in the background. Beach on the Mexico side at the mouth of Boquillas canyon. The only good wildlife picture I've taken while paddling.  This great blue heron was on the Umpqua river just below river forks. View of Rochester Covered Bridge that few people see, from Calapooya Creek. View from Tyee Landing where I stopped for lunch along the Umpqua river. All the kayaking stuff spread out to dry in the sun. All packed up.  The dry bag on the right contains the boat, pump, and paddle.  The duffel bag on the left contains the helmet, PFD (life jacket), wet suit, splash jacket, clothes, etc.   I can haul it all on foot quite a distance if necessary.  The dry bag is a backpack. The paddle is a rare Aquabound 4-piece which fits inside the dry bag along with the boat and air pump.  I started out with an aluminum shaft but later upgraded to a carbon fiber shaft that gives me more power in panic situations because it doesn't flex as much. When on the water EVERYTHING must be tied down.  I lost a pair of eyeglasses and a Teva sandal (from my foot) when I first started paddling.  Now I have prescription goggles that stay on with a strap, and Keen sandals that stay on my feet in rough turbulent water.