To beign with, here is some general information about river kayaking on Cape Cod. Although you do not have to worry about white water or raging water or rocks, you do have to pay a lot of attention to the tidal currents and the wind.
The most important thing is to know your tides. Parts of these rivers can be so shallow at low tide that it is very difficult and unpleasant to even kayak there. You don’t want to get yourself all geared up and ready to go and then be disappointed or extremely annoyed and frustrated. Getting hung up on a mud flat is not a lot of fun. When you decide where you want to go, check the tides in either the Cape Cod Times or the Cape Codder (which serves mid-Cape) and plan accordingly. Your goal is to arrange your kayaking so that you are always going with the tide. Tides in rivers result in strong currents that are tough to be paddling against. Where you launch from and where you plan to go to will determine when you should go. Remember, when the tide goes out, you go out with it, when the tide turns and comes in, you come back with it. Since the tides change twice per day, planning is the key.
Also, just as important is the wind. The worst possible scenario would be to paddle into the wind and against the tide. It doesn’t get any worse than this. Check the weather report and see if the winds are expected to pick up in the afternoon. Don’t forget that the winds can be gentle or non-existent in the morning and become quite strong in the afternoon.
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I am strictly a novice recreational kayaker. I enjoy getting out on the water, seeing new and interesting places that you can only see from the water, viewing wildlfe, and just having a great time. To that end, I carefully watch the tides and winds to make sure that I have done everything I can to make it a really fun time!
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