A day on the river is humbling but satisfying
John Harmon
Business Manager
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The warm days of summer awake my adventurous spirit. Last year, I decided to become active in the water, (instead of preparing for business school entrance examinations). I had always wanted to kayak, but my desire to sleep late and the logistics of fitting a long kayak into my short Jeep Wrangler constantly prevented the activity. Once the obvious solution of caffeine and my sister's car occurred to me, my days of excuses were over. Two hours in the Harpeth River with my friend were all that I thought I needed to showcase my skills on a Vanderbilt University Outdoor Recreation Center Kayaking Trip.
Usually, it is my mouth that gets me into trouble. However, this time it was my ego mixed with a lack of kayaking skill and experience. I believed that I was a master of the rapids due to my regular hot tub exposure (controlling the jet settings) over the previous three years.
Therefore, when I arrived at the option of gentle open stream or quick tree-lined rapids, I easily chose the latter. Positive that the rapids had passed, I threw my arms up in celebration, only to be tossed into the branches of a low-hanging tree and then submerged completely underwater, with my kayak jammed straight into the mud. Fortunately, my only injury was my shattered pride. After a group effort to recover my disobedient paddle that had skimmed down the river, I was on my way to a fun-filled afternoon with a variety of amazing people from Vanderbilt.
This summer, I am anxious to get my revenge on the river. However, I plan to bring more brains than bravado. The Outdoor Recreation Center offers a wide variety of different types of outdoor gear and many fun trips for those of all skill ranges. There are even kayak classes for those who want to learn how to correctly maneuver rapids. For more information, check out http://www.vanderbilt.edu/outrec.