Featured Stories & Articles from Cape Cod Travel Magazine: Kayaking in Wellfleet: A Novice Gives it a Try

Kayaking is a wonderful way to explore the Cape; it has no impact on the environment and allows one to see places not easily accessible otherwise.

Until I was asked to write this story, I hadn’t been in any kind of boat in years. I had always stayed on terra firma as I explored the Cape, not always an easy feat on a peninsula. Even my closest friends were surprised at my lack of sea-faring prowess. I hated to admit to them that I was scared.

A bad capsizing experience as a teen in Cape Cod Bay on a Sunfish left me not wanting to venture out on the water, but this seemed like the perfect opportunity to shake things up.

As I headed east down Route 6 to Wellfleet, I was a bit nervous, but I was also excited. A sunny, calm day seemed like the perfect time to take the plunge. (Perhaps plunge isn’t the right word when trying a new boating activity!)

I had arranged to take a kayaking lesson with Richard Miller from Cape Outback Adventures; we were going to take a paddle around Duck Creek Inlet for about an hour and a half. Just starting its sixth season, Cape Outback offers not only lessons for novices, but also tours and equipment rentals. (For those interested in other activities, they also offer surfing lessons and mountain biking adventures.)

I was greeted by Miller, who was relaxed and confident. His calm demeanor reassured me that I was, indeed, in very good hands. I signed a release form, and he explained to me that safety always comes first, that all instructors that work for them are certified in lifesaving skills and first aid, and that they all carry cell phones. “It’s always good to use the buddy system,” Miller says, “but if you can’t go with a friend, it’s a good idea to have a cell phone, just in case.”

I was outfitted with a PFD (personal flotation device) and began my education on the do’s and don’ts of kayaking. Miller had me get into the kayak and pulled me into some shallow water to show me some rudimentary kayaking skills. He handed me the paddle, which was lightweight and easy to maneuver. While straddling my kayak, he rocked it gently back and forth to demonstrate how it would feel once we were in open water. It felt a bit strange, but it wasn’t too bad. My biggest fear was tipping over, but he showed me how that would only happen if I was very off-kilter in my paddling style. Note to self: Don’t raise that paddle too high!

After a few minutes of learning how to maneuver the paddle, Miller pushed me into some deeper water, got into his kayak, and we headed out. I had a white-knuckle grip on my paddle as I tried to figure out how to move smoothly in one direction.

Miller was very patient and showed me that I was trying too hard; I was exhausting myself. With some instruction, I started to get the rhythm and began to enjoy myself. Miller says, “It takes a couple of trips to get used to paddling, but, once you have that, it’s pretty smooth sailing.”  I soon began to relax enough to take in my surroundings.

Duck Creek Inlet leads into Wellfleet Harbor; we passed sailboats, other kayakers and beautiful marshland. We paddled beneath what used to be a bridge for the old Cape Cod Railroad, later known as “Uncle Tim’s Bridge.”

We ended up in the Duck Creek Marsh area where the birds were amazing - cormorants, great blue herons and kingfishers. We drifted in the marsh for a few minutes, and I got to rest my weary arms and take in the scenery.

By the time we returned to our starting point, my arms were pretty tired but I was proud of myself for doing something new.  I learned that, with proper instruction, even a fearful novice could kayak. I’m not ready for any open ocean adventures yet, but a paddle around a nice marsh at sunset sounds pretty fun.