"Friends don't let friends paddle kayaks… an open boater note…"

EJ,
An open boater buddy once told me that friends don’t let friends
paddle kayaks. Other open boating acquaintances have expressed
consternation with the way that I am raising my son, allowing him to
paddle a kayak.

The truth of the matter is that most of my best friends are
kayakers, and without them I wouldn’t have anyone to paddle with.
Robert and I were fortunate enough to hook up with some of my friends
for Robert’s first Ocoee descent last weekend. A good campground,
nice weather, wonderful friends and a relatively uncrowded river made
for an awesome experience for both father and son.

I think that his Jackson 2Fun has absolutely been the right boat for
Robert. My 12 year old son is already a better paddler than me, he
just doesn’t know it yet. The poor condition of my knees might even
cause this Dad to start shopping for a kayak.

Charlie Jordan
Nashville, TN