Kayakers take dip in park’s history
Most of them were new to kayaking.
By ALISON KEMP
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN — As the sun fell on the longest day of the year, kayakers participating in a Solstice Kayaks trip returned to the dock happy, wet and tired after a 90-minute float on Mill Creek Park’s Lake Newport.
The float went from East Newport Boat Launch to Shields Road and back, educating the participants in lake and park history.
As participants arrived, they were fitted for life vests and kayaks. One by one, each kayak was taken to the dock and pushed out onto the lake.
Most of the group of 11 were beginners, and the best way to learn was to jump right in.
Group leader Ray Novotny, a park naturalist, explained some paddling basics. But he said describing paddling is difficult when not in the water and that the participants would figure it out as they went.
The group headed south on the lake, regrouping at the buoys that mark the underwater dam, which was built to reduce sediment buildup in the lake.
A heron, a red-tailed hawk and Canada geese were seen during the float, and animals — not traffic — were heard throughout the entire journey.
The kayak trips have been happening since 2003, and four to six trips occur each month in the summer, Novotny said.
Learning experience
“It was fun, enjoyable, educational and leisurely at the same time,” said Nicole Smith of Youngstown, who had never been kayaking before.
Because she shared a tandem kayak with her friend Jennifer Cancio, also of Youngstown, Smith said it was an experience where they got to learn more about themselves and each other.
“We learned about our own personalities,” Smith said.
Cancio immediately said Smith was more competitive than she was.
“I’m confident now,” Cancio said, knowing she would kayak again — but both definitely want to be in separate kayaks.
Novices Molly and Harry King, of Liberty, also kayaked in a tandem, which took them a while to get used to.
“We had trouble rowing in unison,” Molly King said.
Her husband liked the scenery and quiet during the 6 to 8 p.m. float, enjoying seeing the park from a different level. They also want to kayak again.
Novotny enjoys beginners on the kayak trips.
“I like introducing new people who’ve never done it before to the joys of kayaking,” he said.
Kayaking became a hobby of Novotny’s when the park wanted to offer the trips. Now he has his own kayak and travels with it.
XReporter Alison Kemp was riding single in her kayak and got her notebook soaked while covering this event.
akemp@vindy.com