Ringing in the winter paddling season with the Windhappers

The clubhouse, complete with a bar, showers, ping pong, and something that resembles shuffleboard.

Every year, the Windhappers Kayak/Canoe Club celebrates the end of summer paddling season and the beginning of winter paddling with a short paddle and campfire in a nearby park. The Windhappers Kanovereniging (windchasers kayak/canoe club) is a paddling club based in Den Haag (the Hague) in the Netherlands. Every Wednesday evening, members gather at the swanky clubhouse to either (1) practice kayak polo, (2) go for an evening paddle, or (3) loiter around the bar. Elizabeth and I visited a few weeks ago and participated in item #3. I asked at least 5 people how the club works, and how an experienced member can join and use the equipment. They seemed baffled by the fact that:

1. we are young females - most of the club seems to be seniors and 14 year old boys,
2. we're interested in multiple types of kayaking - most members seems to strongly affiliate with one category (sea kayaking, touring, whitewater, or polo), 
3. I wanted to kayak now that it was "winter" (i.e. <70 degrees and not sunny every day), 
4. and the usual "why do you speak Dutch if you're American" response.  
   

Click below to read more about our first club impressions! 

The polo court, in front of the clubhouse. This day was particularly duckweed filled. Yesterday, there was not a single green spot to be found - likely due to the strong wind/rain during Tuesday's storm.

The most amusing part of the situation is that we spent the first 2 hours asking various male club members how to go about joining. Just as we were about to give up and leave, a woman showed up, and immediately intuited that we were confused and looking for something. She approached us and had me filling out membership paperwork 5 minutes later - so simple. Anyways, so far everyone seems very friendly and easygoing, so I'm looking forward to meeting more of the club! The second week I attended alone, and joined in item #2, polo practice. The participants included me, the coach, and at least 8 teenage boys. "How old are you anyway?" they asked. I responded "26," to which I observed agast faces and "oh... woah" responses. Awesome. 

Yesterday Elizabeth and I biked 50 minutes from our apartment to the clubhouse and joined in the end-of-season campfire festivities. I finally recieved a key to the boat shed, where we outfitted ourselves with kayaks and gear. So far, it seems the club only has old-style kayaks (fiberglass/rounded hulls/no rocker what-so-ever) and heavy paddles with 90 degree feathering sans drip rings. Watch out, wrists!

Cute canoeing child, roasting a marshmallow.

Elizabeth warming her damp toes by the fire.

Everyone departed the dock at 7:30pm in various watercraft (mostly canoes). Darkness had already fallen, and we navigated some eerily calm channels and ducked under a few dark bridges before we arrived at the bonfire site (Madestein, a recreational area). The fire was already up and running, thanks to a few early birds, so we settled right in and warmed our toes. Some of the kayak polo boys decided to act their age and throw peanuts and various edible objects at us throughout the night. Snacks were passed around the circle, and we got to try a smattering of very Dutch morsels (various mini sausages, nuts, eggs-wrapped-in-meat, crepes(!), crackers, cake, and (to our surprise) marshmallows. Later in the evening, one of the boys sat in dog poo. Otherwise it was fairly uneventful, and we paddled back to the clubhouse around 9:30pm. On the trip back, I was informed that the upcoming whitewater kayaking weekend, which I had emphatically emailed 3 members about, was for seniors. Oh the blunders. 

Date: Wednesday, October 23rd, 2014
Distance: 1.8 miles (2.9 km), round trip
Duration: 2 hrs (1.5 hrs at the bonfire!)