The Naked Kayaker
  • Blog
    • Search the site
  • Resources
    • Complete List of Posts
    • Trip Planning 101
    • Intro to Kayaking - Course Outline
    • Where can I rent a kayak in Belgium/the Netherlands?
    • How do I get certified in NL?
    • Map of Paddling Clubs
    • Dutch-English Watersports Dictionary
  • Destinations
    • West Coast
    • Great Lakes Region
    • New York State
    • New England
    • Europe
    • Oceania
  • Water Nerd
  • About & Contact

Blog

"Believe me, my young friend. There is nothing, absolutely nothing,
half so worth doing as simply messing around in boats." 

The Wind in the Willows

Ringing in the winter paddling season with the Windhappers

10/23/2014

1 Comment

 
Picture
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! 
Picture
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!
Picture
Cute canoeing child, roasting a marshmallow.
Picture
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!)
1 Comment
Lindsey @ The Hungry Hydrologist link
10/29/2014 04:02:52

Well you are 26. Isn't that senior enough?!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Welcome!

    This is a blog about exploring the outdoors (mostly by kayak), traveling, trip planning, and coastal engineering. It currently focuses on kayaking in the Netherlands and Belgium, but previous posts cover Upstate New York, California, and much more. See the Complete List of Blog Posts for a history of the site. Looking for something specific? Search the site here.

    In addition to the blog, check out the Water Nerd section, where I write about coastal engineering and hydrology. 

    ​Happy Paddling!
    ​Nena

    Subscribe Here!

    Email updates on new blog posts, about once per month.

    Reader Tips

    Click the "Read More" link at the bottom of each summary for more photos, to see an interactive map of the route, and to read about the adventure.

    Maps in each blog post: Click the icons to learn more about the launch site (amenities) and destinations. Click the square in the bottom-left corner to see an aerial photo behind the route.
    Suggestions much appreciated!


    Archives

    December 2020
    April 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    May 2011
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010


    Categories

    All
    Biking
    Camping
    Canoeing
    City Trip
    Distance: 00 - 05 Miles
    Distance: 05 - 10 Miles
    Distance: 10 - 15 Miles
    Distance: 15 - 20 Miles
    Distance: > 20 Miles
    Guest Post
    Hiking
    Kayak Polo
    Reflections
    Region: Belgium
    Region: California
    Region: Canary Islands
    Region: Croatia
    Region: France
    Region: Great Lakes
    Region: Greece
    Region: Italy
    Region: Netherlands
    Region: New York
    Region: New Zealand
    Region: Norway
    Region: Oregon
    Region: Portugal
    Region: Spain
    Region: Switzerland
    Region: UK
    Region: US East Coast
    Region: Vancouver
    Region: Washington
    Roadtrip
    Tide: Non-Tidal
    Tides: Non-Tidal
    Tides: Tidal
    Time Capsules
    Trip Planning 101
    Type: Bay
    Type: Canal
    Type: Channel
    Type: Fjord
    Type: Lake
    Type: Lake/Reservoir
    Type: Open Coast
    Type: River
    Water Nerd

    RSS Feed

    Click the RSS Feed link, copy the URL, and paste it into your favorite feed reader.
    Blog Expat: living abroad

    Expats Blog
© 2021 The Naked Kayaker. All rights Reserved.