Somehow, I thought sea kayaking was going to be a piece of cake. I was wrong.

        Let me back up and explain why I was sitting in a fiberglass boat on Warren County's Cowan Lake, within yards of a Terrible Lake Monster, in the first place. About a month ago, I learned my job for the summer would be to do three things:

CANOEING, KAYAKING

Shannon Russell (Enquirer sports reporter), her sister Kit and her mother Marilyn paddle kayaks at Cowan Lake State Park. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |     While canoeing traditionally has been a popular Cincinnati summertime activity, kayaking interest has increased steadily at local liveries.     “The kayaking industry and its popularity are growing in leaps and bounds,” said Gary Morgan, general manager of Morgan's Canoe & Outdoor Centers Inc. “I think it has a lot to do with the appeal of extreme sports, and because it's such an individual activity.”     Morgan's, located on the Little Miami River at Fort Ancient and on the Whitewater River in Brookville, Ind., is home to 400 canoes and 50 kayaks. Morgan said canoeing still appeals to many groups as a social and athletic activity, while kayaking tends to draw a different type of patron.     Whether they're retired executives or in search of self improvement, Morgan said kayaking enthusiasts often enjoy controlling their individual boats and paddling self-made courses. Their ages run the gamut from teens to senior citizens.     Joanie Collett, office manager of Bruce's Loveland Canoe Rental, said canoeists fill about 20 boats each weekday, with five times as many paddling down the Little Miami every weekend. Kayakers account for less than half of the rental's figures, but every year the numbers have risen.     She said one of the most important preparations for a kayaking trip is a water safety lesson.     “We explain the basics, especially for beginners. Once they're comfortable, we send them out on their own,” Collett said.     Frank Jones, manager of Little Miami Canoe Rental in Morrow and Oregonia, said the business has doubled its number of kayaks in the last two seasons and he anticipates an even higher growth rate.     “While canoes are much more sociable, kayakers would rather paddle from one rapid to the next instead of sitting on the river and floating,” Jones said. “One of the reasons I'm more of a kayak enthusiast is because you're right at water level in a kayak — literally an inch above the water — instead of looking down on it.”     Most area liveries have launched their busy seasons, which span from April to October.     The recent rain has caused the Little Miami to rise, occasionally making canoeing and kayaking conditions unsafe. Calling ahead for safety instructions and weather and water updates is advised by all liveries.     Bruce's Loveland Canoe Rental    Where: 200 Crutchfield Place, Loveland    What: Bruce's canoe trips are 5 miles ($25 per canoe, 1 1/2-2 hours), 10 miles ($30 per canoe, 3-4 hours) and 15 miles ($35 per canoe, 5-6 hours). Kayaking is $16 per trip.    Specials: Overnight trips, Moonlight Floats and the Scenic River Challenge, a June 14 river clean-up.    Years in business: 27    More info: Call 683-4604 or 683-4611     Little Miami Canoe Rental    Where: 219 Mill St., Morrow; 225 Corwin Road, Oregonia    What: Canoe, kayak or tube for $10 to $16 per person, from one hour to all day.    Specials: Camp and picnic after a day on the water. Little Miami will hold its first annual River Fest July 27 at its Morrow campground with craft booths, food and entertainment.    Years in business: 25    More info: Call (800) 634-4277 or 899-3616     Morgan's Canoe & Outdoor Centers Inc.    Where: 5701 State Route 350 in Oregonia; 7040 Whitewater River Lane in Brookville, Ind.    What: In addition to rafting and kayaking, Morgan's offers canoe trips of three, six, 12, 16 and 18 miles. Prices vary based on number of canoes.    Specials: Moonlight floats, rafting excursions, senior tours, eco-adventure camps, a canoeing triathlon and river challenge. In September it offers the first annual Freedom Challenge/Urban Eco-Competition, an obstacle course beginning in Newport, Ky. that begins with rafting and includes a 3.1 mile run and obstacle course. Teams of six are invited to participate. Call Gary Morgan at 321-3123 for more information.    Years in business: 43    More info: Call (800) WE-CANOE, 932-7658 (Fort Ancient) or (765) 647-4904 (Brookville, Ind.) or www.morganscanoe.com

        A) Find different kinds of Cincinnati outdoor recreation

        B) Try them out, and

        C) Write about them.

        In addition, I'm allowed to bring an adventure-seeking reader along for the fun. Nevermind that I've never actually been skateboarding, bungee jumping or sky diving. This is what I call my Great Outdoor Aventure, and I'm fully prepared to share my recreational triumphs (and more likely, embarrassments) with everyone.

        Sea kayaking seemed to be a great place to start, and for my first adventure I brought along two outdoor enthusiasts.

        Marilyn, 53, is a high school English teacher who can hear bad grammar at 20 paces. She is also my mother; therefore, under no circumstances were we allowed to end sentences in prepositions during the outing.

        Kit, 21, is a recent college graduate. She is my younger sister and enjoys watching movies about predatory water animals (see: Jaws, Lake Placid), which comes into play before meeting the Terrible Lake Monster (more on that later).

        Our tour guide for the afternoon was Enquirer photographer Craig Ruttle, who was very knowledgeable and kind and didn't get mad once when Kit and I crashed our kayaks into each other. Craig has been an avid kayaker for five years.

        After taking note of our freshwater setting, I started with a very important sea kayaking question: “Where exactly is the sea?”

        “Technically they're called sea kayaks, but really they're touring kayaks,” Craig said. “They're sort of like canoes, but are more for individuals. The difference is that they're good at long distances and they generally weigh less than canoes. With kayaks it's very easy to go to from Point A to Point B, and back to Point A again.”

        We donned life jackets and listened to safety tips, which are important for both first-time kayakers like ourselves and seasoned veterans like Craig. If you kayak, it's important to have a buddy, be aware of water conditions and know where you're paddling.

        We each selected a 16-foot kayak and climbed in the cockpits to adjust our foot rests. Our legs were straight in front of us and bent slightly at our knees to ensure good balance. Also, we were issued paddles that resembled giant Q-tips, and those were good for both balance and propelling.

        Once we were settled, Craig pushed our kayaks into the water. He warned that we'd feel slightly off-balanced once we left the land, thanks to the craft's lightness and our closeness to the water.

        Imagine finding balance while walking a tightrope the width of dental floss and carrying a live chicken. This is what it felt like.

        We three girls tried to achieve balance while not breathing too hard or breaking a sweat, which we imagined would have capsized our kayaks. If we fell out, Craig instructed us to stay calm while the boat rolled over us. He assured us that it was easy to recover from a spill, especially because we weren't seatbelted into the craft. Also, the cockpit provides a wide air pocket once it's upside down.

        Craig himself didn't have to worry about falling out, thanks to the spray skirt he was wearing. The durable, waterproof skirt fit around his waist and was attached to the cockpit perimeter, making one solid unit of him and the kayak. Had he capsized, he would have rolled over with the craft and come out in his sitting position perfectly fine, with only one or two hairs out of place and a smidge of water in his ears.

        Staying balanced was no easy feat, but we discovered that relaxing and paddling faster made the ride more stable. Craig showed us the forward stroke (propels you where you want to go) and the sweep stroke (helps you turn).

        “A couple of times I got overconfident and I thought I was going to knock myself in the water. I wasn't nervous about that as much as having weak arms. I was worried I'd get stranded,” said Marilyn, who admitted her arms weren't at all fatigued by the trip's end.

        Kayaking allowed us to visit different pockets of the lake. We embarked on a wildlife tour in one of the shallowest areas and saw lily pads, Great Blue Herons, ducks, fish and snails.

        It was then that Kit became stuck on a large floating tree branch and required Craig's help. During the wait, she and I began discussing which animals in the lake might like to eat us for an afternoon snack. Kit, our predatory animal expert (based solely on extensive movie viewing) ruled that it was impossible for sea-dwelling Great White Sharks or mutant alligators to spoil our freshwater fun.

        Then it happened.

        As we left the marshy area, we noticed something crawling up the side of Craig's kayak. It was slow. Deliberate. Out for blood.

        It was a real, live leech.

        Without further ado, we paddled for our lives. We executed every stroke we'd learned in our haste to leave the swamp, fearing an attack by the leech's closest family and friends.

        In reality, the nickel-sized creature had found a comfortable niche on the fiberglass and was politely sunbathing along the side. For all we know, it might have invited us over for tea and ladyfingers if we had not panicked and bolted. But we assumed the only lady fingers it wanted were ours.

        Luckily, our fearless leader rid us of the Terrible Lake Monster once we returned to shore. And the return trek was thankfully leech-free.

        By the time we learned to balance, observed the wildlife, avoided a monster and reached the Cowan Lake banks, we considered ourselves experienced kayakers.

        “It was relaxing,” Marilyn said. “I liked that I was in charge of where I was going in the kayak instead of relying on others, like in a canoe.”

        Kit most enjoyed the wildlife excursion.

        “I liked being able to go in the shallow water to see the animals. We went to places you'd never have been able to see otherwise,” she said.

        While it's possible to rent kayaks at different canoe liveries, Craig suggested kayak owners explore Heuston Woods' Actin Lake, Cowan Lake, Stonelick Lake, and select areas of Caesar Creek and East Fork Lake.

        The 2-mile journey lasted about two hours. The three of us agreed kayaking is a great activity for almost everyone, regardless of age or physical fitness level. But it's a good idea for kayakers to be safety-conscious, good swimmers.

        “I'm excited to do it again,” Kit said.

        Me too. Barring, of course, leeches.

       Dare to embark on an outdoor adventure? Only the brave should e-mail srussell@enquirer.com.

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