It was a clear bright summer day, warm, still and inviting.
The kind of day you just cannot say 'No' to.
There were several places we could go to picnic and enjoy the weather.
We decided on a dam nearby us.
We loaded our tandem kayak of unknown make onto the roof of our car, packed our picnic lunch and the four of us, my husband, myself and my in-laws, drove off.
Launching was never difficult.
There were no jetties -- just soft, lapping, tiny wind-blown waves against a bare shoreline, very typical of dams in tropical Africa where the dry hot climate quickly sucks up large amounts of the water mass, exposing the cleared underbelly of the dam.
In no time we were launched, taking turns to have a quick trawl around the shoreline and across the water.
Nothing about our jaunt was professional, no special paddles, comfortable seats (they were really hard!), skegs or anything else.
We were enthusiastic amateurs just about able to go where we wanted to.
Eventually.
When my turn came I was partnered with my mother-in-law, a lovely cheery soul, but not and never an athlete.
We settled ourselves in.
Myself in front, legs straight out, sitting on the molded fibreglass seats.
We were given a push into the water by our respective spouses and off we paddled, happily and uneventfully into the dreamy day.
The problem came with our return.
How to land and disembark without getting our feet and legs wet.
We decided to go for a fast paddle that would send us right up the fairly steep slope of the bank so we could get out on dry land.
It worked, shooting us up into the dry.
Flushed happily with success and verbally sharing this with my husband and father-in-law, I couldn't understand their breaking laughter.
Looking behind me I saw the back end of the kayak sinking slowly into the water.
I was in the dry but mum-in-law was not.
She was trapped by my position.
She couldn't get out of the kayak until I did.
Her legs were either side of my seat and the rim of the kayak's seating space kept them firmly there.
She had no choice but to sit while the water poured in around her, soaking her through and through.
Our picnic pack did not include a change of dry clothes.
The only consolation was the hot weather.
She never lost her sense of humor though.
Today, ladies can buy kayaks especially made for them.
A very different breed to what was before.
Comfort and outfitting are part of the plot.
'Necky' has the Eliza for women who weigh up to 160lbs.
It is suitable for weekend touring and with this in mind it has a molded foam touring seat.
Paddler skill is from beginner to intermediate.
The kayak is made of polyurethane and has other specifications which are worth looking at too.
For instance, there is either the Composite or the Polymer design.
'Ocean' has the Venus 11 which was especially designed by women.
It is super lightweight with a slightly wider seat designed to accommodate the female center of gravity.
Included in the specifications are a 6" cam hook hatch with storage bucket and a deck area mounted for an MP3 player.
Also 1% of gross sales are donated to the Breast Cancer Fund.
The Venus 10 should not be overlooked.
'Perception' do the Tribute 12.
0 for women or smaller paddlers.
Their range includes the Carolina, Tribute 10, Tribute 12.
0 Airalite (whose stiff ultralight construction gives greater control and speed for smaller paddlers), 14.
0 and 14.
0 with rudder.
Lastly there is the Tribute 12.
0 SL Limited Edition whose construction features are particularly worth looking at.
All of them are recommended as touring kayaks.
The one voted by Women's Adventure Magazine in March/April 2009 as having "effortless manageability on water and comfortable proportions for smaller paddlers" is the Tsunami 120 by 'Wilderness Systems'.
Others in this range are the SP, 125, 135, 135 with rudder, 140, 145, and the 145 w/rudder.
The rudders assist in the steering of a kayak.
Phase 3 outfitting is another specification point to note from Wilderness Systems.
It is their patented design for kayak seating.
The thighs and back muscles are much used in kayaking.
Phase 3 outfitting encourages air circulation to the precise position settings that relieve this type of fatigue.
There are many other makes which are designed for the 'smaller paddler' which suit women remarkably well.
Often there is not a distinction between 'kayaks for women' and 'kayaks for the smaller paddler'.
The 'smaller paddler' is all-embracing.
Whitewater enthusiasts have a wide range of these to choose from.