Just for Fun!

The day was made to order for spending on a river: a cloudless blue sky, the temperature in the 70s and rising swiftly, along with the tide, and a steady, mild breeze moving across the Westport River. After a spring that had been groping its way erratically towards truly warm weather, it was fantastic to be headed out onto the water!

As I said to Steve of Osprey Sea and Surf, while he suited my companion and me up with our lifejackets for our two-hour kayak trip, "It is so amazing: I am out doing the perfect thing on the perfect day with the perfect company! How often does this happen!?"

Osprey Sea and Surf is at the head of the Westport River, at the confluence of Old County, Drift and Reed roads. They have been in business for 16 years, and are one of only six American Canoe Association Professional Paddle Sports schools — offering instruction in kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding.

But you do not have to be one of their students to rent a kayak and spend an idyllic two to four hours out on the Westport River. And at $35 for renting a single person kayak for two hours, you do not need to break the bank, either.

I had not been in a kayak for three or four years, but kayaking on a gentle river (no waves or whitewater) on a most temperate day was as easy as taking a hike — only with my arms!

But paddling provided my companion and me with a perspective that was distinct from a tour on land: with the wide sky overhead, we noticed every soaring hawk or osprey; the light of our perfect day was doubly beautiful as a result of its being reflected in the river. The water, turned a deep brown (like a dark ale or stout) by the tannins of the soil and decomposing plant-matter upriver, seemed quite pristine, its color contrasting pleasingly with all the bright green growth along the banks.

After being launched from behind Osprey, we enjoyed a view of a neoclassical-era stone home and boathouse: I had seen this property before from Drift Road, but seen from the river, it reminded me of a painting by one of those British landscape artists who loved to paint Italianate scenes, frequently including a river, and some sort of ruin with columns.

Along this same bank, near the bridge at the head of the Westport River, there is a wide grassy area where young and old can be found picnicking, practicing yoga, fly-fishing, or stretched out on a blanket taking a nap in the sun.

How far away this seemed from my workaday Fall River neighborhood of vinyl-sided three- deckers and cement! And yet it is less than 20 minutes away — an easy trip with an enormous payoff in terms of its "change of scene" value.

After approximately ten minutes in this civilized scenery, we rounded the bend and paddled out onto a wider section of river, still keeping homes, farms, and fields in sight, but with more of a sense of wildness around us: Instead of people on yoga mats, we encountered a cormorant holding out its wings to dry on a rock in the middle of the river. The joy of being surrounded and moved along by our watery conveyor belt was so visceral — I felt as if my entire body was smiling!

There must be some evolutionary programming in our DNA predisposing us to love rivers. Of course during storms and floods they can be dangerous, even lethal; but on a fine day we revel in their sparkle, in their promise of adventure. As I paddled, I found myself humming a melody emanating from my grown daughter's childhood (from Disney's "Pocahontas"): "What's Around the River Bend?"

Loathe as my companion and I were to head back (there were still so many "bends" to round!) for a beginner or "returnee" to kayaking, two hours is long enough. Your arms do get tired and you might feel an ache in your side or lower back.

If you go, you should be sure to bring a bottle of water, wear plenty of sunblock, a hat and sunglasses (the sun can be extra strong on the river), and leave all your valuables except your camera and/or your cell phone on land: the staff at Osprey will offer you a small, floatable plastic box to hold these things.

You will definitely want to take a few pictures out on the river, although it is doubtful that a picture can quite capture the feeling of openness, and of almost merging with all the creatures of the river, in fact with the water itself. This is one thing special about kayaking (vs. other kinds of boating): You are so low in the water, right on its surface, paddling along like a duck or a swan, and you can reach out and touch the water with no effort at all.

But the effort of paddling does entitle you to a treat at the end! For this you only have to wander directly across the street from Osprey to the Head Town Landing Country Store, which I understand is famous for its fresh-baked donuts.

For more information about Osprey Sea and Surf, which also offers guided group trips, go to www.ospreyseakayak.com.