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Kayaking, Part 2

Kayaking on Flint Creek @ Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge & on the Flint River, Huntsville Alabama

We had so much fun kayaking, we decided to go again the next day!

This time we brought the dogs along for the fun. :)
We paddled the Flint River, which is conveniently located right by our house…

Kayaking on Flint Creek @ Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge & on the Flint River, Huntsville Alabama

Oh, Howie!

No matter where we go, you always find the mud puddles.
While we were setting up the kayaks, Howie ran off to explore the local flora & fauna. Not 5 minutes later he came back looking like this.
*facepalm*

Kayaking on Flint Creek @ Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge & on the Flint River, Huntsville Alabama

Good thing we were going to be on the water all day! :)

Kayaking on Flint Creek @ Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge & on the Flint River, Huntsville Alabama

For the first half of the trip there was a nice trail along the river where the dogs could follow along and run alongside. See Howie up there?? :)

Kayaking on Flint Creek @ Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge & on the Flint River, Huntsville Alabama

This is Howie’s pal Rika. Isn’t she beautiful? She was a good leader for Howie.
There were a couple of banks along the river where we pulled off and let the dogs just run around and play, swim and chase sticks.

Kayaking on Flint Creek @ Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge & on the Flint River, Huntsville Alabama

We found a nice spot and pulled off and had some lunch.
PB&J’s are perfect for packing in kayaks. :)

Kayaking on Flint Creek @ Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge & on the Flint River, Huntsville Alabama

After lunch, the trail kinda ended, so Howie hopped in for a ride in the kayak!

Kayaking on Flint Creek @ Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge & on the Flint River, Huntsville Alabama

He’s a perfect fit. :)

Kayaking on Flint Creek @ Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge & on the Flint River, Huntsville Alabama

Kayaking on Flint Creek @ Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge & on the Flint River, Huntsville Alabama

Howie’s always up for an adventure! :)

Kayaking on Flint Creek @ Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge & on the Flint River, Huntsville Alabama

We paddled upstream almost a mile from where we put in –
then the fun part…

Kayaking on Flint Creek @ Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge & on the Flint River, Huntsville Alabama

We turned around and just let the river float us back. :)

Kayaking on Flint Creek @ Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge & on the Flint River, Huntsville Alabama

On the float back, Howie alternated between riding in the kayak with me and swimming alongside with Rika.

Kayaking on Flint Creek @ Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge & on the Flint River, Huntsville Alabama

His life jacket (from PetSmart) had a nice handle, and he would swim up to the side of the kayak and want me to pick him up! :)

Kayaking on Flint Creek @ Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge & on the Flint River, Huntsville Alabama

Needless to say, I got pretty much soaked! :P

Kayaking on Flint Creek @ Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge & on the Flint River, Huntsville Alabama

But Howie sure was having fun. :)

Kayaking on Flint Creek @ Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge & on the Flint River, Huntsville Alabama

I can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon…
Friends close by, dog at my side, out in the beautiful scenery and sunshine, having fun and getting great exercise while we’re doing it. :)

***

P.S. If you live in the North Alabama area and you’d like to try kayaking, check out North Alabama Canoe & Kayak and NACK on Facebook.
Scott & Ben were extremely knowledgeable and helpful – they’ll help you plan a day of fun you won’t forget! :)

Have a great week! :)
XOXO

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59 Responses
  1. Dana Russell

    YOUR FUR BABIES ARE ADORABLE!!! It’s really special that you take up so much time with them, and include them in the stuff that you do.

  2. Suzanne Shepherd

    Love the picture of smiling Howie!! But, as so many others have commented, where is Miley? I have been wondering about your kitties lately, too. There are no recent pix of them. Hope all is well in kitty kat land….

    Is Rika an Australian Shepherd? She looks like my dogs, but a different color.

    Thanks for sharing the fun.

  3. Geneva

    Love the photos. Saw Howie on Little Beasts for photo of the week. Oh, how I miss my 2 bostons, they are at home and I am at work. Be home soon to sit watch them entertain us for the evening.
    Truly love the website!

  4. Marilyn

    Amanda

    I have truly enjoyed reading your blog from time to time and love the stories of Howie and Miley. They are precious. The kayaking looked like so much fun. Now if I could only persuade my jack Russell to embrace wearing a life jacket, we might be in business!!!

    Thanks for sharing your stories, recipes, dogs and SCRAPBOOKING!!

  5. Emily Heizer Photography

    That is SO awesome! I love it! Howie looks SOOO happy! I wish you had gotten a shot of Rika swimming. Was she happy swimming the whole way back? I’d feel guilty that Howie got to take breaks and she didn’t! Too, too funny that he would request a lift out of the water!!

    They don’t mind the life jackets at all? I love them, they look great. What a great way to keep them safe and easy to spot- and a handle? Brilliant.

  6. Kelly @ Dare to be Domestic

    I’m so happy I found your blog! I live in North Alabama and the boyfriend and I love going canoeing (we are in the market for kayaks right now). Thank you for the great places to test out next! ox

  7. Danielle

    Looks like you and the pups had a blast! FYI – you look amazing :) Still losing weight? I am also going to have to start trying some of your recipes. They look amazing.

  8. Misty

    Oh my goodness your puppy is so cute!! I love kayaking…Oh the memories, it is only a vacation thing for me, but looks like you had a blast!!!

  9. A Cupcake For Moose

    Hi Amanda! I just found your blog via my sister-in-law and I LOVE it! Your pups are so cute and I love the variety of your blog. My hubby was drooling over your brisket dinner photos. Very nice! :)
    Glad to find out about you. Looking forward to more visits!

    Have a great evening,
    Rachel from A Cupcake for Moose

  10. Jennika

    These pictures are amazing! Love how peaceful the water and trees look! What camera where you using on your trip? Surely one you wouldnt mind getting a little wet?!

  11. Geneva

    Love it, love it, love it. I can’t wait until summer comes so that we can teach our little bostons how to swim. Love the life jacket!

  12. Amanda Sevall

    How cute!! Our boston loves her lifejacket (she has the same one!) and swimming in the lake alongside the boat. Howie looks like he had a great time! ;) Great pictures — so glad you shared them!

  13. Sarah

    OMG I can’t even stand all this cuteness!!!! How fun!! Makes me want to take my Bostons kayaking LOL! How do you take your camera and keep it safe though, that’s what I want to know! ;) I’m waaaay too clumsy to trust myself with a camera and a kayak!

  14. Tiffany Lockette

    Love all of the pictures. This would be something perfect to do for my husband for Fathers Day. We love to canoe. He has kayaked before, me not so much. I am from Alabama. What part of Alabama were you in the photos? What River?

  15. Donna

    Sure looks like a ton of fun, Love the life jacket on Howie, but, where is Miley. Your pictures are awesome love the ones of Howie in the Kayak. Donna ND

  16. Kerry

    Amanda, I love your blog. You look so healthy and fit and I love Howie! He makes me laugh!! I never went kayaking but something about seeing you do it makes it seem easy and I know I will try it now. Thanks so much for sharing your adventure.

  17. Tanya

    Absolutely breath taking. I love the pics and Howie…what a beautiful life you live. Thanks for sharing, it’s nice to see the beauty in this world so full of corruption. :0)

  18. Lisa

    Loved the pics–thanks for sharing. Howie looks like a real card. He is so well trained. Everytime I try to take a pic of my pug May-Ling sitting still or in one spot I seriously have to try like about 50 times to get at least one good shot. LOL.

  19. Breeana Shill

    Amanda, you look lovely! You are so so skinny! And it looks like you had tons of fun. :) I love the dog life jackets – hah!

  20. alyssa manno

    shut UP! they are the cutest puppy pictures ever! love to see you don’t mind that your dog gets a little dirty!! thanks for sharing!

  21. HeatherB

    Love the photos – what a beautiful location, and love the photos of the dogs in the kayaks (I was wondering how that would work!). Looks like a lot of fun!

  22. Niki

    I went Kayaking once, but it was a lot more work as we had strong winds along the coast of the Atlantic ocean. Your trip looks so much better – nice and relaxing while still getting exercise. I didn’t know they made life jackets for dogs – that is hysterical! Made my day! Thanks for sharing!

  23. Carol

    Love your kayaking series. My husband and I (old enough to be your parents) just invested in a pair of kayaks. It’s still a little chilly here in Michigan to pop them in and learn the “ins and outs”, but absolutely cannot wait to start paddling :) …

    We have a golden retriever who loves the water and we, too, purchased the life jacket for when she gets tired of the swim.

    Look forward to more pics in the series!

  24. Kathleen Summers

    So freaking CUTE! Looks like an awesome day.

    So when are you going to start scrapbooking these? ;) Clearly you already have digi skillz. ;)

  25. Sharla

    It looks like you guys had a ton of fun, and what a beautiful place to be. I love the pic of Howie, he’s got a huge smile on his face!!

  26. Debra Heschl

    It looks like you had a great time…I would love to try kayaking, but Ia m a fraid b/c I don’t know how to swim!!! hehe…Maybe one day:0)

  27. Nikki

    So cute! We’ve never taken our cockapoo out in the water, but now I have to go buy a life preserver like Howie’s and make up an excuse to go!

    Great pics.

  28. mccsec

    You make me smile!! I have a Boston for 16 years. He loved water, and
    BALLS. Even jumped into the bath with you fi you didn’t close the door. Wonderful pictures. Thanks for sharing.

  29. Dalia

    Hi Amanda,
    I love your posts and your work, you’re really an inspiration. These kayaking pics are awesome! My son & I want to go kayaking now. Happy week!!

  30. creole wisdom

    So fun! Have you ever been canooing? I think it’s pretty similar, but you have 2 + people in the canoo with you.

    Howie is so adorable!

  31. Robin

    How wonderful that you live so near the river and can go out to enjoy it like that. Howie looks like he’s having more fun than you are! I just love that he swims alongside your kayak and then wants you to pull him in when he gets tired.

  32. Beth

    I have loved these post!! The dogs in the water is great, I am not sure what my little Zoe would do if I put her in a life jacket and put her in the lake!! Thanks for sharing I love it!

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Kevin and Amanda

We love to travel and to eat! Here we share our favorite quick and easy recipes, plus travel tips and guides for our favorite places around the world. If you have any questions about what camera I use or how I edit my photos, check out my photography tutorials.

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