🚣 Lake Russell Camping and Kayaking
THRIVE Outdoor Adventure: Camping and Kayaking
I recently took advantage of some warm Spring weather to pull off a solo overnight car camping trip to check out a new lake in North Georgia. My main goal was to get my kayak out on the water, explore the area, and do a little fishing.
The campsite itself was beautiful, tucked into a nicely wooded area directly on the water. Because I was tent camping for just a single night, the lack of an electric hookup at the site wasn’t a major issue. The only real complications were regional drought conditions that forced a ban on campfires, and the temperature dropping a bit colder overnight than I had anticipated, but it was nothing unmanageable.
💪 The Behind-the-Scenes Prep
While there is a boat ramp in the recreation area, I wanted my kayak parked right next to my site so I could wake up and get straight out onto the water early in the morning.
Choosing convenience meant choosing harder physical work on land. Getting my fishing kayak and all the gear (including a trolling motor, pedal drive, battery pack, and rods) down to the water required navigating a pretty steep embankment. Unloaded, the plastic hull of the kayak weighs about 90 pounds on its own.
Moving that setup up and down a steep slope takes coordination, grip strength, and core stability. It was nice to have the confidence to handle it over several trips, hauling heavy gear up and down the incline safely and efficiently without too much difficulty.
âš¡ The High-Thrive Moment
Exploring a new body of water that is limited to electric motors. It was peaceful paddling, and I even managed to catch a few small bass on a body of water I've never fished before (you know they were small because I didn’t post pictures). It felt great to have a choice of where to put the boat in, and the confidence to choose the harder path. It made for a real nice morning on the water.
💬 What real-world "heavy lifting" did your fitness enable this week? Did you complete a weekend backyard project or move some furniture without feeling broken the next day? Leave a comment below or reply directly to this email to share your story!
Here is a link to the campground if you want to check it out. The camp hosts were very friendly and people I met were all nice and considerate campers.
Keith | Thrive A/F Team