KAYAKING ADVENTURE

Making friends, finding happiness, and filling the soul: KAYAKING on the Guadalupe River

Story and photos by Felicia Frazar

The sound of laughter was heard along the banks of the Guadalupe River as a group of women prepared to set out on their weekly kayaking voyage.

At the Lake Placid public boat ramp under Interstate 10, six friends gathered to launch their vessels, something they’ve done for months as the pandemic carried on.

“This is the combination of retirement and COVID,” said Felicia Durant. “It was the one way I could figure how to be around people but still be safe.”

In the height of the lockdowns, fresh into retirement from teaching physical education at Jefferson Elementary, Durant looked to the outdoor activity as a way to connect socially. She put a call out on Facebook, and got some interest, most notably from former co-workers — almost all of whom have retired.

Lori Murphy was among the first to take Durant up on the offer to paddle out. She had initially spent some time paddling with another group on Lake McQueeney, but that faded out, and Murphy was left looking for someone else to venture out with.

“I had the kayak and wanted to go but didn’t know who to go with,” she said. “Felicia and I got to talking.”

Before long, the group grew to include Laura Vrana, Ellen Mccarty, Diana Ball, Cindy Hernandez and Susan Richardson.

“I love to kayak; I love to be outside,” Durant said. “This has just been fun, and it’s been months. It has kind of saved my sanity.”

At one point, each of the being with them just women worked at — or in one case, still works at — Jefferson Elementary. And while they worked together, they didn’t get the opportunity to know each other until they began hitting the paddling trails. “We’ve all been around each other for almost 30 years,” Mccarty said. “We’ve really gotten to know each other out here.”

“The combination of being outside and being with them just fills your soul and makes me happy.”

Murphy agreed, adding their time on the water has brought them closer together.

“I think we bonded,” she said.

Hernandez, who had retired before the pandemic, continued to work as a substitute until COVID-19 closed schools. She found she was able to reconnect better on the water.

“When we started kayaking together, it was like being back with family again,” she said. “I had worked with all of them for so long. I may not be in a classroom with kids, but I’m still around the people I know and have become familiar with. This has been really good getting to know these ladies.”

The calming water, pristine nature and all of the laughter were just what Vrana said she needed.

“I enjoy being outside,” she said. “The combination of being outside and being with them just fills your soul and makes me happy.”

Plus, it is good exercise, Mccarty said.

“I need to be outside so I won’t be sitting inside reading,” she joked.

On the cooler mornings, the group would gather for lunch and then head out. But as the weather starts warming up, they’ll launch first and then eat.

Each found the passion for kayaking in various ways at different times in their lives.

For Durant, it was with fellow outdoor enthusiast Pete Silvius.

“One time and I was hooked,” she said. “I bought my first kayak, and somebody said, ‘oh, you can’t just have one.’ I didn’t believe them. I have five now.”

Hernandez compared it to a shoe addiction, except they’re not just drawn to purchasing the gear, Durant said.

“You’re not addicted to the stuff itself; you’re addicted to nature, being out there,” she said. “For me, I’m an active person. I have always been. I don’t do well inside.

“I need to be outside. For me, I need that reason to get out there, and this is it.”

Ball began her kayaking voyages about 10 years ago with her husband.

“I find kayaking very peaceful,” she

“We sit together and chat a lot while we’re kayaking, but then I can be all by myself,” Hernandez said. “Then one of us will normally kind of slow down.”

The groups form and change as the day paddles on, Murphy said.

“We end up more in groups talking,” she said. “We’ll talk in different groups at different times, then we all come back together at times. But still, I’ve gotten to know you guys a lot better through this than through school.”

“Salvation Tuesday” is what Durant calls their weekly meetups.

“I personally don’t think I would have made it through last year without you guys,” she said. “I know that Tuesday, I have something. Even if I have nothing else going on, that is the one day that I know I’ve got something. It is on-the-water therapy.”

The group credits Durant with bringing them together, keeping an eye on them and scouting out for other places to explore.

“She looks out for us; she makes sure that when we are putting in, we feel good about it, like we feel like we can get in and out safely,” Hernandez said. “She is always looking for other places for us to go.” The crew already has a couple of new adventures waiting ahead for them. They’re planning a trip on the San Marcos River and a cruise down the San Antonio River Walk, among other places.

But for now, they’ll continue to paddle along the Guadalupe River, joking, laughing and soaking up all of the fun times.