Kayak Capture the Flag - Back for more!

Capture the Flag, in Kayaks.... is back! Lots of us had fun, and I know a lot of people who really wanted to play but couldn't come out, so we're doing it again!

I learned a few things from last time, so here are some important notes:

• A ziploc bag for your cell phone might let you down.

• We will start at Argo, and kayak through the cascades and end in Gallup Park. In order to go through the cascades, Argo Canoe Livery requires that you have some experience in kayaking, or be in a double kayak with someone else who has experience. Kayaking is very easy to learn. Just rent one or borrow from a friend and get out on the river or a lake and try! (Or just partner up in a double, the doubles are faster because you have two people!)

Now on to the rest...

We will be meeting at ARGO Canoe Livery at the pavilion in Ann Arbor, MI at 12:00 Noon. The address: 1055 Longshore Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48105. We will plan on kayaking for a while until we're done. Eventually, we'll end up at Gallup Park. They will ferry us back up to Argo.

Rental Prices: http://www.a2gov.org/government/communityservices/ParksandRecreation/CanoeLiveries/Pages/RiverTrips.aspx .

The Rules

• Nobody has to play, there will be multiple rounds, you can join and sit out as you wish.

• Everybody MUST wear a life vest. Some of the river is shallow, some is deep.

• Each team will have a captain (captains and teams can change every round). In order to score, the captain must have both flags. Each captain starts with their own flag.

• Once you get the flag, you have 3 seconds to either throw it to a teammate, or put it in the back of your kayak. Once it is in the back of your kayak, you can no longer touch it until it is in the back of someone else's kayak, or somebody throws it to you. If someone is reaching in your boat to grab the flag, you can try to push their boat away, but you cannot grab the flag out of your own kayak (and you cannot grab the flag out of their hands).

• You may capsize other kayaks, but nobody can capsize a kayak with the flag. If you capsize another boat, you must stop and help them get their boat back up and help them back in. If you are out of your kayak, you are out of play until you are back in your kayak. If you are in a double kayak and your partner is out of the boat, you are also out of play until your partner is back in.

• If you have the flag, please don't just row really far away (either upstream or downstream) from the pack. This makes the game really un-fun.

• Please do not try to purposefully hit others with your paddles. The game gets pretty crazy, so please, no intentional violence.

Other Notes

It is important to come on time. It is very difficult to get everyone into the water if people are showing up late. Argo Canoe Livery is very busy, and we are not the only people who will be getting in the river.

If you are late, just rent a kayak and head down towards Gallup. Since we will be playing and/or just chilling out, you will likely catch us if you paddle. Do note that the livery will ask you to have prior experience in kayaking if you want to go in a solo kayak down the cascades - another reason it's important not to be late! (You can be in a double if you have no prior experience, as long as your partner has experience).

The kayaks the livery rents out are great for just setting the flag in the back. You are welcome to bring your own kayak, but if it does not have a good spot for a flag to sit, you might try to attach something or put a rope or whatever. Otherwise, just don't carry the flag - steal it and throw it to your teammates!

If you have some kind of water shoe, I would recommend wearing it over flip flops. I make this recommendation because I wore flip flops.

If it is cold, try to wear something wool. Wool will keep you warm even when it is wet. (Don't wear a winter jacket, it's not going to be that cold).

Jim, you had better get your ass out here since you invented this damn game.