* Please pardon the poor quality of some of these pictures! I was trying to use my phone through a waterproof bag in low light while on a moving kayak. Some of these photos are quite bad, but I wanted you all to see generally what the experience was like.
Life in San Marcos is all about the river. Around 8:30pm, just as the last light of the summer evening was fading away, we met up with a small group for an after-dark adventure on the San Marcos. We had tickets for a "glow kayak" tour of the river. After meeting our guide and checking in, we climbed into a clear plastic kayak, and set off upstream.
The boats have strips of LED lights running along their transparent bottoms, and with the click of a button, the kayak and water around it are illuminated in colorful lights. You can press the button again and again to cycle through a selection of many different colors.
Our guide told us that if we turned on the blue or green lights, we would be sure to attract a lot of fish. It worked! it was so cool to look down through the clear plastic bottom of the kayak to see the waving sea of wild grass and darting river fish swimming below us.
As we made our way up the river, our guide, kneeling atop a stand-up paddle board, stopped occasionally to teach us about the biodiversity and ecology of the San Marcos River. She pointed out where a beaver had built his dam along one of the banks (he came to town while the university was shut down for COVID-19, and built his home while the students were all away and the river was quiet). She also had us paddle up beneath one of the bridges spanning the river to listen for the soft chirping of the bats who have made their roost inside the bridge.
The way back downstream was easy. We just had to make sure that we didn't bump into the river banks or the other kayaks. Other than that, we just let the river's natural current do the work!
It was a fantastic way to end our day in San Marcos, and a wonderful experience. It is especially interesting to learn so much about the San Marcos River. I had no idea how important it was for the local ecosystem, or how vital the waters of the Edwards Aquifer was for the critically endangered species of wild rice and salamander who are found nowhere else in the world.
At times, the current was strong, and we had to paddle hard to fight against it! Eventually, we ended up at a bend of the river in Sewell Park, where new Texas State University graduates plunge into the river in full cap and gown at the end of their graduation ceremony.
If you get the chance, I highly recommend an evening glow kayaking! Check out the website below to learn more:
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