I had kayaked before going on a tour in Puerto Rico, but I had never done it in the dark. It is marketed as a sightseeing tour where we were expected to see bioluminescent fish and other critters. I’m sharing this post because although the sparkling light was minimal- it was indeed an exciting sensory adventure.
I didn’t take any photos during the trip due to being busy in the moment and not wanting to lose my phone. However, by the time my husband and I got into the double kayak- it was completely dark outside. Each kayak had a light that we followed through a narrow channel leading into an open area.
The Sensory Experience
- Being in complete darkness on a board, pretty much soaked in warm water is pretty amazing as well as nerve wracking. I think that I did tune into the sounds more than I typically do. However, at one point an unexpected and very quiet motorized boat came alongside us travelling in the opposite direction. I heard surprised tourists exclaiming ” kayakers!” So they weren’t expecting to come across traffic either. I was able to extend my arm and touch the boat- that’s how close they were. Having no warning- maybe is part of the sensory experience!
- Proprioception sense : I am not used to using the muscles required for paddling so was exhausted and achy when finished (I’m also 71 years old). I was also operating on adrenalin, feeling an urgency to keep up with the boat in front of us. Paddling against the water’s resistance provides intense proprioceptive sensory stimulation to muscles, joints and tendons. Being in the dark and wet also heightened my proprioceptive sense of body in space as well as tactile stimulation to skin. Whacking some mangrove trees in the process also heightened my senses.
- Vestibular sense: We were moving along at a good clip, thus stimulating the vestibular sensory receptors inside the inner ears. Acceleration to keep up and deceleration to avoid whacking the boat in front- also contributed to a stop and go vestibular experience.
As with many sensory experiences- I found my senses heightened when getting off the boat. It was a relief to see again! I was reminded of how light my feet feel after removing roller skates and how steady the ground is when on land after sailing…. Feeling a bit cold as well as soaking wet was part of the thrill… I guess… but changing into dry clothes was a welcomed conclusion….. I end this post with visual stimulation from our rainforest room…
Rainforest scenery…
