I wasn’t planning to swim that day. It was a classic July afternoon, sunny and high 80’s with a pleasant breeze, and I was heading to Rexhame Beach to go stand-up paddleboarding. By some stroke of luck, the weather, the tides, and my schedule had all aligned, and I was meeting a friend for our annual trip on the South River.
I thoroughly enjoy the ritual of preparing for a river excursion. Pulling my paddle board or kayak off the rack and clearing away the pollen, dust, and cobwebs. Gathering my gear. Balancing the vessel on my car’s roof rack. Threading the tie-downs and tightening them just-so. Letting my family know where I’m going, and when to expect me back. And then the drive across town. By then, because so much has already gone right, I’m mostly feeling excitement. But it’s mixed with a healthy dose of caution.
When I’m out on the river, I try not to tempt fate. I smear on the sunscreen. I bring drinking water, and sometimes a small snack. I attach a band to my sunglasses to secure them to my head. I tuck my car key into a resealable bag and zip it into a pocket. And of course, I wear a personal flotation device (PFD), ... or as the old folks say, a life jacket.
Me, on my paddle board on the South River, on a calmer day.
The plan for the day was simple enough. Put our boards in the water about an hour before high tide, paddle upstream with the current, pause in the Bourne Island Lagoon to rest, then ride the retreating tide back to Rexhame. We’d done it before. The only potential variable was the wind. If it was blowing too hard in either direction, it might not make sense to go out. But we could still sit on our boards in the shallows by the shore, dangling our feet and enjoying the gorgeous view.
I knew already, on the walk from the parking lot, that our odds of success were dropping. It was quite a bit breezier than it had been at home. A 10-foot SUP is awkward to carry, but when the wind gusts, it can be downright comedic. Remaining stubbornly positive, I set my board in the water, hopped on, and paddled out. The tide was coming in, as expected, but the wind was blowing entirely in the opposite direction. Digging in, I was eventually able to propel the board around the first bend, but wasn’t this supposed to be relaxing and fun? It wasn’t.
The South River at Rexhame, on a windy day.
It was time to pivot. Reasoning that the wind would blow us back to our starting place, I shouted to my friend, “I think we should turn around!” But I’d forgotten about the tide.
A paddleboard isn’t difficult to maneuver. Once you understand how to keep it balanced, it’s pretty easy to control where it goes. But I didn’t quite think things through when I attempted to turn into the advancing tide ... and instead inadvertently took my first swim of the year!
The last time I fell off my paddleboard – probably 10 years ago -- I wasn’t wearing a PFD. It wasn’t scary. I was in waist-deep water. I laughed it off and quickly hoisted myself back onto the board. But the experience stayed with me.
This time was different, and thank goodness I was wearing the PFD. The water was deep, and moving quickly. In the few seconds it took me to get my bearings, my board floated off in one direction while I went the other. (A paddleboard leash would have come in handy here.) The current was too strong to swim against... plus I was still holding the paddle.
Bobbing for a moment, I realized that if I turned around and kicked, I could propel myself backward. Adrenaline gave me the strength to get my upper half onto the board, and then somehow, I wrestled my legs up too. I don’t remember how I got to the edge of the marsh.
My friend soon joined me, and we agreed to stay put until the tide turned and we could paddle back to Rexhame. Everyone made it home safely, but for days, I couldn’t stop thinking about how helpless I felt in that swiftly-moving water, and how grateful I was for my PFD.
A different day on the water, but still grateful for my PFD!
It's not my intention to scare anyone away from the water. Go paddling this summer! Get out there and enjoy our local rivers! There are risks and rewards for every adventure, and we all must be our own gauge. Just please bear in mind that some basic precautions will improve your likelihood of success.
The South River at Rexhame, on a calmer day.
• Check the forecast, and remember that wind and tide will greatly affect your experience.
• Bring drinking water and a snack, especially if you’re planning to be out for a while.
• Wear a personal flotation device (PFD). Zip it up and tighten the straps. If a vest-style PDF is a problem, consider an inflatable one, or the kind that comes in a waist-pack. It’s also a good idea to have a whistle on-hand, to make it easier to call for help.
• Tell someone where you’re going, and when you expect to be back. Harbormasters advise that you file a Float Plan, and also post a phone number or email inside your boat. That way, if you become separated from it, they can find you (and not have to launch a search).
• Be safe out there, and have fun!
If you enjoy the outdoors, be sure to check out our Explore South Shore program for 2025. Every morning, we highlight one of the region’s best nature places on Facebook and Instagram. Every Wednesday, we feature a spot with water access. Not on social media? We’ve listed all the locations on our website as well!
by Kezia Bacon
August 2025
Kezia Bacon's articles appear courtesy of the North and South Rivers Watershed Association, a local non-profit organization devoted to protecting our waters. For membership information and a copy of their latest newsletter, contact NSRWA at (781) 659-8168 or visit www.nsrwa.org. You will also find 27+ years of Kezia’s Nature columns there. For more information about the “Where in the Watershed?”/Postcards from the ‘Shed Contest, visit https://www.nsrwa.org/2025-nsrwa-explore-south-shore-contest-rules/
