Summer 2026 is here!
Way back in 2023, I created “The Paddle Times” as a writing outlet for myself. A place to share updates, news, safety tips, and to share moments that felt special, like our always popular Guided Full Moon Paddle experiences. And, as many people experience in life, I had a few valleys and a few peaks, and those highs and lows kept me from bringing this idea to life and committing to writing and sharing the fun and not-so-fun moments of operating Paddle Time Kayaks with my husband, Jeremy.
After all, it is a business, and with that comes planning, execution, customer service, marketing, networking… You get the drift. I like to joke that Jeremy is the “muscle” part of the business. But he is so much more than that; he’s more like the CEO! He is our maintenance manager, the dedicated tour guide, eager to spot and point out the magnificent eagles and osprey that grace Shark River each summer, and without him, Paddle Time Kayaks wouldn’t be what it is today! And me, I’m visionary, the dreamer and the planner. The one who is juggling the administrative duties that often fall behind the scenes, the one who brings ideas to the table and pushes this little business along each year.
What would summer be without Paddle Time Kayaks? For us, it would be boring! We both have a moment of reflection, usually on the first or second day that we’re down by the river, when we affirm that this really fills our cup - it’s a labor of love - that forces us to dip our toes in the river more times than we would if we weren’t running the business.
And for that - I’m grateful!!
So, what’s new for 2026, you ask?
Well, a few things. First, we’re aiming to provide more American Canoe Association workshops. That is really where my passion lies; I absolutely love helping people fall in love with kayaking and learn best practices for on-water safety and paddling technique. Last year, we held a few workshops, including a couple that were in partnership with Wall Township Recreation and Neptune Township Recreation. We are very proud of that partnership and eager to bring these workshops to many more people (who don’t know about us yet) through recreation programs in other local municipalities. With a bit of planning and advocacy with administrative staff, we hope to partner with Neptune City/Bradley Beach, Belmar, and maybe even Asbury Park.
In addition to our educational workshops, we also look forward to the Full Moon Paddles every summer. What makes them special is that we have only four opportunities in a season: June, July, August, and September. And if we’re lucky, we get all four, but experience reminds us that usually at least one of those full moons may be canceled due to weather, be that storms, clouds, or winds. So be sure to sign up early if you’re interested in experiencing a beautiful Shark River sunset, followed by a glorious full moon rise. It’s hard to explain how awesome these experiences are; you just have to see for yourself!
Well, that’s all for now, but I hope that if you read this far, that means you’re hooked on Paddle Time Kayaks, and I hope to see you at the river this year!
Blue skies & calm waters,
Kira Lang