| In the days of the ancient Egyptians, Pharaohs | | | | children and each other because they would be |
| would take their families and royal households on | | | | pretty isolated from the outside would. If a fishing |
| boats and barges down the great Nile River to | | | | trip for a day is more accepted by the children, |
| view their kingdom and servants. They would be | | | | they could learn how to cast, bait, and take care |
| updated on the harvest, how well or poorly it was | | | | of their own fishing rod and any fish they caught. |
| coming along, how the slaves were progressing | | | | If the children were old enough, they could learn |
| on the building of the pyramids, and of their rivals | | | | how to get, clean, and filet their fish, all the while |
| in other countries. Not only did this event of riding | | | | bonding with their parents. |
| a royal boat down the Nile cement the Pharaoh's | | | | Boating can also be relaxing enough to help a |
| status as ruler of Egypt, it also gave his family | | | | person eliminate some of the stress in their life |
| time away from the palace and pressures of | | | | because it is fun. Imagine driving away from the |
| royal life to just enjoy each other and reconnect | | | | dock, wind whipping through your hair, the spray |
| with each other. Thus, boating became a family | | | | of the water and knowing that for the next few |
| hobby for many of the Pharaohs and their Nobles. | | | | hours or days, you did not have to do anything |
| It was not long before this relaxing get away was | | | | but dive, float, fish, and swim. If you wanted to |
| noticed by other civilizations and copied. Even | | | | water ski, you would already be on the water, |
| today, the enjoyment of boating, be it on a | | | | just get the ski on and go. It could turn out that |
| freshwater lake, or a deep sea fishing trip, still | | | | boating is the best thing you did for yourself. |
| brings families together and makes vacations last | | | | Safety on the water is the most important thing |
| a little while longer. | | | | to remember before stepping on to a boat. First, |
| There are many reasons to choose boating as a | | | | know what the weather will be like while you are |
| hobby or a sport. For one thing, the entire family | | | | on the water. Obviously, it is a bad idea to boat |
| can be a part of it and enjoy it at the same time. | | | | during a thunderstorm. Make certain you have |
| If a family decided to rent a house boat for a | | | | everything needed and an emergency bag, just in |
| week, there would be planning and preparation | | | | case, by using a check list before leaving the |
| that the kids could be involved with. They could | | | | docks. Use the life saving equipment, like life |
| learn how to use a map and sexton to navigate | | | | jackets and know where the inflatable rafts are, |
| the waters during the night and might even be | | | | just in case. Just like in a car, do not drive drunk |
| able to convince their parents to let them drive | | | | in a boat. It is just as dangerous and can land you |
| the boat for a few minutes. This would give the | | | | in jail too. Know how to swim, at least doggie |
| parents time to reacquaint themselves with their | | | | paddle, if you are in trouble in the water. |