[quote=@Ryuzaki]
Well, I could possibly pick up a Carnivine in the forest, which could plow through a weak water gym.
[/quote]

I mean, you're the GM, so you could do whatever you'd like, but that does seems a little difficult to do if at that point you only had a Trapinch... So I guess you'd need to catch something else as well? You did tell me at some point that there was a choice of two gyms for the first badge, as both connected to the same route. I don't remember which was the other one, but I guess that would also be a good option for anyone who doesn't feel comfortable with having Water-types be their first gym.