“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”
Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in The Willows
Dingy, canoe, kayak, they are all fun to mess about it in. Firstly we’ll look at “How”, and at the bottom of the post are suggestions of the ‘Where’.
Canoeing and Kayaking
Training
Whether surfing or kayaking when you ‘add water’ it is important to have basic training including:
- how to paddle efficiently,
- manoeuvre,
- most essential capsize drill.
A taster session at your local canoe club could lead to a more thorough course, and a safe way to discover the local waterways, and meet other families.
As you float down the idyllic river be aware of potential hazards such as submerged trees.
Like walking, canoe-ing lends itself to long conversations and contemplation as you become one with your surroundings, a knotty problem or a chance to tell jokes, it’s time. As with walking it combines exercise and time together.
It is an opportunity to explore the rivers and their wild life, herons, kingfishers, in a less intrusive way. It is not all hard core paddling, there are times of drifting and snacking.
Portage
Beware when planning your canoe trip of portage points where you are expected to carry your canoe.
River Grading
Once you have learnt the techniques find out about River grading (Grades 1 – 6) e.g. Grade 1 the river is moving without rocks or other hazards to avoid and without technical difficulties ….Up through 2,3,and 4, increasing waves and rapids to ….
Grade 5 These rives are extremely are difficult and require an exceptional amount of skill and experience to navigate. They are very demanding and include *stoppers , currents and powerful waves.
(*Stoppers are a form of water ‘hole’ or hollow in the water usually in the downstream side of a boulder or ledge.)
What floats your canoe or kayak or inflatable.
Kayaking is considered more ‘dynamic’ in kit and activity than canoe.
An inflatable canoe is considered robust and easily transportable. Most veterans estimate two adults or an adult and two small children (with not much kit) can be squeezed in an inflatable which fits into an estate car. Inflatable fans point out that it is easier to transport than the canoe.
Advocates of the Canadian canoe claim an inflatable is not as durable or stable as and transporting a hard canoe on the top of a car, is not that difficult.
Kayak-ers talk up their manoeuvrability and ability to carve through the water. They claim canoes, and SUPS particularly, are too exposed, with little space to store kit. Whereas a kayak is enclosed and more protected.
If you are sea kayaking learn about currents and tides. Don’t let a happy, sunny day turn into a cold, sleety day with the tides against you, or worse.
Signposts
Go onto http://www.britishcanoeing.org.uk
A sight full of useful information by enthusiasts is www.songofthepaddle.co.uk
The Canoe and Kayak Handbook: Handbook of the British Canoe Union by British Canoe Union.
Nigel Foster’s Kayaking for Beginners (Fernhurst) will take you through first paddles to Eskimo rolls.
https://fernhurstbooks.com/authors/98/foster_nigel
The UK Rivers Guide Book.co.uk gives good local knowledge.