Recent content by Alan Gage

Iowa requires registration for anything over 12' as I recall (another reason for short kayaks being so popular). You're also supposed put the registration sticker on your canoe as well as unique hull ID numbers at least 3" tall, just like a power boat. Minnesota, just a few miles north, has...

Pretty unbelievable stuff. Thanks for continuing to fight the good fight. I was a little dubious of your plan to cut down on spam registrations but it certainly has done the trick so far and my quality of life is much higher because of it. Alan

I'm sure you'll be fine come spring. Even if your technique suffered I've found that with most things it doesn't take much conscious effort to fix a new muscle pattern into your brain. After a couple outings I'm sure you will have adjusted well to the canoe stroke. And all the fitness you'll be...

Cool photo. The one in the stern looks like a young man to me. Alan

I've never used a paddle erg so I don't know how it compares to real life. I was doing some reading on them the other day and opinions seemed to be mixed. Some paddlers liked them, some hated them, and some where in the middle. The general consensus I saw was that a paddle erg is a good workout...

I'm not voting because it's unlikely I would attend anything more than a couple hours away and maybe even not then. I've never attended Canoecopia but did attend Midwest Moutaineering's spring event in Minneapolis a few times. Like Canoecopia it had been a long standing tradition but it was...

I bet many married canoeists would argue with that. "I'm going on a canoe trip. See you in a month, babe. What's that? No, I won't have any cell reception so I won't be able to call or check in. You won't be able to get ahold of me if there is a problem either. If you haven't heard from me in...

My Seattle Sombrero blew out of the back of my canoe while crossing a windy lake. I didn't think it was that big of a deal at the time but I didn't realize that 1 1/2 weeks of rain and cold were too ensue and I sure missed it. I think that's the only thing I've lost. I've found more than I've...

Sorry to hear that. Hope you guys find a good road trip with lots of stops for french fries. Alan

I'm thinking that sex might be the best way to recruit new paddlers to canoeing. Come to think of it maybe that has something to do with the proliferation of kayaks. Lots of good looking young women paddling kayaks. A lot of curmudgeonly old men paddling canoes. Not hard to figure out why young...

Lest we forget.

Good post and good points. Tandem is pretty much a no-go for me. I just don't know anyone locally that likes to paddle that much (in a canoe) so solo became my default. On the rare occasions I would find someone to paddle tandem they were generally just interested in having a fun paddle rather...

I haven't been there in 20 years but the reversing falls in Pembroke has a little used and free campsite in a nice location. You could easily set up camp and spend a few days day tripping from there. I liked that part of the coast the two times I went to Maine. Quiet and not a touristy feel at...

With the amount of rain New Mexico has been receiving this monsoon season it looks like it might be a good time to paddle the Gila. Water level appears to have been at the low end of paddleable level for a while now with a recent large spike in the last couple days. It seems that the headwaters...

I've never paddled on an erg but I can see that being the case. Sounds like you have zone 2 covered with rucking though so that's good. With the amount of time you're planning to put in on the erg I hope paddling an actual canoe will feel easy in comparison. Sounds like you've got a good plan...