Hello to all,
I took my new canoe, a Navarro Legacy that I have named "Serenity Now", out for her first trip on a section of the Kankakee River near the Indiana/Illinois state line. While I stayed off the "90 mile ditch" that the Kankakee has become, I spent time in some of the original winding channels located in the LaSalle FWA. This area has a rich history, and as I paddled along the waterways I could see how difficult it had to be living here and why it was used as a "hideout" by so many. This being my first time in a canoe in 30 years, I found I was thankful I chose the Navarro Legacy, a 13 foot recreational canoe that is just beautiful to look at and paddle. It's wide width offered me the stability I was looking for as I learn how to canoe trip.
I started out against the current and wind. The going was slow, but I was in no hurry and I took in the sounds of the birds singing as I learned my paddle strokes. I took my Sawyer beavertail paddle with my BB Special as a backup and I think I could use a shorter length. I seemed to do much better paddling from my left side. Probably due to old injuries. While I bought a seat back with my canoe, I chose to go without for now to see what I will be missing when I use it. I carried a dry bag with a change of clothes and some water (working on my kit).
I had a great time, did some unwinding from some very tough times and learned to paddle until I notice some storm clouds approaching. A fisherman offered to help me load the canoe back onto the car and it is just so easy to take the canoe out. I'm glad I bought it!
Picture of one of the original channels of the Kankakee river.
I took my new canoe, a Navarro Legacy that I have named "Serenity Now", out for her first trip on a section of the Kankakee River near the Indiana/Illinois state line. While I stayed off the "90 mile ditch" that the Kankakee has become, I spent time in some of the original winding channels located in the LaSalle FWA. This area has a rich history, and as I paddled along the waterways I could see how difficult it had to be living here and why it was used as a "hideout" by so many. This being my first time in a canoe in 30 years, I found I was thankful I chose the Navarro Legacy, a 13 foot recreational canoe that is just beautiful to look at and paddle. It's wide width offered me the stability I was looking for as I learn how to canoe trip.
I started out against the current and wind. The going was slow, but I was in no hurry and I took in the sounds of the birds singing as I learned my paddle strokes. I took my Sawyer beavertail paddle with my BB Special as a backup and I think I could use a shorter length. I seemed to do much better paddling from my left side. Probably due to old injuries. While I bought a seat back with my canoe, I chose to go without for now to see what I will be missing when I use it. I carried a dry bag with a change of clothes and some water (working on my kit).
I had a great time, did some unwinding from some very tough times and learned to paddle until I notice some storm clouds approaching. A fisherman offered to help me load the canoe back onto the car and it is just so easy to take the canoe out. I'm glad I bought it!
Picture of one of the original channels of the Kankakee river.