Ah, those were the days. Young. Strong. Time. Cross-continent travel. Base camping. Day paddles. No plan.
Pictured several times before, this was my "travel kit" for many years: My 1997 Dodge van conversion, in which I'd travel, sleep and cook, and on top of which semi-permanently resided my Lotus Caper canoe, Surge sea kayak and Huki V1-B outrigger (now living in Nantucket).
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Oh . . . just ONE boat? (You mean aside from the surf ski I wouldn't mention on this site.)
Well, that's easy. Because a canoe that can paddle anywhere, in any kind of water, with more than reasonable speed and maneuverability, and with a tough but light-enough SK layup, is exactly why I bought my omnicompetent, and almost omnipotent, Hemlock SRT.
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But now I'm less young, less strong, don't paddle significant whitewater, and don't take many gear-laden or overnight trips anymore.
So, for my day tripping month in the PNW next year, I'd now take a much lighter and liftable solo canoe that is pretty fast, pretty stable and quite competent in flat, quiet, quick and windy waters all—joining
@gumpus in a Swift Keewaydin 15, which in my case is a 29 lb. Carbon Fusion laminate.
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All the featured foci in the last picture above plan on being, not in the PNW, but at the WCHA Assembly in Paul Smiths, NY, next week.
