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I too was there, and had a lot of fun! I attended in hope of doing the following: Try out as many different canoe models as possible Connect with other solo canoeists Participate in the freestyle clinic (and hopefully improve my paddling technique) Maybe buy some paddling gear I succeeded at...

I agree with this advice—or, as @JohnSand, said, pick up a used paddle if you can find one. One with Sugar Island style blade ~7–8" wide and ~20–22" long should work well in most conditions and therefore would make an ideal first paddle; if, as you say, you want something you won't quickly grow...

Indeed, there was a lovely young couple with the Hemlock folks at WPASCR who told me that they intend to be Dave and Carol's successors; they said jokingly that Dave "will never retire" (which I assume to mean they can't imagine him being willing to fully step away as long as he's able to...

Welcome to the site, @FloridaJohn! Congrats on finding your canoe—and I think you'll find the Northwind Solo an excellent first solo canoe, especially once you start camping with it! Hope you'll share your adventures with us here!

I also would be interested in info. on that paddle if @Cheeseandbeans doesn't take it. I don't really need another ottertail, but it sure looks pretty, and if it supports a good cause...

Here’s a pic of one of the docks, in case it helps anyone in the future:

I can't help you re: the tendency to turn left, but when I'm doing a day trip with just a dry bag and me in the boat, I prefer the way my Yellowstone Solo (similar to your Phoenix) handles when I put the dry bag behind me rather than in front of me.

Indeed, it was great to meet you too, @Ripple! Let’s keep in touch!

@TXRiverRunner FYI in case you haven’t made your decision yet: REI and MSR (and likely other outdoor retailers too) are running great sales on tents (and other gear) from now through Memorial Day.

Update: trying a stronger antihistamine seems to have taken care of my symptoms, so happily, I will see you all there! I’m behind schedule by enough that I won’t make the suggested arrival time of 10:30, but I will be there by lunchtime, and I’ll be bringing a small package of brats and a bag of...

Glad to hear it, @Ripple, and hope to catch you another time, @Tsuga8! Unfortunately, I’ve been feeling unwell all day today; I’m hoping it’s just allergies, but that’s seeming increasingly unlikely 🙁 I’ll see how I’m feeling (and send an update) in the morning, but I may not be able to make...

The gathering is still on, though as of now I don’t know whether there’ll be anyone there but me! Just added you to the PM thread with the sign-up sheet.

I have an MSR Elixir 2 and have been quite pleased with it. It’s easy to set up and has many thoughtful design touches. In the same price range, the REI Half Dome SL 2+ is also really nice; my dad has its predecessor (the Half Dome 2+) and likes it a lot. For the price, it‘s fairly lightweight...

Not so—the article says that an approved bearproof food storage container is allowed as an alternative to hanging food! One would simply have to bring one (or more) of the containers from the approved list as a substitute for a blue barrel. Not convenient (or cheap), but much easier than hanging...

You didn’t ask for recommendations…but based on what you wrote above, I think you might like a Wenonah. I’ve tried a Wilderness, and it’s stable, has the volume/length you wished for in the Swifts, and has a height-adjustable seat that might help you stay comfortable. They also offer a nice...

I’ve seen a few RX Wildfire/Yellowstone Solos pop up with wood trim. The OEM decks look like this: Source Personally, I think they’re kinda ugly—IMO, a simpler, more triangular shape like any of the decks @TimG shared would look much sleeker!

The canoe looks gorgeous—love that orange color! Congrats!

Looks nice—it’s exciting to see this coming along, and I look forward to seeing the final results and hearing your impressions after your test paddle and your trip! As for your question about kneeling: I alternate between the two positions you describe. I think I find myself with my feet...

I installed kneeling drops from Northstar in my Yellowstone Solo (it came with sitting drops), and they are 2”/1”, which puts the front edge of my seat 9” and the rear edge 10” from the floor of the canoe. Like @eckilson, I have a flat seat in mine. My experience with the canoe’s stability with...

As promised, I have created a document with a tentative schedule and additional resources for those who may be interested in coming to the gathering; it is attached to this post. I also have created a sign-up sheet to help folks coordinate plans; since that is a document that folks can edit, I...