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On Sunday, September 7, 2025, the NW CT group from this site met for our second day trip. It was on Twin Lakes in the the northwest corner of Connecticut, which are connected by a double-bridged channel and then drain down Schenob Brook. The paddlers were: Alex (@Tsuga8) in his new-to-him...

I believe I've paddled all the wetlands on this list, at least insofar as their names appear on maps or have been told to me by locals. But I'm not sure I can define and differentiate them. Can you help? Swamp Bayou Vly (a fairly common word in the Adirondacks) Marsh Bog Fen Muskeg Mire...

"Nothing says wilderness adventure like previewing your tent pad on a smartphone." "These days, it’s foolish to travel without reservations. Maybe the same is true for wilderness tripping. The go-where-the-wind-takes-you mentality has faded, a relic of the past, like John Wayne and his horse."...

The first NW CT bootleg day trip was held on Sunday, August 31, 2025. The trip lauched at Pond Brook, down to Lake Lillinonah (the dammed Housatonic River), and up the Shepaug River to lunch at Roxbury Falls. In attendance were Scott (@ScottS) in a dark green Wenonah Solo Plus, Keith...

Has anyone used the new ZRE "Revolution" paddle blade? If so, do you have an opinion as to how it compares to the Power Surge blade and original Z blade? The ZRE webpage says about this blade: "Our newest and most efficient blade to date designed by Bob Zaveral and tested by Serge Corbin. The...

On Sunday, September 7, 2025, I will be circumnavigating Twin Lakes—Washining Lake and Washinee Lake (meaning "laughing water" and "smiling water" in Mahican)—which are in the extreme northwest corner of Connecticut. The lakes are interconnected by a channel. This trip should be very accessible...

It's not canoeing, but it involves a long trip in a boat, on water, with manual propulsion, and it's news. Plus, they are Scottish and want pizza and beer, so that's close enough. "Three Scottish brothers set a world record Saturday for completing the fastest unsupported row across the full...

"In 2017 I was struggling to stay interested in canoeing. A few years earlier I had sold my canoes and then in 2016 had purchased a couple of Pack Boats which I soon realized didn’t suit how I wanted to paddle. I wasn’t sure what I wanted but knew it didn’t include a double bladed paddle or...

I will be paddling this Sunday, August 31, on a 9.5 mile round trip out of the Lake Lillinonah Pond Brook boat launch, which is at 158 Hanover Road, Newtown, Connecticut. I know there is water there, all flat water, and the weather is supposed to be good. The trip goes down Pond Brook Stream...

I'd like to gather an informal list of members from western Connecticut, southwestern Massachusetts and the mid-Hudson valley region of New York who may be interested in day trips in those areas. We have several members in that geography, and with some interesting canoes. I envision that...

On Saturday, August 23, I took a day trip with two kayakers on Winchester Lake and then Stillwater Pond, both in the northwest corner of Connecticut. Some photos.

Hans-Georg Wagner, a sculpturer and wood designer in eastern Germany (Cottbus), has been building beautiful plywood frame canoes since 1994 and paddles since 2004. First, is an overview video of the maiden voyage of a completed canoe, which Hans-Georg paddles with a combination of "Canadian...

This topic title is an obvious truism to me, but others seem to consider learning multiple boat control techniques to be optional or even frivolous. Well, I'll just describe my experience and state my opinions, mainly with respect to solo canoeing. Others can do the same, either agreeing or...

For those of you who have bought a canoe paddle recently and paid separate shipping costs, could you report what you paid and what carrier was used. You don't have to identify the paddle or the seller. For example, one member told me privately today that he paid $40 shipping for a wood paddle...

A nice traditional right side run of Lava Falls on the Colorado River in a solo Silverbirch Rebel in 2019:

I read that this possibly has been the worst wildfire season in recorded Canadian history. https://globalnews.ca/news/11324707/canadas-2025-wildfire-season-now-second-worst-on-record-fuelled-by-prairies-blazes/ The smoke is polluting the air in Canada and in many states in the U.S., including...

". . . the Ocoee has been a new solo canoe six times before—originally by Dagger for the 1993 World Rodeo Championships, Bell Canoe, Nova Craft Canoe, then in composite by Northstar Canoes, Empty Canoes and Echo Paddles. "As soon as Esquif Canoes founder and head designer Jacques Chassé began...

After resolving the Mystery of Rotated Images on this site, I went for quick paddle on nearby Candlewood Lake, which is the largest lake within 60 miles of New York City. It has variety. Launch from a beach that has other residents' canoes stacked up. A few summer homes have the usual...

I don't recall if this news has been posted, but I was just talking to Chad Swander at ZRE today and found out that Bob Zaveral sold the ZRE business in November 2024 to Chad. Chad has moved the business from New York to Grayling, Michigan. Bob Zaveral remains as a consultant of sorts and his...

This topic is whether there is any subjective or objective evidence, or even any reasonable beliefs, that bent shaft paddles are more efficient than straight shaft paddles (or vice versa). Ever since Gene Jensen invented the bent shaft paddle in the early 1970s, the flatwater racing community...