Sadly this is my lowest mileage year in 6 years, just totaled my paddling from my garmin and it was 103 miles, I was getting worried I wasn't going to break 100 
How much have you paddled this year?
- Thread starter ABT
- Start date
Two and a half years ago, I attempted to start my chainsaw. As I pulled the rope, my back went out, pinching my sciatic nerve in my right leg causing my right foot to go partially numb. After seeing an orthepedic surgeon, going through physical therapy and weekly visits to my VA chiropractor, my right foot is still partially numb and will be for the rest of my life. I haven’t been canoeing since. My doctors said that I can go canoeing again. I just bought a new Wenonah Wilderness Solo Canoe and the doctors gave me an exercise program to rebuild my strength over the winter and spring to prepare me to go canoeing next summer. My goal over the next 2 summers is to canoe all of the lakes in the Swan Lake Canoe Trails, the Swanson River Canoe Trails and the Nancy Lakes Canoe Trails.
don't let numbness hold you back, I broke my back about 10 years ago and severed 5 nerves on my left side and severely crushed my sciatic nerve, at the best of times I can feel my big toe and inside of my heel, at the worst of times I can't feel anything below certain parts of my hip and thigh.
I still try to get out and paddle when I can, but now I use a "sherpa" (usually my daughter or son in law) and a canoe cart, the biggest hassles are 1) walking in the dark or low light- I now use 2 headlights (one around the neck) to illuminate the path and the ground because I discovered that without sensations you can't tell where your foot is or if the placement is stable, 2) my balance while standing is next to zero, but sitting in the canoe is no problem and I can rotate my pelvis and hips normally, the biggest problem 3) is getting in and out- for decades I've dispensed with placing my paddle across the gunwales and just stepped in, now I'm back to doing it the conventional way to add that third point for stability. getting out is a whole new ballgame- if there's a high enough dock or rock it's simply a matter of swinging my butt onto it , scooching back and standing up. Beaches sometimes require me to pull up parallel to it and log roll out, which often leaves you wet and sandy. The worst are low floating docks that move under you, essentially meaning you have to roll out, belly flop onto it, then crawl off because standing on a moving object is a no-go...
Everything is still doable, just in a different way, and I learned a very valuable lesson- carry a gallon of water and a change of clothes in the car- driving home covered in cobra chicken droppings is not good for either your sinuses, upholstery, or travel mates...
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