My issues aren't as much physical as mental, although carrying my 57 pound Jack's Special more than a few hundred meters is no longer possible and rotator cuff and bicep tendonitis on both shoulders/arms doesn't help much.
Since having a panic attack on a trip 3 years ago I have only been out on a weekend canoe trip once. In fact, I have not even been in a canoe this or last year. I found a new way to get out.
We have a friend who owns a fishing camp north of Ear Falls, Ontario and I spend 3 weeks there this year and have 3 weeks booked for next year. I traded a tent for a cabin with indoor plumbing and a canoe for a fishing boat, the one pictured below. I rent the boat. Christy and I go together in June and I go alone in August for 2 weeks. We help our friend Kim with chores around camp, like this August I spent a week brushing out the hill down to the lake. We trade off services for discounts.
I could paddle at Kim's, we gave her a Tremblay we restored a few years ago.
I am enjoying the new past time and not really missing sleeping on the ground, the middle of the night foray out of the tent to pee, moving every day, etc. I do miss opening ports and exploring new spaces but I can get the quality fishing now with more ease.
I'll get out again, but at this point I likely will sell the Swift Mattawa since Christy and I will likely never trip again tandem.
Karin