Paddling a variety of craft makes us better paddlers, but we doubt we’d do as much of it if it wasn’t also fun. On Saturday, we took our new Wenonah Argosy solo canoes (purchased from The Power of Water) to play in some current below the Batavia dam with our friend Greg Anderson.
Greg and Alec enjoy a break in an eddy below the Batavia dam.
This stretch of the Fox river provides fast current and strong eddy lines, along with shallow areas for poling, and slow sections for working on basic skills. It also has plenty of protected spots along the shoreline, which we might have needed on a day like this, when the forecast included the possibility of heavy thunderstorms.
Sharon prepares to ferry across the current.
Greg attains a rapid by poling.
Why should people who primarily kayak spend time in canoes? We find everything applies, from balance and trim to blade awareness. But it’s also great to be challenged in relatively mild conditions and feel ourselves learning new skills. It’s fun to be a relative beginner again.
Alec and his mom in a SKUK Triton double kayak.
On Sunday, we borrowed an SKUK Triton performance double kayak and took Alec’s 82-year-old mother out on Lake Michigan. Unlike the wide, heavy, plastic doubles we’ve paddled in the past, the Triton is a relatively slim 22.5 inches wide and the cockpits feel similar to those of other Nigel Dennis boats, allowing us to paddle quite naturally. Best of all, it didn’t matter whether or not the person in front paddled at all. The long keel line makes this double fast with just one “engine” in the rear.
Alec and his mom enjoy an out-of-boat experience more than a mile offshore.
We always feel fortunate when we’re out on the lake, and we appreciate opportunities to share our excitement about paddling and the places it lets us experience.
