November 11, 2009
- Get A Canoe Stabilizer To Go Solo
A canoe stabilizer can also be know as an outrigger. There are a few canoes that come with stabilizers standard. The bellow article talks about getting the canoe stabilizer you need.
November 10, 2009
- Kayaking & Canoeing: Cutting Through the Silky Waters of Vietnam
Vietnam has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world with water path that slithers through the country. Kayakers and canoeists will find the waters of Vietnam some of the best spots to glide because of the natural beauty and wonders. Also, the activity is popular amongst tourist so facilities are easily available.
Some of the more popular spots in Vietnam for kayaking and canoeing are Halong Bay. With the many islets, lagoons, unspoiled beaches and hidden caves to discover, it is bound to satisfy even the most experienced paddlers. Another popular spot for paddling is the ever popular Mekong River that runs through Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Explore the narrow canals and the famous floating market in Vietnam. Having a bowl of hot pho before going on your way is considered a norm at the Mekong. If you wish to stay overnight on the delta, the local garden houses is a great place to check in for the night with your paddles. Other kayaking spots to list are Ba Be lake in the Ba Be National Park and Nang Lake which are also great locations for anyone who is keen on hiking.
Glide through the serene waters of Vietnam while discover the hidden gems of the country that is out of the beaten tracks. Because kayaking and canoeing are fast becoming a popular activity in Vietnam, interested kayakers and canoeist can rent their gear or even have a full scale paddling tour arrange as soon as they arrive in Ho Chih Minh city.
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November 9, 2009
- Russian River Canoe Trip Ideal For Families
People of all ages will enjoy a gentle canoe trip down the Russian River, one of California's most scenic bodies of water.
The Russian River flows through such famous Wine Country destinations as Geyserville and Healdsburg before it makes its way out to the sea through gentle hills covered with thick redwood forests and teaming with rare birds and other wildlife. About a 10-mile stretch of the river from Forestville to Guerneville is ideal for calm-water canoeing or kayaking and a local company called Burke's Canoe Trips helps make it even easier by providing canoes, kayaks and a shuttle service that will return you to your car near Forestville.
The Russian River, in this case, is not exactly the "rushin'" river. If you're looking for a lot of fast water and river rapids, there are other California rivers that will fill that bill, but not this one. In fact, the water here is so tame that it's really not all that good for inner-tubing because in some parts you can't keep enough forward motion without a lot of paddling. For that reason, canoes and kayaks — which seem to glide over the water with little effort — are ideal.
It's not that you won't get a few thrills. As the people from Burkes' Canoes told us, there is just enough fast water to make things interesting. There are a few points in the river where channels of current can carry you into tree branches along the shore, or get your canoe turned around in a whirlpool if you don't guide your canoe to the right area. But the good news is that, even if you flip, the water's relatively warm, not very deep and you'll be carried forward to a calm area in literally just seconds.
We opted for a canoe on our trip down the river and were advised to keep all of our cameras or anything that could be water-damaged in a safe water-tight plastic bag. We also had been told to wear our swim suits, and were required to wear lightweight life-preservers. Looking at the calm water near the launch area, it almost seemed silly to worry about flipping over and we were wondering why there was so much emphasis on preparing to get wet.
We put a cooler full of drinks and sanwiches in our canoe and set off somewhat tentatively on our journey. Canoes are inherently unstable - at least if you haven't been around them for awhile - and it took us a few minutes to get comfortable with our balance and to get some confidence we could maneuver properly. But alas, our Boy Scout training soon kicked in just fine even though it had been decades - and probably a 20 percent weight gain — since we had last put paddle to water.
Within about two minutes we faced our first challenge - avoiding a fairly fast river current pushing everything toward the wooded right shore. We aimed our canoe to the left bank, paddled quickly and managed to coordinate our front and rear paddles just enough to avoid the hazard. It wasn't a perfect approach, but it was a confidence builder. We looked forward to honing our paddling skills as we faced new challenges further down the river.
Soon we were into a calm stretch of water, barely moving but only requiring a gentle paddle to keep making good forward progress. This was when we really started to take in the natural beauty of the river - the thick forests of giant trees and the continuous ballet performed by the birds of the Russian River such as the Great Blue Heron and osprey. Along the way we would see turtles and deer as well. We also enjoyed paddling by the charming vacation cabins that are perched above the river in many strategic locations along this stretch of the Russian. Spectacular bridges span the river at various points although most of this float was away from the highway, making it feel even more remote than it actually is.
We spent the next four hours or so alternating between negotiating some of the stronger currents - or what you might call very small rapids — and quietly paddling on a beautiful blue-sky spring day. We stopped only for a few minutes to have a sandwich on a spectacular sandy beach - although we're told most people linger at these beaches to swim, sunbathe and just hang out with their fellow travelers for hours on end.
After mastering maybe a dozen fast-current bottlenecks and with less than a few hundred yards to go to our finish, we were feeling supremely confident that we had regained the canoeing prowess of our youth. And then the unthinkable happened: we flipped. We had run aground in some shallow water and momentarily forgot that you don't dislodge a canoe by shifting your weight. Yes, we did get a little wet, but we weren't really cold on this bright sunny day and we were able to retrieve our belongings in short order.
Our pride was wounded. But we did feel better later when the Burke's Canoe people told us that fully one half of their customers flip at some point along this seemingly calm and idyllic stretch of river.
Nearby accommodations
Back in our car, we now drove the 10 miles back down to Guerneville where we would spend the night. With parks and trails and redwood scenery all just minutes from downtown, Guerneville is a popular destination for outdoors enthusiasts as well as those who love the charm of colorful small towns. Guerneville has a quiet Main Street - much busier on weekends - that offers a number of crafts shops and hometown restaurants. We enjoyed taking a couple of drives outside of town to places like Armstrong Woods with its trails through deep redwood forests. Many visitors drive just a few miles down to Jenner where the Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean.
We spent the night at the West Sonoma Inn and Spa, a stylish group of buildings at the edge of Guerneville where the resort takes advantage of the natural redwood scenery and nearby vineyard views. The innkeepers here have gone the extra mile in providing a lot of extras for guests that often are not found in small-town lodging facilities - plush beds, fireplaces, granite counter tops, wet bars, private decks and mini-kitchens. Our unit was unusually spacious and, because of a more spread-out configuration, each unit seemed quite private and very quiet. Grounds were richly landscaped and maintained.
A light European breakfast is offered at the West Sonoma Coast Inn that includes gourmet organic coffee, juice, fresh fruit and pastries. Prices at the inn start at less than $100 which, today, is a bargain in a highly desirable tourist area. That's especially true when you realize that the inn is considered by many to among the best and most luxurious lodging options in Guerneville.
AT A GLANCE
WHERE: The Russian River is in Sonoma County and the put-in point for Burke's Canoe Trips is about 70 miles northwest of San Francisco.
WHAT: Burke's Canoe Trips have been popular with couples and groups of all sizes for decades and are self-guided trips down a 10-mile stretch of the Russian River. The company furnishes the canoe and safety gear and then picks you up in their shuttle bus at the end of your trip, near Guerneville.
WHEN: The trips start each year at the end of May and continue throughout the summer. Weather is generally sunny and in the 80's.
WHY: Russian River canoe trips are a great way to see river scenery in a spectacular part of California where you'll enjoy both redwood forests and abundant wildlife. It's also a social experience since many people do the trip in groups.
HOW: For more information on Russian River canoe trips, phone 707-887-1222 or visit www.burkescanoetrips.com. Burke's Canoes charges $58 per canoe for use of the canoe, safety gear and pick up on the company shuttle. For more information on the West Sonoma Coast Inn, phone 1-800-551-1881 or visit www.westsonomainn.com.
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November 8, 2009
- How to Choose Between a Canoe or a Kayak
If you’ve thought about purchasing a recreational boat to do some paddling with your family or friends, it can sometimes be a tough choice as to whether to get a canoe or a kayak. There are certain points to consider before you make this decision.
Canoe or Kayak?
Whether or not you purchase a canoe or a kayak is completely a personal choice. Both offer an environmentally friendly and affordable way to get out and enjoy the water. There are advantages and disadvantages to both so it is up to you to decide what kind of boat will work best for you.
Facts about Canoes
- Canoes are versatile and are good boats for lots of different types of fun. However though they are good for a lot of things – they are not great at anything.
- Canoes can be very comfortable. Usually there is lots of space in a canoe so there is room to stretch out your legs, maneuver around, load up lots of gear, sit or even kneel if you want to.
- Canoes are very easy to get in and out of. Many older folks will enjoy a canoe simply because of their stability. They are very easy to get in and out of whether you are in or out of the water.
- Canoes are an open concept boat and therefore they will often let in a lot of water. It is not uncommon to be bailing excess water out of a canoe.
- Canoes can get caught by the wind. Often times canoes ride quite high up and can be very light. They are very susceptible to being swayed and pulled by the wind which can make paddling an awful lot of work.
Facts about Kayaks
- Kayaks are much sleeker than canoes. Their sleek style allows them to paddle further, faster and without much trouble from the wind. They are capable of plowing through just about any weather condition and any type of water.
- Kayaks will often keep you much dryer. Many kayaks have closed cockpits and even sprayskirts in order to keep the water out. There are many open concept kayaks especially with inflatable kayaks that will let in more water. Often times though they will have a drain valve that makes it very easy to let the water out quickly and effortlessly.
- There are many different types of kayaks from recreational kayaks to whitewater kayaks to expedition sea kayaks. Whether hard-shelled or with an inflatable, there are lots of choices.
- Kayaks use a double ended paddle which allows for much more control, much more speed and a lot of fun.
Final Thoughts… Canoe or Kayak?
The choice is truly up to you. For me there is nothing like the thrill of a kayak. I find them to be much more versatile and a million times more fun to paddle. Canoes are a little more laid back, a little more relaxed and a lot slower. So in the end, it comes down to what kind of boat will work best for you and what you will mostly be using it for. If you still can’t decide, you may need to take each one for a test drive and find out which one simply feels right.
November 7, 2009
- Getting The Best Canoes At A Good Price
People who love to kayak will inform you there is nothing more significant than getting the best kayaks. Though, this is not as simple as pick out a original auto, you do not simply choose a good looking vessel and get it for a test row. It is better to find at least some factors for choosing a kayak before you go shopping.
The best kayaks will have a combination of features. Each of these should naturally be weighed against the use you will get out of the canoe ; however, here are the areas you'll want to pay nearest attention to.
For many folks price will be the overall determining factor when choosing the best canoes. Times have been difficult recently and most are watching his or her money a bit closer nowadays. Before you even leave home, you must work out what you might afford and set the budget for your canoe accordingly . This will mean sacrificing in some areas, but it is still an important first task.
Whether you are new to canoeing or have done it all your life you should be next engaged with the vessels overall stability. For people new to canoeing the best canoes will be those that are very stable at first. If you are a seasoned kayaker, you can want something with more final stability so you can gain more speed. Still other people will want something between these two ; stability is based on what you are comfortable with.
The next thing you'll want to look into is the sturdiness of the craft. Canoes are made out of many differing kinds of materials including plastic, fiberglass, wood and even Kevlar. Some of the best canoes are made from this last material ; however, you can expect to pay a premium price for your bulletproof canoe.
when you have narrowed your selections to a couple of the best canoes you can further hone in on the ideal craft by considering the upkeep cost of each. Some materials are highly sturdy and will last for some time to come ; other materials will be less expensive in the start but have extremely high upkeep.
Storage will be a worry for upkeep issues as well, if you have very little space for storing for example, you may choose an inflatable that can easily be let down and stored on a shelf. On the other hand, if you have got a big storage building you could go for a more authentic wooden canoe. Or maybe you want the benefit of a folding canoe, the best kayaks for your storage wants is very much relative.
eventually, you have to determine where you will be doing the majority of your canoeing. The best kayaks for sea trips will not necessarily be the best canoes for streams or streams. There are in a different way manufactured canoes for most types of water and there are several that are multipurpose, it will all be up to your personal preference.
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