FIND FREEDOM IN A CANOE

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"'And you really live by the river? What a jolly life!' 'By it and with it and on it and in it,' said the Rat." (Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows)

PHOTOS BY THE AUTHORS AND MOTHER'S STAFF
[1] A car-top canoe carrier can be as simple as two rolled blankets and a couple of ropes. [2] Lash all your gear to the thwarts… so that nothing will be lost if the boat should capsize. [3] A 1- to 3-HP motor can be clamped to the side—near the stern—of the canoe (the putter shown here is an electric powerplant). [4] When boarding, the bow paddler climbs into position while the person who’ll sit in the stern steadies the craft. [5] Paddling requires teamwork, whether the canoe is pivoting among lily pads or… [6] gliding on a mirrorlike pond. [7] Because the pivot point of the craft is its center, the stern paddler (who is located farther from that than is the bow person) will have a greater effect on—and more control over—the line of travel.

Dennis and Judy Sizemore
Canoeists, like the Water Rat, know the joys of paddling on a lake or river, flowing along in harmony with the earth's natural forces and often enjoying glimpses of her untouched beauty that the shorebound never have a chance to view. Furthermore, waterways that are deep enough to accommodate motorized boats tend to be heavily trafficked . . . but narrow and twisting streams, broad flat swamps, and shallow inlets where only small craft can venture remain far more wild. And the canoe—with its quiet grace, speed, ease of handling, light weight, versatility, and relatively low cost—is the ideal boat for exploring such reaches.

If you're hankering for adventure, then, or simply want to enjoy the wonders of nature that can best be found off the beaten trail, canoeing could be your ticket to freedom. Learning how to handle one of the narrow, tippy vessels will take some practice, of course, but the following guidelines for choosing equipment and mastering the basic paddling techniques should put you on your way to becoming at ease on the water.

CHOOSING A CANOE
A new canoe of good quality will cost you a hefty $400 to $2,000, while a used one will run from $100 on up. So as a novice (see Fig. 1 so that you can talk like an expert) you'll want to rent your equipment until you're familiar with the various styles of craft and know which will best meet your specific needs. Check with camping stores or boat dealers for information on nearby canoe liveries.