Comments | akawil: Mucking about in boats

akawil

Mucking about in boats

Jul 04, 2005 23:09

This past weekend, ladymondegreen and I went to Northampton to visit my mother.

On Saturday, since it was a gorgeous day, Mom and her boyfriend G. suggested we go canoeing. This seemed like an entertaining prospect, so we agreed.

( Adventures on, and in, the Connecticut River )

Comments 4

ladymondegreen July 4 2005, 21:13:16 UTC

For the record, I do know how to get water of the canoe when it's been turned over, but I was holding onto a branch, and trying to catch all the things in the canoe (including my oar) as they floated rapidly downstream. I did manage to keep my hat, my sunglasses and my oar, as well as four out of the five water bottles, which I had to tie into the water-filled plastic bag, while in the current. While holding onto the oar, and the branch.

Thankfully I was able to pull myself along about twenty feet onto a log and get stable while I waited for everyone to stop mucking about.

chanaleh July 5 2005, 08:06:48 UTC

Wow! Makes my recent canoeing adventure sound utterly... well, never mind that, it was already utterly placid. :-} I'd actually have traded you one or two notches of excitement.

In fact: where was the marina/canoe rental in question? I'd been looking for canoeing options along the Connecticut River, before we ended up deciding to go north this time.

akawil July 5 2005, 08:23:41 UTC

It's in Hadley, just at the base of the Coolidge Bridge across from Northampton.

Judging by Google Maps, it looks like it's probably Sportsman's Marina, though their web page isn't very helpful.

tayefeth July 5 2005, 16:43:05 UTC

Please excuse the snickering from over here. LMG clearly failed to explain what "I'll steer" means in a canoe. It means "You will sit in the bow and do what I tell you to do." Just, you know, FYI, in case she relents and you go canoeing again.

Canoes are actually remarkably stable, up to a point. Past that point, there's not much you can do to prevent them from capsizing. Sadly, one of the easiest ways to get past that point is to lean out and try to grab a branch. frutbat lost a pair of glasses to the Delaware River when his bowman did that, many moons ago.

If you want an unstable watercraft, try a kayak.;-)