A Newbie Journal - Great New Discoveries
by Sherri Blifford
Kelley learns to paddle a canoe.
Click on image to enlarge.
The past two months have been full of great discoveries. A lot of what we learn on the water carries over to other parts of our lives, even flying canoes.
How NOT to buy a canoe or kayak. This was May’s big discovery when I tried out my inflatable kayak on the Brazos River Trip. I won’t say it was a disaster but it was pretty funny.
I told my friends I didn’t need to borrow a boat or “bum” a tandem ride since this was the perfect place to try out my inflatable wonder. Fortunately Dana, Mary, Paul, and Ron are extraordinary friends. They checked the weather, the river flow, and the wind before our trip. They then calculated how long I’d last and what they could do to make sure I was safe. I suspect they placed some bets on my longevity but no one will admit it.
We started out by sliding into the water. No, we weren’t doing a “seal” entry where a paddler gets into the kayak and drops seal-like into the water. Most of us just unintentionally slid down the slippery bank and landed unceremoniously in the water before we ever got near a boat. Got to keep up my muddy knees image, I guess. I got into my kayak and sat on my knees. That put all the weight dead center and the ends promptly “tacoed” (i.e., the ends folded up like a taco shell). Whoosh. Down into the mud. Got out, re-arranged the seating, and got back in only to discover that the seat slides a lot, offering no back support. It’s also not more than a couple of inches high so now my legs are straight out in front of me. As the seat slid backward and I strained to sit up straight, I felt muscles best forgotten rebelling. I had sort of an ab machine for paddling.
Whee, this is fun. The little craft bounces around and it’s just one step above riding a tube. It’s also about as easy to maneuver, unless you want to go in one specific direction. I paddled on ahead, playing with it and feeling the way it handled. By the time everyone else got launched, I had done the equivalent of 50 sit-ups. Then we started paddling down the river for real. Bravely forth, I thought, waving off the others. They grinned and left me in their dust.
By lunchtime, I knew I was in trouble but – and I know this will come as a great surprise - I tend to be a bit stubborn. The sunscreen had washed off. Legs rarely uncovered were bright crimson. I was hot, tired, and aching. But I was going to paddle to the end.
Then my friends quietly launched their reserve plan. Dana took the deflated boat with him. Ron took the deflated paddler with him. They all stifled the “I told you so” stuff, tempting as it must have been.
So, herewith, is great discovery #1 for May:
Don’t shop on the Internet at 2 AM. What seems perfectly sensible then (especially after a few refreshments with friends) may be insane six hours later in the harsh light of day. I really wanted my very own boat. I wanted something I could store in a small condo and handle all by myself, giving me the freedom to go paddling on impulse. Conventional wisdom says you borrow or rent various types of canoes to see the variation in designs and you should never paddle alone. Stubbornness netted me a nice play toy that can’t do trips with real canoes.
Discovery #2: Be prepared for portages. The next great discovery was how a portage works. In my fantasy and limited experience, all put-ins and takeouts were on nice sites with a short walk to the vehicle. At Stephen F. Austin State Park, I was introduced to reality with a long, uphill portage. Lesson learned was about carrying gear, neatly stowed in one pack, preferably with straps. I needed a long walk for exercise, anyway. That’s why I made three trips, right?
Discovery #3: Aloe heals. That night, I headed back to Houston miserable and called a friend to whine. He greeted me with a bowl of ice cooling down big pieces of aloe plant. Forget the stuff at the drugstore in a jar. Slit the aloe lengthwise and put it on a sunburn for instant relief.
Discovery #4: Safety in numbers. By June, I had learned a lot about paddling and was feeling brave enough to take my niece on her first paddle. See the picnic story for my niece Kelley’s reaction to paddling and the alligator. I borrowed a canoe – a real one, this time – and we tied it on my car with foam blocks. I wanted the smallest, shortest, lightest one. Fortunately, Don Greene had enough experience to explain to me why I needed a nice stable, wide boat that was easy to handle.
The trip to Huntsville State Park was easy and I was proud of my independence. On the ride home, Kelley started shouting when she spied the rear foam blocks flying loose. We pulled off to the shoulder, with canoe teetering precariously while trucks careened by us. I pushed the blocks back into position. They slid back out in less than a mile.. Feeling very alone (we had left the party early) my confidence was shaken until a whole bunch of cars and trucks with canoes pulled over on the shoulder to help, Thank all of you who stopped. It was most reassuring. A few expert yanks of the ropes and we made it safely home, although very late.
At least I stayed in the boat and didn’t capsize it on water or off the car. Now I need to go shopping for a bigger car with a rack. I don’t want to be remembered as the one who had the flying canoe when I do the Sabine trip on Labor Day.

See you on the river.