Canoeing-A First

 Today my wife and I went canoeing.  It was the first time for me and it's been a very long time since she's done it.  We did an eight mile route.  All was good until the guy in front of us caused us to get caught in an undertow caused by a log jam.  Before we knew what happened we flipped the canoe.  That current was really strong.  Fortunately we were able to stand up and touch the bottom of the creek.  Another canoeist helped me drag the canoe to shore and get all of the water out.  Getting caught in the undertow and being pulled under water and into the log jam sucked and was scary but I'd go back and do it again....hopefully with a better result next time.

I'm writing about this because canoeing is not something that we would have done four months ago.  I'm starting to do things that I've never done and I'm enjoying that hell out of doing so.  I feel like I've been given the chance to have a new life and I'm going to try to live that life to the fullest.  Rock on y'all.

Duane 

Awesome Duane -ain't it great to be able to actually do things instead of just wishing you could? Proud for ya brother!

 Thanks Bob.  Are things going better for you and your family now healthwise?

Duane

Things I would never do before.  Get up in the middle of tall trees (being careful) and pruning branches.  Also checking for problems on the roof.  Little things most people take for granted.

 I know, isn't it amazing the ways that WLS has changed things for us that we may never even have thought of?

Duane

Canoeing!  May have to try that one myself.

 You guys should do it!  It was really fun.  One of the other things that I've never done that I really want to do is skydive.  I'd really like to skydive at least once.

Duane

One of the other things that I've never done that I really want to do is skydive.

More power to you Duane but you are on your own for that one! 

woah! boy! way to go! Canoeing? Havent done that in years myself. i am like you living life to the fullest, and anymore i see those who are so overweight, and i think back to myself as to how i was and taking that step when i did. this morning had a big FART......took up another belt notch and feels so good. Keep a moving!

K 

Rather than canoeing, I would suggest that any one here go out on sit-on-top kayaks.  They are not as restrictive as regular kayaks and if you flip them you can easily get back on top.  Be sure to bring along a water-tight tethered bag for any valuables.  Many of them have hatches for that purpose.  These kayaks are far more stable than canoes.  You sit low in them and have a low center of gravity.  Although renting a canoe may be cheaper, you may want to look at a tandem kayak if there are two of you and costs are a problem.  Always have the better paddler sit in the back--if the front paddler is wasting strokes or simply using bad techniqe the person in the rear wil be able to use corrective strokes and steer the kayak.

Also, learning to paddle correctly with a kayak is a lot easier than learning proper paddle techniques for a canoe.  I used to kayak a lot before I gained a lot of weight.  You can even have a lot of fun paddling on fla****er such as lakes, ponds, and slow moving streams.  Jus****ch out for jerks on some motor boats especially some of people on personal watercraft.  They're not all bad but I remember being on a secluded section of a bay and have a few of them just riding circles around me trying to flip me.

Here in NJ, we have extensive coastal areas, the Delaware & Raritan Canal and several small rivers and lakes to enjoy.