Absolutely Power boaters, touristy paddlers, and most everyone else is gone. Very quiet and serene unless the wind is howling, at which time I may reassess.
always… it’s rained here for the last 2 summers. isn’t that why they have dry tops , sprayskirts etc… so you can still get out there. i just figure that these individuals are really not into it that’s all. oh well, more wide open space for those of us who are.
once in gear It’s no issue, even kinda neat the way it changes sound and textures. Plus I am going to be getting wet soon enough anyway. But I do not enjoy dealing with the boat/gear before hand. One day I’ll have a big enough garage…
Most beautiful moment My most beautiful moment paddling occured on a nearby lake in the summer. On the way back to the boat launch we go caught in a rain. All the boats were gone and we were all alone floating on this body of water which was so still and straight and dotted by raindrops that it almost looked like an asphalt parking lot in the rain. Very surreal.
I love paddling in our FL thunderstorms. …IF I’m surrounded by tall trees in a creek or narrow river. It lets you know you’re alive by knowing how close you can be to death. Of course I refuse to do it in an aluminum canoe (mine is fiberglass) or use an aluminum pole (mine is wood) when a T-sorm may be a possibility for the day or evening paddle. I’ll take chances but I have no death wish.
I’ve been in rain so heavy I couldn’t bail out the canoe fast enough. Then again at the time I had to use two discarded beer cans due to a child losing my bailer. I was glad the storms were coming in bands. If it were constant we wouldn’t have made it back.