Paddling in June

Has anyone else felt like their mojo has been off in 2023? June was the month I started paddling for the year... which is two or three months later than usual. I'm sure I could come up with excuses for this, but I won't waste your time. The important thing is that I'm finally driving around with plastic boats strapped to the top of my car, and I'm occasionally putting them in the water.

As someone who prefers flatwater paddling, I have a few regular spots outside of the city that I like to put in. That means that I can be in the water in 30-45 minutes from leaving my house. Sure there are closer locations... but we all have favorite spots for a reason, right? My favorites have changed over the years, and now I have a 'secret spot' that I've only shown to a few people. After all, the curse of any outdoor activity is that your favorite places are doomed to become overrun with people who don't respect them in the way that you do.

Unfortunately, this is also the time of year when we catch random storms many afternoons (as you can see from the photo above). A few tips from a paddler who has been caught up in a storm or two...

1) Always check the weather before you go out! Keep a reliable weather app on your phone, and keep your phone with you (preferably in a waterproof case or Ziploc bag).

2) If there's the slightest chance of bad weather, choose a location that will afford you a chance to pull out of the way and find shelter or (better yet) get back to your car quickly. This means that lakes are better than rivers...

3) Use your senses! When I worked in EMS we were constantly told to practice situational awareness. This is just a fancy way of saying that you should keep your eyes and ears open. Hear a rumble in the distance, notice the wind picking up, or feel the temperature dropping? A storm is probably on it's way. Turn around and head back to your launch site.

4) The weather can change quickly and a plastic boat in the middle of open water is no place to be when it does. Take it from someone who has been caught in torrential downpours multiple times... you want the water to stay under your boat, not inside it! Always keep a bailing sponge, bucket, or towel in your kayak or canoe in case you do find yourself accumulating water.

If you find yourself wondering about my favorite places to paddle... well, I'm not sure I'm ready to share those with the internet just yet. After all, I want to hold onto those peaceful waters as long as I can. That said, if you want to reach out and potentially meet up for a paddle... maybe I'll let you in on the secrets... maybe.