Customer Reviews (2)

Canoe camping reality adventure
A leisurely canoe trip across the North American continent.Hey honey let's take the kids.It'll be fun! X-treme eco challenge for the whole family.No one can be voted out of the boat. What are you goig to do.....leave one of the kids beside the river 1000 miles from home? They are all survivors!Did I mention they almost beat the French canoe racing team that was attempting to set a new record.Awesome!I guess they were in a hurry to get back before school started in the fall.What did you do on your summer vacation?I've canoed Texas, Washington, and Minnesota but nothing like this. I borrowed this book; Now I want my own copy.Do you want to feel alive, get closer to your wife and family, or maybe just bond a little with Mother Nature. Let the Shepardsons show you how as they take you along on The Family Canoe Trip.If you like Camping, Canoeing or Adventure Irecomend you read this book.

A great book about an epic 6000 mile paddle with kids!
The Shepardsons (including their children, Tina, 8, and Randy, 5) had thedetermination and skills not only to undertake paddling from New Hampshireto Alaska, but to succeed at it! As fellow paddlers, my husband and Ienjoyed reading their story on a much shorter canoe camping trip with ourson, Matt (3 1/2), in the Adirondacks.Their trip, however, covered a hugevariety of terrains from relative civilization to northern mountains andtundra.This book almost makes you want to be there despite the inevitablehardships and mishaps.It is spellbinding. ... Read more

Product Description
A Comprehensive Paddling Guide to Flat-Water Ponds, Lakes, Streams and Rivers in Western New York

Slide the bow of your canoe or kayak across the shore of a grass-lined pond or the gravel shore of a stream. Dip your paddle into the cool, still water and glide downstream to enjoy the solitude and explore hidden pools and alcoves. Perhaps search for pitcher plants in a sphagnum moss bog, watch fish dart below your boat or spot a deer standing in the creek around the next bend. The discoveries are almost endless from water level.

Take a Paddle – Western New York Quiet Water for Canoes & Kayaks is a map-filled guide for beginning and intermediate paddlers. And for anyone who enjoys the pleasures of a flat-water paddle. It will lead you to 20 ponds and small lakes and over 250 miles of streams and rivers.

Head out for a fun adventure knowing:
-where multiple launch and take-out sites are located
-the difficulty level of each waterway
-where to view current water conditions on the Internet
-the approximate time it will take to paddle
-amenities and fun diversions found nearby for yourself and your children
-where to camp next to or near the waterway
-when is the best season to paddle each waterway
-where to rent canoes or kayaks
-where to find commercial shuttle services ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Outstanding work
My wife and I bought this book and our canoe in the same week.
Coincidence? I don't think so. This book overs families a great chance to get outside and share time together.
The rating system is outstanding and the directions are great.
This is the type of book that screams out for a second volumn I would gladly volunteer to be a guest contributor should the authors ever decide to do a second volumn.

Covers more than 250 miles of flat-water creeks and rivers
Take A Paddle: Western New York Quiet Water For Canoes & Kayaks is a comprehensive, superbly presented, specialized guide for canoe and kayaking enthusiasts. Detailing multiple launch and take-out sites; identifying waterway difficulty levels; providing approximate times to paddle from one point to another; noting amenities and fun diversions suitable for families with children; showing where to camp; what the best season for paddling each waterway; even where to rent canoes or kayaks or find commercial shuttle services, Take A Paddle: Western new York Quite Water For Canoes Kayaks covers more than 250 miles of flat-water creeks and rivers, as well as 20 ponds and lakes. Included are Livingston, Monroe, Steuben, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Erie, Chautauqua, Genesee, Orleans, and Niagara counties. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Bible among Boat Books!
I simply cannot believe no one has reviewed this remarkable book here yet. Where would anyone start....? perhaps that was the problem. Well, to start, this is a book has the aura of a work written in a time when you marked your intellectual territory and explored it thoroughly like a lost continent, gave it the most of your life.The travel, the endless note-taking, the sifting of sources, the drawings.... Yet it was a never a lost world, it was old, it had its technologies and accomplishments to stand alongside a trip to Mars. In this book find the "space ships" at the end of an evolution of a thousand or two thousand years or more.The European explorers stumbled upon islands and found people whose canoes could sail closer to the wind than their own, without the aid of metal tools, metal fastners, rope walks.Give the Pacific people some vegetable fiber, a log, a weavable tree-leaf, a shell, and the gathered know-how of hard voyaging, desperation, lost-at-seas, and joyous landfalls, and they express the material thinking of the human combining the solution of technical problems with the ritual and aesthetic.Where they could, they produced outrigger canoes of beauty that will seem strange and stunning to the Western reader. Where they could not, as on the resource-depleted Easter Island, they still nearly came up with something from nearly nothing.There now, I did what I could. If you call yourself a sailor, you need to see this book. You may read some straight through, but mostly I prophesize you'll sometimes pick it up, flip randomly to some page, and fall into engrossed study. --wt ... Read more

Product Description
This classic guide to paddling the waters of southern New England has been completely revised and expanded with seven new trips. Ken Weber's guide, in print for more than 20 years, has now been completely revised and expanded. Chapters include day trips on flatwater, selected whitewater runs, and suggestions for overnight trips—with 30 trips in all, there's something here for every level of paddler. Each chapter includes information on put-ins and take-outs, distance, water conditions, dams and rapids, portages, what time of year to paddle, and what you'll see along the way. A detailed map and a handy mileage chart for each river make planning easy.

New trips in this edition include:
• In Massachusetts: the Housatonic, Westfield, Deerfield, Blackstone, Taunton, and Nemasket Rivers
• In Rhode Island: the Pawtuxet River
• In Connecticut: the Upper Quinebaug and Pachaug Rivers

The first edition of this book was titled Canoeing Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. 30 trips in all, 7 new for this edition. All new maps and photographs. Suitable for both canoes and kayaks. 30 black & white photographs, 35 maps. ... Read more

Product Description
This book tells the true story of how Rick Ranson and his friend John Van Landeghem, both barely out of high school, took on the might of the Red and Mississippi rivers to paddle a canoe from Winnipeg to New Orleans in the Autumn of 1969. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A solid and hilarious story about two friends right out of high school
A huge journey, but Ranson has learned it was worth the trip. "Paddling South: Winnipeg to New Orleans by Canoe" tells of his epic voyage going from the Great Lakes all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico. His story is incredibly intriguing and entertaining, filled with plenty of entertaining character. A solid and hilarious story about two friends right out of high school, "Paddling South" is one of the most entertaining memoirs one could find.

Peddling Sloth
Prospective readers should be warned that this book is in many ways not what it seems. First of all, it is not a continuous narrative of traveling through the heart of America by canoe but a disjointed sequence of introspective musings by one of the two ill-prepared twenty-year-olds from Winnipeg who undertook this trip in 1969. One wonders if the discontinuity is due to the fact that their travels were expedited by car, motorboat and sailboat, or the fact that the events are being recollected some 40 years later.Some philosophical comments about how both Winnipeg and New Orleans have both had their characters shaped by flooding suggest that Hurricane Katrina may have been the catalyst for this long-delayed trip down memory lane. Or perhaps it is the author's attempt at catharsis/apology for the progressive deterioration of his relationship with his erstwhile friend and travel partner, which serves as the excruciating theme of the narrative.
If nothing else, this tale will help dispel any romantic notions about paddling the Mississippi system even 40 years ago; industrial traffic and damming seem to have rendered it dangerously impractical as a canoe route, especially for the unprepared.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Liked it, good reference for paddling
I liked this book and used it for some paddling & camping in NH. It gave nice descriptions of the water conditions and paddling descriptions.I agree that it's not a 'how to' book on camping.It's a reference for people who know camping already and are looking for rivers to paddle & camp along.

Don't buy this book if you are looking for camping info
This book's title is misleading, and provides next to no info about camping.Its information about water conditions and white water classifications is pathetic (and unsafe) as well.More information is available about the rivers the author chose to include in the DeLorme Vermont Gazeteer and Atlas.I wish I didn't order this book, it will become camping toilet paper or an emergency fire starter. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description

This sublime large-format book jumpstarts my escapist heart and makes me long for wide water, pine needles, woodsmoke and gritty coffee. It features paintings, sketches, photographs, contemporary and historic essays, anecdotes, journal entries, book excerpts, interviews, and much more on the topic of canoe-tripping. It's the stuff a canoeist's dreams are made of. Stories from the Bow Seat contains written accounts and visual impressions of canoe trips of the past 400 years or so. Some accounts are beautifully worded wisdoms on the essence of canoe travel, others are grippingly descriptive, and still others are pure waggery. They are told by trippers from different eras and of varying ages, interests and levels of ability. In spite of the differing purposes, historical periods and approaches behind them, the selections taken together reflect the universal experiences of all who travel by canoe. So put down your paddle and stretch a while. Take a deep breath of smoke-scented calm, wrap your hands around a steaming mug, and get ready to add your own stories.

Customer Reviews (2)

This is IT !
From the evokative, shimmeringly beautiful images captured by DonStanfield to the prose scultped by Liz Lundell this book is a treaure.Theplaces are displayed as our memory would hope, and persons portrayed inthis masterful tribute to wildernessare the perople who know it and knowhow to enjoy it.

Look at the faces of 16 year old girls on Stanfield's image :"Voyageurs nouvelles return home on the last day of a 50-daytrip" and the magic of the north is incarnate. Spot on.

As a gift orwhen you need a lift away from urban blight: This is IT!

The Fountain of Youth
Stories from the Bow Seat is a feast for the senses that brings to life the wonder, the splendor, and the down and dirty reality of the North and canoe travel.The photographs immerse you in the mud, bugs, joy, anddivine beauty of Canada.They transport you back to your own adventuresand to the adventures of voyageurs long ago.I have shared this book withfriends and they have all experienced the same yearning to return to theNorth and to rediscover their own wildness.If you haven't been luckyenough or daring enough to travel into the wilderness,this book will helpyou to understand those who speak so reverently and sometimes with suchobsession about their canoe experiences.This is a truly beautiful book. ... Read more

Product Description
Whitewater paddlers don't just sit inside their boat; they wear them! Well designed, correctly placed outfitting is vital for safety and performance. Outfitting Your Canoe or C-1 tells you how to do just that, from positioning saddles to installing thigh straps, from affixing foot pegs to glueing in knee cups.

Some canoeists believe that outfitting must be extremely tight for good performance. This simply is not true Excessively tight outfitting can trap you in a boat during emergencies, endangering your life. This book shows you how to adjust the outfitting so that you can maximize performance without sacrificing your safety. This book also shows you how to convert plastic kayaks into C-1s, a handy bit of knowledge in a market where a large variety of plastic C-1 designs don't exist.

Whitewater boat outfitting has advanced considerably from the days when crudely formed parts were held in place with scraps of fiberglass. Now you can outfit your boat with confidence. ... Read more

Product Description
The Sailor's Classics library introduces a new generation of readers to the best books ever written about small boats under sail

The incredible story of Captain John C. Voss, who, in 1904, completed a three-year journey across three oceans in a Native American dugout canoe converted to sail. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Worth reading, but not great
It is good, but not great.If you like sailing stories, it will be a nice addition to your collection.I would recommend Kon Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl, Adrift by Steven Callahan and Tinkerbelle by Robert Manry.Tinkerbelle is one of my favorites, if you can find a copy.Dove by Robin Graham is another sailing book that I would recommend.I enjoyed 40,000 Miles in a Canoe, but I have read better sailing books.

Outstanding story: Incredible voyge
Voss is more than just an expert sailor.He is cunning and has a genius for understanding the sea in all of its moods. The story is every bit as good as any other sea tale including Slocum's and Chichester's stories. Voss describes, in a matter of fact way, conditions that would frighten even the saltiest of sailors. To imagine being in those situations in a modified canoe is all the more incredible.Yet he survives and describes in great detail his recommendations for small boats in large breaking seas.And swears that a small boat can be comfortable in such conditions if handled properly and if the equipment is up to it.Although obviously dated in many respects his love of the sea and his understanding of how to survive the worst of it are timeless.I have read several of the great sea tales over the years; I don't know how I missed this one.It was a joy to read.He uses some very old nautical terms ("We made a board to shore." I think was one of his statements) but a good dictionary usually put me back on course.

The Greatest Adventure At Sea Ever Told
I am not someone you would normally find reading a book on high sea adventure but for other reasons I purchased this book and I was hooked. It is a wonderful story full of humour, adventure andsuspense. The characters become alive, paticularly Captain John C. Voss and you feel you are making the journey with him. The story is compelling and the reader finds it difficult to put the book down. The book actually contains two stories but the one that captured my attention was the journey on the Tilikum with Norman Luxton. The story awoke an interest in me to the point where I continued to research the characters and the vessel and the story of what happened to the Tilikum after she reached Margate, England. The Tilikum just celebrated her 100th anniversary of her departure from Oak Bay (Victoria, B.C.) where they have erected a plaque. She has been fully restored complete with new rigging and is now on display at the Maritime Museum in Victoria. For a book to interest a reader to the point where she will track down the vessel in order to see her means you have a very powerful and well written story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Have not received it yet!
I have not received this item, which I was supposed to have between August 10th and August 25th.I contacted Amazon about it and they said to contact the third party seller.I did this but have not heard anything from the seller. ... Read more

Product Description
Provides original ideas for both serious canoe training and fun paddling. The book includes over 300 tried and tested games and skills for all types of water, and for all levels of ability. There are chapters on freestyle and competition, and it is approved by the British Canoe Union. ... Read more

Product Description
The canoe is a symbol unique to Canada. One of the greatest gifts of First Peoples to all those who came after, the canoe is Canada's most powerful icon. Within publication are a collection of essays by paddling enthusiasts and experts. Contributing authors include: Eugene Arima, Shanna Balazs, David Finch, Ralph Frese, Toni Harting, Bob Henderson, Bruce W Hodgins, Bert Horwood, Gwyneth Hoyle, John Jennings, Timothy Kent, Peter Labor, Adrian Lee, Kenneth R Lister, Becky Mason, James Raffan, Alister Thomas and Kirk Wipper. ... Read more

Product Description
This practical book, written by one of the most exciting new writers on the subject, offers a comprehensive introduction to the sport and more advanced course. ... Read more

Product Description
SEA KAY: MID ATL COAST

Customer Reviews (1)

The Guide to Maine Flatwater.
This book is an absolute neccessity for anyone planning to do extensive flatwater paddling in Maine.The book divides maine into regions and then gives detailed descriptions of the most choice paddling spots in thoseregions. Each overall description entails a map of the lake, generaldecription of the lake (scenery,fish species,things to look for etc.),campsite reservation numbers if neccesary, and most important DETAILEDDIRECTIONS.Unless you are confining your paddling to the southern region,most of the lakes will require driving on winding dirt logging roads thatcan confuse even the most seasoned forester(I know I was one).Howeverwith this book, I was able to find the put in with ease every time. HappyPaddling! ... Read more

Product Description
An exceptional tribute to the magnificent waterways of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northwestern Minnesota. Gruchow reflects on the life of the imagination, the nature of work and home, and our place in the wilderness, while Brimacombe's 84 glorious color photographs portray this unique environment in all four seasons. ... Read more