Back in the 80's there was a small group of us that made an annual trip in early March to the Pine Creek Gorge. AKA the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. It's around 50 miles long and in March, it ran fast and cold. We would launch on Friday afternoon and camp Friday and Saturday night along the creek. Sunday afternoon we would reach the end and 2-3 people would drive back north to bring the cars that where left at Ansonia; the starting point. I still have that 16' aluminum canoe laying along the bank of our pond. Here is a pic (not mine) of the gorge.
Paddling - one of my favorite things to do. And my new woodstove (Woodstock Ideal Steel) will have custom artwork that I'm working on of a canoe & mountain scene. Every summer as a kid I went to canoe camp in the Adirondacks and had a blast, plus many of our family outings were hiking or paddling. Its not nearly as nice paddling here in Ohio, but I did by myself a cheap plastic yak to paddle around a bit here. Someday I hope to move back nearer home and the Adirondacks. Also thinking about trying to build my own skin-on-frame solo ultralight canoe.
Didn't see this thread when I started mine. If there is a Canoe out there that will give you ROI if things don' go well it's a Old Town
I took the yak out today. Put in in the marsh just down the road from my house. Under the bridge to the harbor, tide was coming in, still about 2.5 hrs till high but the marsh was still emptying so the water was flowing with me on the way out. Prime time lobster fishing right now, these guys start early, most are back in by noon. Crystal clear water. I was out in the harbor for about 45 minutes, and in that time the flow under the bridge reversed, was a pretty strong flow, not sure I could have paddled against it.
I got a kayak a couple years ago after being a canoe guy ,it's great for fishing ,quick and easy to load but i do use a canoe more, mainly because of the ability to carry traps or other stuff including people ,but for the convenience i think i will keep a kayak around .
I bought a 15' Grumman new in 1972, I bet I have not used it a dozen times. It has not seen water in almost 20 years. I should probably sell it...
I do a trip down the clarion river every June. A small group of us has been doing it for the past 10 years. I have a 14.5 foot yak with rudder. It a wilderness systems. I'm going to beaver river in the morning to do some smallie fishing.
I would like to get into it more. Three of us took a canoe out on the boundary waters. We portaged to three or four lakes. Ended up at a spot where we got out and could look out from a cliff and see the international waters. Amazing views.
