It seems that one of the things that can put people off the idea of canoe camping is the concern over what kind of food can you take, how do you carry it and how do you cook it.
Making an enjoyable meal is much easier than the non-canoe camper may think and you haven’t got the weight restrictions that go with backpacking.
I would like to compile a list of recipes for canoe camping trips so that anyone thinking of trying a trip for the first time can have a worry free, ready made menu.
To this end, I would like people to send me recipes they have used either canoe camping or back-packing. As well as the recipe itself, please tell me how you carry the ingredients and what you cook them with.
I can be e-mailed (Nick’s not the only one, you know!): htstual0@brtst1.agw.bt.co.uk
The first kayak paddles I got for my children were of the “correct” length, They could just curl their fingers over the top etc. But I noticed that the children struggled paddling with them. The reason turned out to be that the blades were too big and the children’s small muscles couldn’t keep the paddle going at a comfortable rate.
It’s much better for them to be whizzing a little blade round than to be dragging a large one tortuously through the water. Try taping an extra inch of hardboard etc. on an adult blade and see how you get on!
The solution:
1. Buy cheap plastic blades and cut an inch off all round and 2 inches off the tip, Then adjust the length of the shaft to suit.
2. Buy a child’s paddle with small blades. Brookbank Canoes are still stocking Azali junior, wooden, kayak paddles at £29 each.
Don’t take the paddle length rule too seriously. If the child is very small or the boat very wide (like my double) the paddle won’t reach the water.
Brookbank Canoes are still stocking Azali junior, wooden, kayak paddles at £29 each. This might be a good use for Christmas money!
As far as canoe paddles are concerned, the same thing applies about blade size. What I’ve done is buy cheap wooden paddles from Granta (Ottersports) and cut them down in to a nice, oval shape. These go through the water very easily and look pretty if you stencil animals on them before varnishing them.
That’s enough for now. I hope it’s been of some use.
Lester Stuart