Paddle your own canoe

Goodness knows, the saying and phrase paddle your own canoe has been around a long time. Probably ever since man first hollowed out a log to float upon the water. We are each responsible for our own journey although it is nice to share the load with a partner, a team, a family. Another important thing to remember is not to put your oar in other people’s business. So yes, paddle your own canoe, chart your own course; row, row, row, your boat gently up the stream.

And that is exactly what she did. She launched her kayak for the grand finale float of the season and she paddled upstream. Upstream – even when the river has dwindled to the breadth of a creek – requires that you paddle constantly. No need to paddle frantically, power paddle, or exercise a stoic focus. A gentle stroke is all you need, but you must be consistent and regular. The moment you rest your paddle to fish for your phone, camera or water bottle you will begin a lazy 180 degree turn, a drift toward the riverbank, or a sideways bob down the river.

She moved gently, consistently, without urgency and without pause up the river. An hour took her through four miles of lazy river meanders that equaled 2 miles of straight roadway. Not another soul was on the water. She passed by a preserve trail peopled only by a toddler who pointed and a dad that waved. The Oxbow Preserve Park sported a new boat ramp and a beach empty but for the socially distanced middle-aged couple and their bandanaed dog. The canine seemed eager to be an uninvited passenger so she moved farther toward the other side of the river to appear less attractive. She did not hello them. Bounded on both sides by private property riverbanks she saw two swaybacked horses out to pasture, seven geese a laying that followed her from sand bar to the next sandbar, heckling. From somewhere in the lingering golden leaves of fall she heard the piercing call of a hawk.  Even in a state of near relaxation she learned things. Mesmerized by the autumn beauty, she yet absorbed what the river had to teach.

You will move faster if you launch into the deep. Caution may keep you in shallow water. Nevertheless, choose the deep waters. It is tough going in shallow water. You make less progress in the shallow – even paddling upstream. And it is not one bit safer.

In a meandering river, the laminar will take you only a few yards. No matter where you catch the downward current you cannot rely long term on the energy of someone else. 

If you should get stuck on a sandbar, don’t hesitate to rock the boat – a little or a lot – to get back out where you need to go. 

Have a plan for loading and unloading your vessel. If you look like you know what you are doing, you will attract less outside advice and interference. 

So yes, paddle your own canoe through life. And when it is time to cease paddling for the winter and put the vessel away – keep putting one foot in front of the other, and remember the lessons learned from the last kayak trip of the season.