v-man wrote:

I was think of trying some canoeing with a few friends. I like hiking,
camping and the outdoors. I've never canoed before and cannot swim.
Will a life jacket be good enough for a person who can't swim? I was
think of starting off in a lake and gradually moving to small rivers.
Any advice on getting started?

thanks


I second everything riverman has offered.

In shallow water where you feel safe, deliberately horse aound, dumping
yourself & the canoe from time to time; you'll learn some of the canoe's
limits & some of your own. And if done while wearing a PFD, you may find
yourself well on the way toward learning to swim. Get a friend w/ 2nd
canoe into shallow water & play frisbee; great for goofy but agile
workouts, & it's amazing how you forget the canaoe's there as you become
more & more familiar with it.

Zen level 5: you, the canoe, the paddle, the body of water, the existing
weather conditons are all one. Blend & flow.

Read "The Dancing Wu Li Masters" by Gary Zukav; read anyting by Alan Watts.

Canoes are Zen on water as motorcycles are Zen on land. (Read Zen & the
Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig.)

Yours in the north Maine woods,
Pete Hilton (Reg. Me. Guide) aka Pogo aka The Ent

--
Either everyone has rights or some have privileges.
It's really that simple.
Walt Kelly