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Paddling News, & Announcements
and the ramblings
of an old coot in a canoe.
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Old Coot (Steve Johnson) |
Please check our Facebook Page for the latest news, updates, and announcements.
October 29, 2023
The Solo Canoes and Pack Boats Facebook group has over 2,700 members now!
Check it out, read the announcements, and join the discussions.
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May 25th, 2022
The Safety, Education, and Instruction Department of the American Canoe Association has announce ACA’s first online paddling safety course.
Developed in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, this FREE course covers many critical paddling topics such as equipment selection, securing a boat to your car, planning a successful
paddling trip for a group, waterway hazard awareness, safety during challenging weather, and rescue protocols.
More Information
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April 30th, 2022
Not good news... Avian flu found in Northern NY
The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus has been detected in multiple wild bird species across New York state,
including counties in the Adirondack region, the Department of Environmental Conservation announced last week.
More Information
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April 1st, 2022
Spring weather is fast approaching here in the Finger Lakes. Just made my site campsite reservation for the Western PA Solo Canoe Rendezvous in June.
You really don't need a camping reservation unless you want a site with hook-ups. The area the Solo Canoe Rendezvous is in has plenty of open space for tenting, RVs and car campers!
Check out pictures from last year:
Western PA Solo Canoe Rendezvous 2021 Pictures
Remember the water is still cold so you need proper gear if you're paddling now.
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January 21st, 2022
Just received and am currently adding more vintage canoe catalogs to the library including a 1999 Bell Canoe Works catalog and additional Mad River catalogs.
They may be viewed here as they're added:
Vintage Canoe Catalogs
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December 14th, 2021
Congratulations to Neil Moore who has just completed a 7,500 mile canoe trip from Oregon to New York City via canoe!
Read about his adventure here: Oregon-to-NYC via canoe
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November 18th, 2021
Winter is fast approaching here, the canoes are put away, the rack is off the car, and our little camper is winterized and sleeping in the garage until Spring :(
...but that gives me more time to make additions and changes to the web site. If you have sites or ideas that aren’t posted on the Solo Canoes web site
yet or know of a canoeing event in 2022 that’s not listed yet you think others might be interested in,
let me know. Got a favorite photo or two of your Summer on the water? Send it along and it might wind up in the photos section. I’m always open to suggestions for the site.
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October 30th, 2021
As the 2021 season draws to an end here in the North, my thoughts are turning to canoeing events for next year.
Watch for 2022 events as they get announced here:
2022 Canoe Events
IMPORANT: For those hardy souls still launching your boats, remember to wear proper safety gear for the colder water paddling of Fall. A life jacket isn't enough.
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June 26, 2021
Happy National Canoe Day to our friends to the North!
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June 15, 2021
Just posted!
Western PA Solo Canoe Rendezvous 2021 Pictures
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May 31st, 2021
Congratulations to Mark Fitzsimons, our top prize winner of a $150 Bending Branches Gift Certificate!
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May 29th, 2021
It's almost here! - Next Friday, Saturday and Sunday, JUNE 4/5/6, 2021
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
SOLO CANOE RENDEZVOUS
An informal gathering of solo paddlers, manufacturers, and vendors of solo canoes and paddling equipment at Cooper’s Lake Campground near Slippery Rock PA.
More Information
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May 12th, 2021
Reminder - Only three days left to enter!
Win A Bending Branches Canoe Paddle!
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April 17th, 2021
DEC Lowers Water Level at Lower Bog River Dam (Adirondacks)
The Bog River Flow is an extreamly popular flat water paddle in the Adirondacks.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 6 today announced lower than usual water levels may be observed at the
lower Bog River (Lower Lows) dam on the downstream side of Hitchens Pond. DEC is lowering the water to assess a leak in the dam.
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April 8th, 2021 Just announced
Round the Mountain Canoe & Kayak Race will be held Saturday May 8th!
The ‘Round the Mountain Canoe & Kayak Race is an Adirondack favorite, taking place annually on the second Saturday of May — the unofficial kickoff event of the Adirondack paddling season.
Ampersand Bay, Lower Saranac Lake, New York
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March 20th, 2021
Newly Posted Canoe Catalogs
Three more vintage canoe catalogs have been posted this week for viewing.
Old Town, Grumman, and Indian Canoe.
View them here. Vintage Canoe Catalogs
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March 12th, 2021
New NorthStar Videos:
There are eight new NorthStar videos covering their Solos and Pack Boats, Tandems, Gunwales, etc. You can check them all out here: Eight new NorthStar videos
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March 10th, 2021
Nothern Forest Canoe Trail Raffle!
Win a Kokatat Legacy Dry Suit. Drawing date: May 24, 2021. Enter Here.
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March 9th, 2021
Just added: Canoe Design - Paper by Rolf Kraike
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March 8th, 2021
Need a way to secure your paddle when portaging?
A cheap paddle holder is easy. Get a 35' roll of hook and loop from Harbor Freight. (around $7) Cut two pieces and make an X. Wrap one loop around a thwart keeping the other loop inside the first, and wrap the other loop around the paddle shaft.
If you're crafty you can even sew them together at the center and sew a cloth tab on the end of one to make it easier to pull it open.
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March 5th, 2021
The SoloCanoes.com Spring Sweepstakes is on!
The Sweepstakes is now underway and the new Solo Canoes web site is now live!
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New Site! February 2021
Welcome! You found it.
Even though not complete, work is progressing on this new solo canoe web site.
January was spent creating the page navigation, populating the main pages with links, and gathering additional information.
I'm still on target for a official Spring launch of the web site.
I love suggestions and feedback (good or bad) so if you have a suggestion or comments, send me an email and let me know - steve@solocanoes.com
Watch here for further news and updates or check out the Facebook page: SoloCanoes.com's Facebook page
Steve Johnson
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Canoecopia March 12-14
Canoecopia, one of the biggest paddlesports events of the year, is set to take place this year virtually March 12-14.
Get your tickets now.
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2/21/2021 - Updated Canoe Paddle Sizing Guide
 Bending Branches has updated their
Canoe Paddle Sizing Guide. It includes information on how to size your paddle, features to look for, and the difference in blade shape, grips and materials.
You can check out the new guide here.
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2/20/2021 - New Canoe ID Stickers
New Canoe ID stickers are in.
It's important to have the owner's name along with contact phone numbers attached to your boat in case its ever found and you're not around.
Not only may it help you get rescued, but having the owners name and contact phone numbers available will also prevent rescuers from doing a needless search if they can get in contact you.
Watch here for instructions on how to get one for your canoe.
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2/17/2021 - My plans for building sturdy Canoe Workstands
After years of working on wobbly saw horses, last fall I finally built sturdy adjustable stands for working on my canoes.
A couple of people requested I post plans of the canoe work stands I built. Here's the plans.
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2/8/2021 - Trip to Lake Placid and a New Boat!
My wife and I took the weekend and drove up to the Adirondacks for a stop at Placid Boatworks to see Maverick (and Joe) and pick up my new Rapidfire! Winter just got longer.
Looking forward to Spring and putting her in the water for the first time.
Had a great time. Also stopped by the Olympic Ski Jumps and had an excellent dinner before picking up the new Rapidfire the next morning.
Always nice to see the town.
I spent several months in Lake Placid putting in sound systems for the 1980 Olympics and got paid to be there as a service tech in case
anything went wrong (with a pass to go anywhere and get into everything). Didn't get called once. and yes, I got to watch the U.S. Hocky Team beat the Soviets from rink side!
USA, USA, USA!!!
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1/28/2021 Paddling all the Finger Lakes
Since I'm located in the Finger Lakes region of New York State and I've paddled on most of the 11 lakes,
I'm looking into paddling all eleven lakes from end to end this summer.
It's about 166 miles of paddling as the crow flies but will total more since the access points on some arent on either end. I
will have to do some back tracking. I've got a little time to figure out each one and I'll post more details here as the time gets closer.
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If your company or organization is involved in any aspect of canoeing and is not listed yet and would like to be added, contact me.
Note that this site is primarily for solo canoes. Web sites dealing strictly in kayaks will not be considered.
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