Are You Building a Wooden Canoe?

Building a canoe can be an exciting project in which to show off your skills. The sense of accomplishment is amazing. Sharing the process with a child or friend can really add to the pleasure of it. There are a lot of resources for blueprints, tips, and tools to accomplish the project with. You can find books, videos, and websites that can provide all the information you need to get started. It is very important to take plenty of time to plan out the project. Everything needs to be ready before you start. Blueprints, materials, work space, and the like must be ready and appropriate for the project.

Canoes have many uses. They work well in lakes, ponds, and rivers. They provide the user with exercise and are environmentally friendly. Think about how you will use the canoe before choosing which style to build. Once the style of canoe has been chosen it is time to plan. You need the right space to begin the project. A garage or workshop is best because it keeps all the tools together and the canoe out of the weather. Be sure to make a place to have plans, books, and other resources where they can be easily accessed during the project.

Purchase quality wood products to use in for building. Canoe boards should be strips of wood that are all cut the same. Many places where wood is purchased will precut boards for a fee. This saves a lot of time and effort. Start by stripping the canoe. The mating points needs to be flush with the base boarding. This keeps all the subsequent boards evenly placed and prevent the formation of gaps. A good tip is to use bungee cords not clamps to hold the wood while drying. It saves time and does just as good a job. Once the canoe is constructed and dried the sanding has to begin. This is a time consuming project that must be done correctly. Plan on taking the time to do it right the first time in order to have the canoe turn out well. The hours partners spend on sanding can be a bonding experience.

To make things easier you could purchase a building canoe kit. They come with all the materials needed to complete the project. Complete directions are provided as well. This is usually a good choice for those building their first canoe. It walks you through the process in a step by step process. The kit is more expensive but can save a lot in time and frustration. Most canoe kits are appropriate for still water or gentle river use. Stronger moving waters require different types of wood and designs.

Another possible beginner project would be to take and old canoe and restore it. There is something about gliding across the water in a canoe that you built yourself that cannot be beat. The pride and sense of accomplishment is so fulfilling. If you shared the project with a child, spouse or friend it creates a special bond between the participants. The hours spent creating the canoe is only eclipsed by the hours spent enjoying it.

What is the Morgan's Little Miami Triathlon and How to Train For It

When many people think of triathlons they think of the most famous one which is the Iron Man triathlon in Kona, Hawaii. The first one was held in 1979 and soon after that event, some people in Cincinnati Ohio decided to have their own version of a triathlon creating Morgan's Little Miami Triathlon. It involves running and biking but instead of swimming, it has a canoe or kayak leg. Both Cincinnati bike repair and Cincinnati bike dealers in Ohio offer great deals on all of the equipment you may need to train for this event. This article will describe more details about this race as well as how to train to be able to finish it successfully.

Morgan's Little Miami Triathlon is the oldest and biggest triathlon of its kind in the United States celebrating it's 30 year this season. The course starts out with a 6 mile canoe for two person teams or kayak for a single racer, a 5.5 mile run that includes some trail running, and an 18 mile bike ride. It has always been a competition for two person teams but just recently they added the single person event that may use a kayak to race instead of a canoe. They offer two identical races, one in June and one in October in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. It has been a longtime tradition for many fitness and adventurous spirits.

In order to complete such a challenging athletic event, it is imperative to be physically ready for the race. You should spend at least 2 months of steady training to complete this event with quite a bit of cross training. Most people know how to run and ride a bike but many are unfamiliar with the correct way to canoe or kayak. There are several canoe and kayak outfitters in the area especially along the Little Miami River where the race will take place. Find out which one may offer canoe lessons and have your partner and yourself take a few lessons to be comfortable with maneuvering the canoe.

Once you are comfortable in how to handle your canoe or kayak it is time to do some conditioning to get ready for the long triathlon. You should be exercising 6 times per week with one day of total rest. A good plan to follow would be to run 3 times a week, bike 3-4 times a week and to do canoe or upper body strengthening exercises 3 times a week. The key is to start out slowly and developing a good base of endurance. To get a good base in your training it is important to train well below a certain heart rate for at least 2 weeks.

Since the majority of people that do this race are doing it with a partner, try to train with your partner as much as possible to know what type of shape and pace they will be able to maintain. You want to be able to stay strong as a unit, not just individually.

The Floating Classroom - A Unique Outdoor Learning Adventure

Paddling for students burns off energy and introduces the great Canadian Outdoors. By combining paddling with interactive learning, a floating classroom is created... that no student will forget.

A new approach to outdoor education has been the concept of a floating classroom. In southern Ontario, near Paris, the Grand River is being used as a teaching backdrop. Students can hop aboard a raft with naturalists, foresters and historians to do a paddling adventure into the valley.

Eight-man rafts are used because they paddle like large canoes, but offer total safety. The goal is to get all students into the outdoors... far from the computer screens of feigned reality. The paddle in the hands of the student becomes like the familiar "computer mouse"... maneuvering through the large "River" screen.

The very act of rafting creates team work. As students paddle together, the guide reads a "Joe Bushman" quiz. In response, students banter... seeking the answers. From ridiculous laughter to amazing insight, everyone finds themselves cheering or groaning. There are tough inventive questions like "which animal in the valley fights bum to bum... or how can you keep your pots shiney without scrubbing them?"

Then there is the natural competition between rafts, great effort and energy is spent trying to sneak up and splash. Added are competitions where teams pull to shore to compete in "Cook dat Egg". In this situation, each team is given a pot, egg and matches. The goal is to see which team can build a fire, boil the egg and eat it. The desire to win develops instant team strategy... along with the decision of who will eat it! This whole event brings forth leaders & doers from unexpected corners.

Along the way students can stop to swim or body surf a river swift with life jackets. They also enjoy dumping out their water bottles and filling up with the real stuff from springs. The highlight is the unexpected... spotting a deer, seeing a plunging osprey or surprised by the flash of a large fish. The excitement of "where is it" catches every ones attention.

Hikes are conducted to give a "feel" for the Carolinian Forest that the group is paddling through. There is the chance to see beaver chews, try wild edible plants, taste wild honey and learn aboriginal remedies. Trees identification is taught by using the quirks of smell and touch. There are climbs to scenic bluffs where students Sitting in a classroom overview, the specific characteristics of extinct Neutral feel down in the valley.

The narrative in sitting together in rafts, is where the interest is on the ground and the story says. Every leader has a repertoire of stories ... It tells of animals, European settlers and indigenous people. accommodate the students, not just the story being told. And the flow of issues.

These four hours floating classrooms make the Grand River Valley adventure alive. During the rafting,Students explore the variance in depth of flow. The experience of water power walk against the current of the difficulty of surprises ... gaining a healthy respect for the more turbulent water.

The concept of mobile classroom offers a unique way "to do everything together." Many institutions have blind sided by the image of white water to permit identification of all rafting as risky.

Ironically, it is safer than a canoe or kayak rafting, because the leaderscan control where the students go, and the rafts don't tip.

Teachers will discover that the "inattentive" student thrive in this world of hands-on experiences and story telling. The youth's pretentious veneer peels back with each learning experience. These students are the very ones wishing the trip would not end... and talk about it for days after.

Rafting the Grand River is an excellent field trip. Regardless of size, skill or swimming ability, students can safely experience the river... and still be right in the middle of it all. And that's what the concept of the floating classroom is all about!

Oklahoma River

The Oklahoma River is actually a seven-mile stretch of the North Canadian River that flows through OKC. Water adventurers have everything they could possibly desire in the Oklahoma River. With a series of locks that have resulted in the formation of many small lakes, the Oklahoma City University, the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation and the Chesapeake Boat House host rowing, kayaking, and canoeing regattas, with even sanctioned night sprints being conducted under lights. 2.5 mile head races, 2000 meter sprints, and 500 meter sprints are all part of the regatta.

The hub of activity that the Oklahoma River now is can be attributed to the MAPS-initiated renovation program that began in 1993 and was completed in 2004. This River has since gained World Wide Recognition as one of the top venues for popular sports such as rowing, kayaking and dragon boat racing. It was recently named as the U.S. Olympic Rowing Team Training Center. Four Universities have agreed to set up new training centers with a budget exceeding $30 million dollars. While rowing sculls, canoes and kayaks have the river all to themselves, motorized boats can also ply at strictly regulated speeds.

If you seek a gentle river cruise, you can travel in a 65-foot taxi boat from Regatta Park to the Meridian Landing. The passenger cruises are organized by the Oklahoma River Cruises. You can board the taxi boat at either Regatta Park located close to the Chesapeake Boathouse, or at Meridian Landing. You can also drive to any of these boarding points as parking is available.

There is nothing like cruising gently through the gently flowing waters of the river. With water taxies at the Bricktown Canal and cruises through the Oklahoma River, Oklahoma City is fast becoming a destination for water-themed travel. With further developments likely to bear fruit, you can expect to have a great aquatic vacation in Oklahoma City. And whenever you do, hotels in Oklahoma City would complement the experience with great hospitality and service, while arranging shuttle tours to your favorite destinations.

Some Tips For Canoe Trips

Taking a canoe trip is truly an amazing way to make your group or your family vacation more enjoyable and unforgettable. It can give you a genuine adventure that's really challenging but not that difficult and risky. By means of a canoe, one can safely roam wilderness places and enjoy all the beauty Mother Nature has to offer.

For adults, paddling a canoe while enjoying the picturesque surrounding can be a whole lot of fun but for the kids, it can be a bit boring. However, there is a plethora of ways that can keep up the children's interest. You can consider paddling near the shore to provide everyone an opportunity to watch for animals and birds and look for unique beach rock. It's good if you have two canoes because you can race them.

Aside from being a form of transportation, canoe racing, popularly known as canoeing is a remarkably fun activity. Racing using outrigger canoe is a sport that involves team paddling. This competitive sport is now appreciated worldwide. There is also what you call slalom canoe. Like a kayak, it is a closed watercraft employed for normal canoe trip. The main reason why slalom canoeing is held is to improve a person's in maneuvering a canoe at fastest speed possible all the way through a series of gates placed by the river rapids. If you don't want to join such activity but excitement and adventure is really your game, you can have your canoe in fast moving waters.

Whether you are a nature lover who always wants to explore the wilderness, or you love challenging sports and adventurous activities, a canoe can be a worthwhile investment. It is really great to have your own canoe and it is equally great if you own a pick-up truck. With a truck, you can easily bring your canoe in any place you want to without eating up the space for your cargo. And that's the good thing about owning a pick up truck - it is very versatile and it has a remarkable cargo-carrying capabilities. Your truck can easily haul your canoe and your sport gears and other stuff at the same time. Even if you don't own a canoe, you can rent one for your scheduled excursions and you can bring it to the suitable place that you desire.

If you're going to use your truck in taking your canoe for a vacation or a weekend getaway, it is always a good idea to have a truck top canoe carrier. With this carrier, you can put your canoe securely in your truck's top. It is very useful particularly if your truck bed is filled with your luggage and can't anymore accommodate some part of your canoe. Truck top canoe carriers are designed to protect your canoe on the top of your truck for hassle-free and easy transport to the river or lake. It is simply among the less costly way to transport your canoe safely.

A truck top canoe carrier doesn't require drilling tools or permanent installation. So if you worry about the damages that installation process could possibly bring to your vehicle's body panels, then a canoe carrier is a must-have for you. You can obtain a truck top canoe carrier in numerous online stores.

So what are you waiting for? Make that canoeing trip more enjoyable with this added knowledge.

The Difference Between Canoes and Kayaks

If you have ever wanted to own a recreational boat in order to enjoy some water paddling fun with your friends and family, making a choice as to what type to buy - canoe or kayak - can be difficult. You need to learn about each one's various points and features in order to make the best decision. Of course, purchasing either a canoe or kayak is an entirely personal choice. Each one is affordable and environmentally friendly; however, each one has positive and negative aspects.

All About Canoes

Canoes are extremely versatile and can be a lot of fun to use in a variety of situations. But despite the fact they can be used in many different excursions, they are not always ideal for every kind. They are also very comfortable and give the paddler plenty of space to store their gear, maneuver around, and stretch their legs. Canoes even allow people to not only sit, but also kneel.

And because they are simple to enter and exit, people of all ages and physical abilities have little to no trouble using them, no matter if the paddler is out on the water or sitting on dry land. These recreational boats are based on an open concept, which can cause a good bit of water to come in. Having to bail out excess water is not uncommon. Canoes are able to catch the wind fairly easy due to their light weight. This in turn causes some difficulties when maneuvering.

Information About Kayaks

Generally, the overall look of the kayak is sleek compared to the canoe. This design style gives them the ability to paddle faster and further without being yielded by the wind. There is almost no kind of water or weather condition kayaks can not plow through.

They are also the drier of the two choices. Some kayaks have closed cockpits as well as spray skirts that prevent water from entering. However, kayaks can be purchased in an open concept variety. But most do have a built-in drain valve that allows the user to let out the water fast and with minimal effort.

There are actually a lot of sub-choices in terms of kayak styles. People can pick from kayaks meant for the sea, whitewater, fishing, or just recreation. The materials used to build kayaks range from inflatables to hard shells. And since they all utilize the double-ended paddle, users will appreciate the control and extra speed only kayaks can provide.

Which Is Better - The Canoe or the Kayak?

In the end, you should choose the type you prefer the best. If you like thrilling water activities, a kayak might be the better selection as they are fun to paddle and more versatile. But if you want to relax on the water, a canoe might be the way to go. Before making your decision, take some time to think about where and in what situations you are most likely to use a recreational boat. If you are still torn, let a test run be the decisive factor.

Premier Recreation Destination: The Columbia River Gorge of the Pacific Northwest

The small town of Hood River resides at the heart of the Columbia River Gorge, a National Scenic Area and a premier destination for anyone who is serious about recreation.

Hood River was once an agricultural center surrounded by pear orchards, but fifteen years ago the town became a mecca for windsurfers. Although it was windsurfing that put the Columbia River Gorge on the recreation map, today the gamut of the recreation industry is firmly established in the scenic Gorge, and Hood River is its base of operations.

If you can name it, then there is someone doing it someplace in the Gorge - from kayaking and kite surfing to mountain biking and snowboarding. It's all available within half an hour of downtown Hood River.

Passing along the main street of this little town where colorfully painted Victorian homes on the steep hillsides overlook several dozen shops and restaurants, there is a sidewalk bustle of hard-bodies seeing and being seen. They step in and out of boutique sport shops where one can order a custom wet-suit or select obscure handmade flies for fly-fishing.

Nearly every parking space is occupied by an all-wheel-drive vehicle sporting a Yakima or Thule roof rack that secures some kind of recreational gear.

On one survey of the six block stretch that comprises the main drag, there were one or more of the following on display atop the sporty vehicles: kayaks, snowboards, mountain bikes, windsurfing boards, skis, road bikes, and although there wasn't a canoe this time, there often is.

Those roof-top items are just the beginning. A look inside some of the rigs reveals the greater depth of recreational opportunity. Small kite-sailing boards, wet-suits, fishing rods, hiking packs and boots are visible in many of the vehicles.

Go down to the marina and there is even more: sail boats, motor boats for water skiing, jet skis, and an outfitter for white-water rafting on tributaries of the Columbia River.

If there is an outdoor sport that you love - water, snow, mountain, whatever! - or a sport that you'd like to try, then the Gorge is the place for you. It's happening here, guaranteed.

And after a grueling day on the slopes, on the river, or on the trail, you can relax at one of the many charming bed-and-breakfasts or historic hotels (Hood River was part of the Oregon Trail, after all).

Soothe tired muscles at Carson Hot Springs across the river in Carson, Washington, and then return to the Oregon side of the river to meet people from around the world who share your interest in whatever sport you played that day, or would like to play the next.

You'll enjoy funky cafés or fine dining. Choices abound. And cap off the night with freshly brewed gourmet coffees or craft beer, since Hood River is the home of the famous Full Sail Brewing Company. Mmm, mmm good. What are you waiting for?

Any time of year, fly in to Portland, Oregon and head east on Interstate 84, along the border between Oregon and Washington state. Within an hour you will find yourself at the heart of the scenic Columbia River Gorge. Be ready to play hard; you've arrived at the ultimate recreation destination.