Yesterday evening we said goodbye to our local urban paddling spot, Smith and Bybee Lakes, which will be an unnavigable tangle of weeds by the end of the week, and then a slow transition to dry land until next winter. Nestled between the railroad tracks, the freeway, and adjacent to the airport landing approach, Smith and Bybee are far from the wilderness that I’ve spent most of my life paddling in, but the older I get the more I’m just grateful to be on the water whenever that’s possible.
We also took the opportunity to christen the new sails, ghosting quietly with barely a breath of wind. The neat thing about this little rig is steering with the sail only. With sheet control and body weight I can change course within about 90°, and not dragging a paddle for steering really helps things move in light wind.
The new nesting canoes are really starting to give me the sort of experience that I strive for in small boats. Seconds off the car, minutes to set up, and a one trip carry to the water. This is the sort of convenience that lets you go boating at the end of the day when you’re already tired.
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