SRT25 - Day 98
Summer 2025 Road Trip
Saturday, July 12, 2025
This morning is dedicated to the fundamentals of canoeing. First is Balance, Bracing, Torso Rotation and Edging. Then we work on the primary padding strokes; Forward, Backward, Sweep, Pry, Draw, Cross-Draw and J-Strokes. We change paddling in the bow (front) to stern (back) several times so we’re comfortable in either position. By lunchtime, we’re feeling comfortable with our new skills. I’m comfortable with the strokes, but I’m having a hard time keeping the names of the different strokes straight. But as with anything, you just have to practice.
After lunch, we get to put our new skills to the test on Class I rapids. Things start to fall into place as we do left and right Eddy Turn In’s and Eddy Peel Outs. Ferry (cross over) from one side of the river to the other without going down river while in rapids. It’s amazing how much we’ve all learned in just a few hours. I’m amazed that I can make directional changes in rapids that I’ve never been able to make before!
By the end of the day, we’re all happy with our progress. Only one canoe went for a swim, it wasn’t me, but my partner and I had a few close calls. All in all, it was an awesome day!