Since joining bwca.com, I originally assumed that every member of this site was a canoeist and paddled regularly. Which I realize is rather naive on my part.

But after reading through many of the posts over the past few months, I realize that's not so. It seems some members only canoe to fish, or the bulk of their canoeing is when they're on a BWCAW/Questico trip, or some other paddling adventure. Understandably, proximity to lakes and rivers is less convenient for everyone, depending on your residence. It also appears that for some, their BWCAW trip is all the paddling they may want to do.

Although I don't live on a lake, I'm fortunate to literally live within a few minutes from a variety of lakes and small rivers. It's not the BWCAW obviously, but it's not bad. Additionally, Lake Michigan is 30-minutes to the east, and there are numerous great rivers for paddling and camping just a few hours to the north or northwest.

Not counting canoe-trips, I'm out paddling two to three times a week during the ice free months. Even then, I've managed to paddle every month of the year, when conditions permit. It has also been a New Year's day tradition to go paddling on a section of the Oconomowoc River that always seems to be open, albeit not during the most severe winters. I'd go paddling almost everyday if I could, but sometimes life gets in the way. :-)

So fellow members, how often do you get out paddling and where do you paddle most of the time?

Hans Solo

Spring, Summer, and Fall I rarely go out less than once a week, and often 2-3. In the winter I only paddle once or twice a month. I'm fortunate to live probably 2-3 miles as the crow flies, 15 minutes as the road goes, from two Ozark streams, and within 2 hours of several. I too, would paddle every day if "Life didn't get in the way!"
You'all have a great weekend!

Not near enough!!!

Hear! Hear!

2-3 weeks a year. A week or two in the BWCA and a week or so combined on rivers, small lakes, etc. locally. Spend most of my outdoor time XC skiing and biking which I do nearly daily in season.

In south Georgia we have the opportunity to paddle all year. I paddle on our farm ponds at least weekly and on local rivers, Okefenokee Swamp or the ocean about once a month. Just got back from a Scout canoe camping trip on the Alapaha River. During our annual two month stay at our Ontario cabin we paddle daily. We are the only people on the lake that uses only a canoe. I may skip the Quetico canoe camping trip this summer and just do more day trips on lakes near the Quetico. Our grown sons also paddle. One is on a canoe trip on the Flint River today and the other led the Scout trip last weekend. One Granddaughter is into kayak fishing. Like you, we love to paddle.

Not often. In the warm seasons, when we are at our little lake cottage, we take our Grumman out nearly every day. But we are only there for occasional days. Not as much as I thought we would be when we purchased it a few years ago.

We live in Michigan, where there are many inland lakes and wonderful rivers. But it seems like paddling has mainly been reserved for the BWCA for us throughout our history. Not totally, but mainly.

Sad, perhaps. But we have other interests, other responsibilities, and other things to do.

I get out maybe once a month during the warm season and then whatever time I get to spend in the BWCA. I had a really long break between trips before last year so that is not much.

The last trip, and reading all the posts on this site, have really gotten me thinking about paddling a lot more. Started scoping out local lakes and rivers online. Even started casually scouting out canoes.

Moving into the warmer months, and the kids getting a little bigger this year should provide a lot more opportunities.

Brandon

I go canoeing to canoe, not fish. I live almost on Lake Superior and I canoe on that lake often. I paddle the BWCA and Quetico several times a year and I paddle probably 150+ miles a year total.

My sheds are full of canoes (all wood, no synthetic materials) my back room is full of paddles and related hardware.

Tom

4-5 times a week when the water is not hard. Once every two weeks in the winter when we have to drysuit up for ocean paddling.

When we lived in NJ our Grumman sat in the yard,waiting for its annual Quetico trip for ten days. Our lake was too small there. And we were working and had small kids etc.. We did take them to Q.

Now we live on a nice size paddling lake.. However its too easy to rationalize the lake will be there tomorrow and get misled by land based chores.

During June-Aug I get out nearly every day and have several long trips planned. I think the trips completed number for 2013 now is at 400 miles.

Hopefully you all look forward to being retired.

View in the back yard.

Fourteen years ago I purchased waterfront property on the North Carolina coast with the intention of paddling almost every day. I got out every day for the first year, then life started to get in the way.

Today, I still paddle about once per week; more frequently in spring and fall.

I normally get out at least once a week year round. Recently I've not been out much. My wife fell and has two fractures, one on each side, of a vertabrae in her lower back and can barely walk. I also have a 15 week old Chocolate Lab puppy in the house, so that's keeping me at home pretty much. When I do get out my usual paddling venue is the Snake River Canyon downstream from Lewiston, Id.

We will be putting 19 miles on the canoes tomorrow.1happycamper & looney1 will be defending first place again.

Maybe we should poll: How often do you WANT to paddle..

When family stuff happens, of course family comes first.

Not too often outside the bwca, and even then its almost exclusively small rivers, I love the intimacy of a small river.

quote WHendrix: " "

breathtaking!

quote Captn Tony: "Not near enough!!!"

Same here. Although the canoe is my fishing vehicle of choice for the most part nowadays.

quote yellowcanoe: "Maybe we should poll: How often do you WANT to paddle.

When family stuff happens, of course family comes first."

For sure!

I'd paddle everyday if I had the time. In the hot summer months, it's a good way to get in some swim time also. But yes, family and often business, gets top billing.

I envy those paddlers that are retired and have the time to pursue multiple paddling adventures throughout the year. Oh well, those days aren't too far away. :-)

Hans Solo

I worked my life to get up north and I enjoy a lot of paddling. It was great when my dad was up here across the lake. I'd paddle across every evening and watch the twins with him. The night paddle home was the best. Miss the old man. I was going to go with Bud on his trip this week and I ended up in the hospital with diverticulitis. That was pretty nasty. So I have yet to paddle this year. I'll be starting asap as soon as I get out of this expensive hotel. :) Everything is nice... but the bed sucks! So I hope Bud is having a good time.

quote nctry: "I was going to go with Bud on his trip this week and I ended up in the hospital with diverticulitis. That was pretty nasty. So I have yet to paddle this year. I'll be starting asap as soon as I get out of this expensive hotel. :) Everything is nice... but the bed sucks! So I hope Bud is having a good time. "

get well soon ben!

Merri and I are fortunate to get out at least 100 times a year. In fact we just got home from paddling six hours on a river. We tend to prioritize paddling over everything else. :)

quote nctry: "I worked my life to get up north and I enjoy a lot of paddling. It was great when my dad was up here across the lake. I'd paddle across every evening and watch the twins with him. The night paddle home was the best. Miss the old man. I was going to go with Bud on his trip this week and I ended up in the hospital with diverticulitis. That was pretty nasty. So I have yet to paddle this year. I'll be starting asap as soon as I get out of this expensive hotel. :) Everything is nice... but the bed sucks! So I hope Bud is having a good time. "

I hope you get outta there and on the water darn fast. The best bed was made by Exped..they probably don't allow it in the hospital.

I guess no more nuts and seeds for you?

For years, I just paddle to fish, so it's been about three weeks each year. I'm moving in June and I'm a gardener, so I don't see the frequency increasing as I'll have a new garden to do. Here's the current one, but the new one will be much bigger.

quote nctry: "I worked my life to get up north and I enjoy a lot of paddling. It was great when my dad was up here across the lake. I'd paddle across every evening and watch the twins with him. The night paddle home was the best. Miss the old man. I was going to go with Bud on his trip this week and I ended up in the hospital with diverticulitis. That was pretty nasty. So I have yet to paddle this year. I'll be starting asap as soon as I get out of this expensive hotel. :) Everything is nice... but the bed sucks! So I hope Bud is having a good time. "

Hey Ben,

I had diverticulitis too and I would just say, take good care of yourself! I had several bouts, then surgery. The surgery and recovery was quite unpleasant but never had a problem since. There are some awful stories out there, so be wise and I'll say a prayer for you.

O crap..Metamucil in the canoe camping diet????

Two to three weeks a year.

quote Mark2: "Merri and I are fortunate to get out at least 100 times a year. In fact we just got home from paddling six hours on a river. We tend to prioritize paddling over everything else. :) "

I paddle any time I'm in a canoe.

Just got back....nice paddle down the Sugar.

At least once a week and usually two unless it is frozen. When work slows down I get to go more. The usual paddle is combination workout and relaxing get away on the Des Moines river or one of the local lakes.
Looking forward to more trips now that social security has started. Hope is at least one solo into BWCA/Quetico and one into the Tetons area and a trip with nephew and son this fall into BWCA for this year.

quote bhouse46: "At least once a week and usually two unless it is frozen. When work slows down I get to go more. The usual paddle is combination workout and relaxing get away on the Des Moines river or one of the local lakes.
Looking forward to more trips now that social security has started. Hope is at least one solo into BWCA/Quetico and one into the Tetons area and a trip with nephew and son this fall into BWCA for this year."

Isn't it good to be "young old"? Gee I wish it would last forever.

In past years I only got the opportunity 2-3 times a year... But last month I bought my first canoe! Hopefully that number will increase significantally although having our first child 1 week after getting the canoe may put a kink in my plans this year....

"

We were busy hunting wolverines with our bow staffs!

quote missmolly: "For years, I just paddle to fish, so it's been about three weeks each year. I'm moving in June and I'm a gardener, so I don't see the frequency increasing as I'll have a new garden to do. Here's the current one, but the new one will be much bigger. "

Nice work Miss molly!

I go fishing usually in strip mine pits maybe 2-3 times a year with my solo and also spend 5-6 weekends doing strictly paddling on forest preserve ponds to get in shape before a BW/Q trip.

I get out 3-4 times a month on the St. Croix river, and 2 weeks at Sawbill. Thought I'd get more after I retired but things get in the way...

During the soft water months I keep my Old Town Pack canoe on my truck rack so I can paddle whenever opportunities present themselves. 2 or 3 times a week and it usually involves fruitless fishing. But for me, when it comes to fishing, hope springs eternal.
Jon

I paddle fairly often. Sometimes to fish, sometimes to hunt and sometimes to just paddle, sight-see and watch wildlife. I paddle much more now that I have a solo canoe, because I can just go when I have the time.

I try to do at least one trip to the bwca every year but sometimes I go twice. I'm fortunate to have friends that like to canoe too.

Last season I paddled at least 200 miles between an 8 day solo bwca trip, a 50 mile solo canoe trip on the Mississippi, another 5 day group bwca trip, and a bunch of other local paddles for hunting, fishing and just canoeing.

quote Primitiveman: "During the soft water months I keep my Old Town Pack canoe on my truck rack so I can paddle whenever opportunities present themselves. 2 or 3 times a week and it usually involves fruitless fishing. But for me, when it comes to fishing, hope springs eternal.
Jon"

Here's to hope, Jon. However, if you want more than hope, stalk Arlo Panook. That guy catches big fish!

Idon't own a canoe yet. BWCA trips for me only.

Paddle the neighborhood every chance I get. In my dotage I try to take a Q trip once a month from May-Oct.

Last night's paddle between rains
.

quote Banksiana: "Paddle the neighborhood every chance I get. In my dotage I try to take a Q trip once a month from May-Oct.


Last night's paddle between rains
. "

Lovely. I find my neighborhood to be dreary when it rains, but gray on green and blue is lovely.

I have an adversity to paddling in sewage, hence, my paddling is limited. I go out fising and doing a lap or so on the local 10hp lake that is not overrun with speed boats and wave runners. If I lived in N. MN, I'd be out every evening, or morning, or both. Middle of the day is not much fun in the hot months.

About once a week, sometimes more

quote missmolly: "For years, I just paddle to fish, so it's been about three weeks each year. I'm moving in June and I'm a gardener, so I don't see the frequency increasing as I'll have a new garden to do. Here's the current one, but the new one will be much bigger. "

Stunning!

For the past 15 years most of my paddling has been in the BW, 2-4 trips per summer, and mostly with my kids. With three girls, now ages 16, 15 and 14, it has been difficult getting out as I've been taxi daddy when not tripping with them. Now, however, the girls are more into their friends, so I have more time. By September two will have their drivers licenses, so that will provide me even more time.

For me it probably works out to be an average of once a week during paddling months when at home in the Twin Cities. I am close to a few paddling areas at home and even more near work so I try to go after work once a week or on a weekend.
As far as tripping/canoe camping goes, since getting stationed in Chicago in 2003-2006, the last 10 years I have been getting 1 or 2 trips of 5 - 7 days in the bdub. The majority of those years are at least two longer trips. Since moving home to Minnesota in 2006 I have been including one or two weekend (three day) trips as well as the longer ones for canoe camping.
Not paddling but I also try to squeeze in a weekend or two to the North Shore/BWCAW area in the winter.

Thanks, Frenchy and Tom. I think it helped sell the house, as the house sold in 22 hours at full price.

I take the kids at least 2-3 times a week and we go canoe camping every other weekend

I'm one of those, Hans, who paddles when I go to t BW, but maybe one other time a year. Maybe. And sometimes that's in a canoe and sometimes in a whitewater raft which doesn't really translate to soloing a canoe. I don't own a canoe (yet).

Not enough, but this thread is a motivator! (and got my eye on a Wenonah Wilderness that has been priced down... thinking it might be good for some smaller Iowa waters). Now, if I can just talk the wife into helping with shuttles...

quote Canoearoo: "I take the kids at least 2-3 times a week and we go canoe camping every other weekend"

You are a great parent!

What a great thread. After reading it, I'm ashamed that I don't take advantage of more frequent opportunities here as we rarely have "hard water".

I am lucky, however, in that I'll be in MN for over 7 weeks this summer with several paddling trips scheduled between a few "pickin'' trips!

quote OneMatch: "What a great thread. After reading it, I'm ashamed that I don't take advantage of more frequent opportunities here as we rarely have "hard water".


I am lucky, however, in that I'll be in MN for over 7 weeks this summer with several paddling trips scheduled between a few "pickin'' trips!"

For a coat-of-arms, I'm thinking you should have a canoe paddle crossed with a guitar...:)

Beautiful pictures everyone...
Twice a year we do week or longer trips...wherever we may roam. Try to get out one day each weekend from early spring thru late fall. Sometimes its only twice a month..Weather, tides, work, stuff permitting. We have fresh water rivers, brackish rivers, kettle hole lakes, bays & the ocean available within 20 minutes in any direction. I can be ready to go in 10 minutes or less, organization is key for us...I am working memorial day weekend, but I am going to try to squeeze in 2 short paddle trips if I can. Have to balance work & play...keeps the smile on my face.

The number of days paddling per year varies but on average I'd say 30 - 40. Two 8-day trips a year and numerous 3 - 4 day weekend trips to local Missouri Ozark streams to trout fish. The 8-day trips are 1 BWCA trip, sometime two and on years where I do one BW trip the second week is to the Ozarks.

This doesn't include any of the partial days I launch one of my canoes on my acre and a half pond to fish for catfish and LM bass.

Last year was my first year paddling, 4 seperate occasions, one of those include my 7 day trip. This year so far once, have plans for this weekend and this august, I would go much more if I could find the time.

When I lived in MN, it was almost weekly during spring/summer/fall. Mostly rivers and the BW/Q a couple times a year. Since I moved away in 1999, I am lucky to see a canoe with me in it more than 2 or 3 times a year. SAD!!

I find myself wondering who the "guest paddler" is who is bringing back these threads from long ago. Anyone else puzzled by this?

quote Spartan2: "I find myself wondering who the "guest paddler" is who is bringing back these threads from long ago. Anyone else puzzled by this?"

I've been wondering also.
It's been interesting though as I've caught up on several threads I missed or before I joined.

Most of my canoeing is done in Quetico and Boundary Waters for a few weeks a year. I have probably only canoed 5 or 6 times this year on a local river so far. I spend most of my time wading rather than floating.

i have a theory, it has to do with keeping alive the memory/posts of Jan/Kanoes.

quote Mocha: "i have a theory, it has to do with keeping alive the memory/posts of Jan/Kanoes."

Maybe Jan is dropping by from the other side? That would be just like him (LOL)

quote Spartan2: "I find myself wondering who the "guest paddler" is who is bringing back these threads from long ago. Anyone else puzzled by this?"

I was thinking the same thing.

quote Basspro69: "

quote Spartan2: "I find myself wondering who the "guest paddler" is who is bringing back these threads from long ago. Anyone else puzzled by this?"

I was thinking the same thing."

It's getting out of hand I think... I hope the administration nips this in the butt.

quote Basspro69: "

quote Spartan2: "I find myself wondering who the "guest paddler" is who is bringing back these threads from long ago. Anyone else puzzled by this?"

I was thinking the same thing."

It's getting out of hand I think... I hope the administration nips this in the butt.

quote nctry: "

quote Basspro69: "

quote Spartan2: "I find myself wondering who the "guest paddler" is who is bringing back these threads from long ago. Anyone else puzzled by this?"

I was thinking the same thing."

It's getting out of hand I think... I hope the administration nips this in the butt."

No harm in digging out old threads anonymously. The mysterious guest seems polite enough. I appreciate the increased variety of topics. Many of us lurked for years before joining.

To answer the OP from 4 years ago: I live 200rods from the upper Mississippi, so I this spring sofar I have gotten in at least 2 paddle workouts a week. It takes me longer to load the boat on the car and drive than it does to just portage the 12 minutes down to the river. It's the same territory every time, but I treat it like a fitness activity. And then there is about once each month where I either get a weekend explore of a new paddle route, or a BWCA trip.

I'll be lucky to paddle 4 or 5 days this year. And no overnight trips. :(

3 days a week..assuming the water is soft.
Probably every day now that the dock is in.

Not nearly enough.... A few times a year if I'm lucky. Taking the family canoe camping after 7/4, that's the big trip this year.

I'm lucky. I live about 2 blocks from Lake Minnetonka. I have nice kayak wheels, and I always have one canoe ready to go, maybe 10 min to get on the water at most. I tend to go in streaks. I canoe a lot the month after ice out, then I stop for Spring yard work. After 4th of July the boat traffic dips a bit, so I'll start going again weekdays at dusk (to avoid the powerboats). Once school starts, I'll go weekends again - often have the big lake to myself. I probably get to canoe at least 50 days a year, but I've never counted. That said, it's hard for me to get time off for BWCA. Most trips are 2-4 days by myself, spur of the moment. I seem to be able to go once in Spring and once in late summer.