Can anyone tell me about canoeing?

[CanIJustAskAnotherStupidQuestion]

I’m booked on one of those holiday 1.5 hrs session canoeing things tomorrow. I’m embarrassed to say I am quite nervous.

I’m overweight, have a dodgy knee and a dodgy back. I’m also a bit scared of deep water.

Am I going to be able to do it OK?

I’ve seen pictures and it looks like you sit rather than kneel, so I think my knee will be OK. If it was just a mess about in the water then I think I would be fine, but it’s a “guided tour” and I am worried how long I will be able to paddle. What if I’m not strong enough, or can’t do it for long enough. What if I injure my back and then can’t drive us home ( it’s just me with the kids away from home). What if we get away from the shore and I panic?

I think I might love it, but I’m worried I’m doing something stupid given that I’m an overweight middle aged accident prone woman with prior injuries and a mild phobia.

Not sure if I am looking for someone to reassure me it will be fine, or talk me out of it.

Well, I can't say exactly how it will go for you, as I don't know the ins and outs of your health conditions. But when I canoed on the Cam to clean it after a festival everyone sat and rowing wasn't hard.

You'll be fine! the water is the best place to be in weather like this.
You'll be in a buoyancy aid so don't worry about the water. If you've on a UK river I'd be impressed if you can find one with deep water at the moment.

You're right. In a canoe, you sit down. Quite often they lash 2 together to make it more stable. That gives you more people to paddle which helps - 4-6 rather than 2-3. If you're struggling your guide will help you.

Most people only paddle with their arms so you won't use your back much.

Enjoy it!

You'll be surprised how easy you find it honestly. Guided tour will be very gentle paddling to suit beginners. Have fun!

If your back hurts you can let the children paddle and use your paddle as a rudder at the back to keep you straight.

You can kneel or sit to paddle.
Don't worry about being overweight. What are you going to wear? I tend to wear sports leggings and a sports top / rash vest when I'm on the water, perhaps not the most flattering but it means it's close fitting and the material is quick to dry.

You'll wear a buoyancy aid so if you do capsize you'll stay afloat, if the rivers still it's very unlikely to capsize as long as your children aren't jumping about and rocking it too much.

Take some easier to eat sweets like moaoms to keep your energy up if you feel like you need it. Take lots of sun cream and reapply often it's easy to burn on the water especially as it can feel cooler.

It will be fine though put on strong suntan lotion in this weather and check once in canoe have not missed bits like feet when sit down. Would also take bottled water or similar.

You don't use your knees and being a guided tour think you will have a life jacket so that will cover those fine. Just be careful with your back. If your kids are a reasonable age could get a double canoe with one of them (or two of them if they have that) and they can do most of the work. A guided tour normally is for beginners and so will be fine.

They will help you if you have any problems.

Is it a canoe, with a flap, a kayak that you sit in or a kayak that you sit on, all quite different?!

Thank you! You have reassured me a lot. I was ready to chicken out last night, but I think I will go for it.

I suspect (hope) that it’s one of those things where afterwards you wonder what the fuss was about.

I’ll be wearing my yoga gear, so all sorted there. Definitely a canoe rather than a kayak. I love the look of kayaking but pretty sure that would kill my back.

Wish me luck!

Good luck, have a great time!

I did it!

it was soooooo much fun. I am so glad I went and thank you so much for reassuring me.

There was a little hammock-like seat so I was able to sit sort of half cross legged which is ideal for both knee and back. And although it was good hard work it was only as hard as I wanted it to be. The depth didn’t bother me at all because I ended up not really thinking about it.

I want a canoe now. I’m hooked.

So glad you enjoyed it! It is addictive. We have a fleet of 10 boats now.

I'd recommend joining a club to learn how to paddle safely and efficiently and it will let you figure out exactly what you want your boat to do - and then you can go and buy exactly what you want.

Did the kids enjoy it too?