training for my first Texas Water Safari

Sat - March 5, 2005

training for my first Texas Water Safari

Spence X-treme canoe on Lone Tree Reservoir 2002

Lone Tree Reservoir, May 16, 2002, 05:25 pm. Canon PowerShot S40

I spent a lot of time during spring of 2002 in my new Spencer X-treme canoe training for my first Texas Water Safari.

Lone Tree Reservoir is one of my favorite spring paddling location. The reservoir is usually full at that time with many bushes and trees standing in water and it provides a unique opportunity for a safari paddler in Colorado: to practice boat portaging over fallen trees and logs. Blue Heron rookery is very active and there are a lot of other birds. The lake is still relatively quiet with only fishing boats allowed, though a new home development reached its shores.

My safari training included also paddling South Platte, North Platte, and Gunisson Rivers. Before that, we spent the 2001 Christmas Holidays in San Marcos, TX where I could paddle San Marcos and Guadellupe Rivers and learn from several safari veterans: Erin Magee, James "Devo" Devoglaer, John Stockwell and Norm Thomas.

I was reasonably well prepared for the 260 mile race and finished it in a good style for a newcomer. I didn't do that much river paddling in the following year for my second Safari. The 2002 TWS was a first race in my paddling life.

Posted at 07:53 AM

Wayfarer on paddling and photography

Sat - March 5, 2005

training for my first Texas Water Safari