In the News
November, 2016
A selection of paddling-related news stories.
"Costly bayou repairs do more harm than good" (Houston, TX)
"Heavy equipment was at work in Terry Hershey Park in far west Houston, where contractors hired by the Harris County Flood Control District were making what were described as “emergency repairs” to the north bank of the bayou. Flooding and extended high waters released from the dams last spring had eaten away at the bank and the asphalt path built on the water’s edge. The district has identified at least a dozen sites to be repaired between Dairy Ashford Road and Beltway 8..."
"Six Coolest Ways To Repurpose A Canoe"
"At Canoeroots, we know the best use for a canoe is to paddle it. Sometimes though, canoes reach the end of their lives or we find a cheap (or free) one at a garage sale that won’t last a day on a class II river. If you have a canoe you aren’t using, explore one of the ideas below to repurpose it and get cracking on a great winter project..."
"Introducing the EZ Personal Launch"
"Introducing the EZ Personal Launch. Making it EZ for Kayaks, Canoes, and Paddleboards to get on and off the water. The EZ Personal Launch is a one piece molded unit designed to give you easier access to the water. The Launch works with many items including Kayaks, Canoes, and even Paddle Boards..."
| Complete story and video: EZ Dock |
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Entry contributed by Linda Gorski. |
"Safety: Common Sense beyond Leashes and PFD's"
"So this happened on Wednesday. I couldn’t reach Otto for a few hours. I knew he was paddling and figured he probably got his phone wet. Again. Or lost it. Again. I had no idea my husband almost disappeared into the ocean, never to be seen again..."
"One Woman’s Quest To Set A New World Record In Kayaking" (Great Lakes)
"On March 13, 2017, Traci Lynn Martin will attempt a new Guinness World Record in kayaking. She aims to set the furthest documented non-stop paddling trip in one year, and will kayak 8,600 miles in 265 days through the Great Lakes..."
"Dayton gator could be biggest ever captured in Texas" (Dayton, TX)
"For the second time in as many months, the community of Dayton, Texas, is being put on the map for record-setting alligator captures.
On Wednesday, Gary Saurage and Arlie Hammonds, co-owners of Gator Country in Beaumont, captured another 13-foot, 8-inch alligator from Champion Lake in the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge. This time, the gator was taken alive. "We were called to Champion Lake to remove a number of alligators that have been coming up to the boat dock and getting really close to people," Saurage said..."
"Why Canoeing Makes You Healthier"
"Any canoe tripper knows that all it takes is a half-day paddling on a remote lake or foggy river for you to subscribe to the notion that canoeing can make you feel healthier. Clarity of mind, time away from screens and a focus on the now can allow you to feel happier and more vibrant. It’s not all in your head; there are concrete reasons why canoeing makes you healthier..."
"Fisherman rescued from rocks" (Stamford, CT)
"A kayaker fishing on some rocks off Horseshoe Beach at Cove Island Park was rescued after becoming stranded when his kayak drifted away late Friday morning...."
"Video: Mike Ranta Saves A Drowning Moose Calf" (Saskatchewan, Canada)
"Canoeing 7,500 kilometers across Canada in support of veterans seems pretty heroic to us, but adventurer Mike Ranta went one step further on his enormous journey by rescuing a moose calf. Of all the days that Ranta had on the water, the best experience was saving a moose calf drowning in logs on Saskatchewan’s Qu’Appelle River. Ranta grabbed the gangly-limbed moose by the ear and carried him into his canoe..."
"Video: Kayaker Saves Turtle Trapped In Plastic
"Any paddler who spends a substantial amount of time on the ocean knows that plastic is a serious and omnipresent environmental problem. One turtle was unlucky enough to be caught in a piece of stringy plastic. Kayakers were able to bring the turtle onto their sit-on-top kayak and cut the tangled plastic that was wrapped around the turtle's neck, dragging behind it as it swam. He then was released back into the water where he quickly swam below the surface..."