Running the Saint in a open canoe solo.

I think the level was around 8 inches at D bridge. I ran two laps that day. Starts with a swim and bloopers second half is mostly random surfs and sillyness. Saint Francis river, mo.

[@nickparkermtns]

No pedestal, no thigh straps, and not even a whitewater specific hull -- yet you have great boat control, you read the water well, and you are having fun. Much respect! Well done sir! Loved the video!

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Such a kind thing to say! When I took that video that was all I had! I have a sweet white water canoe I run down there now. I recently took the camper on a overnight with the girlfriend and ran some class 2 stuff with a fully loaded canoe that was fun. One day I will take my big boat back to the Francis and run it again.

[@wolfgangbalbasus7948]

The best Video to study the Art of solo Paddling. Thank you very mutch.

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Thank you so much! I have a lot to learn still, appreciate the nice words thanks for watching!

[@andrewfallak7572]

Oh man non stop rapid action you make it look so smooth and easy! Its a really blast watching you way up here in frozen Canada waiting for the rivers and lakes to break up. Thanks for the thrills!

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Thanks for watching! That boat is a Old Town Camper 16 it makes everything look easy its super stable it does all the fun things. Watch some of my other videos in my newer white water canoe and you will see me look like a newb and swimming a bunch lol

[@ivanoutdoors]

Man paddling rapids in a canoe is so much harder! New goals. Subscribed.

[@nahanni2k]

A master class in using and reading the river, An open boat can be so much fun at the right water levels.

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Your to kind! Glad you enjoyed, thanks for watching!

[@brianculver1301]

Great video thanks for the ride. Awesome paddlng skills & river.

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Thanks for watching!

[@user-kg8od1vf9m]

Интересный и качественный материал!👌👍 Понравилась техника прохождение препятствий!!! Против течения для ТОЧНОГО ПОПАДАНИЯ в центр струи потока 👍👏❣️

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Awesome thanks for watching glad you enjoyed!

[@andyroubik5760]

Nice piece of water! Thank you

[@canoeingcentralnewyork239]

You got skills. This was fun to watch!

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Thank you!

[@canoeman1961]

That was a hoot to watch. You're having way too much fun !

[@paddlingjourney1450]

All the fun! Cant wait for some rain to bring the river back up again! thanks for watching!

[@rootwad]

You're so quiet - am i the only one that talks to the boat when going over rapids? 😂 Fun video!

[@paddlingjourney1450]

I’m to busy trying to stay in my boat to be talking lol. I usually just scream a lot when I think I’m about to die!

[@rootwad]

@@paddlingjourney1450 🤣 Gotta say though it looks like a lot of fun out there. Not sure i'll make it to the Saint this season but it's on my list. I should probably spend a little more time in the pool this fall with MWA in st louis...

[@roy4028]

wow, cool, thanks for the control lesson.

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Thanks for watching!

[@mflacke]

Awesome footage dude!

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Thanks a ton!

[@tsdaddio]

This river looks fun. I have the same canoe but you make it look easy!

[@paddlingjourney1450]

to kind! and Camper for the win

[@dontall71]

I liked the way you turned in the eddy's after a run to look at it from a different angle. Smart thinking if you're going to run it again

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Usually trying to recollect my thoughts lol

[@robgerety]

Nice river. Nice water level. Nice day.

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Beautiful indeed!

[@cmargheimable]

Enjoyed watching you Eddy hop

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Thank you!

[@seabee0733]

Awesome brother

[@paddlingjourney1450]

thank you!

[@CanoeTheNorth]

Nice run!!! 🛶

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Thanks!

[@user-ev4vp3qy7y]

It's an amazing control. Hopefully, I will learn something, because I just lost my canoe on some rapids taking the wrong path. It's probably part of learning process:)

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Noooo your poor canoe! Hope your boat finds its way back!

[@hntrains2]

You certainly enjoy surfing!

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Surfs up!

[@sddale]

Nice job. What brand and model canoe is it?

[@paddlingjourney1450]

OT Camper!

[@tmhurley27]

1:45 Nicely done!

[@paddlingjourney1450]

thanks!

[@jaxwagen4238]

Killer run dude. What class is that drop at 1:50?

[@paddlingjourney1450]

I think it’s just class two. At really big water maybe a 3. Thanks for watching!

[@brianwhite3899]

Great vid. Is that a 14’ canoe ? Why don’t you use an otter tail paddle?

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Thanks for watching! 16ft Old Town Camper! Never used a otter tail. I float a lot of boney shallow water would a otter tail still work well?

[@stillrandy]

@@paddlingjourney1450 Otter Tail is not good for whitewater. A nice wide blade like you're using is best.

[@stillrandy]

@@paddlingjourney1450 I used to have a lot of fun soloing a 16'10" Swift Dumoine. Sometimes you just have to use what you got.

[@thomasmartin9650]

Where is The Saint? Is there a specific name for this section?

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Saint Francis river It’s in Missouri about 1.5 hours south of St. Louis. The white water section is the upper and lower. The upper run adds a few miles but it’s a lot of flat water and only a couple class 2 rapids. A majority of the paddlers will just run laps on the lower section.

[@Mainepolingguide]

What a river! Where is that?

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Saint Francis river. It’s about a hour and half south of St. Louis, MO. Thanks for watching!

[@tumbleweed6658]

Are these Class 2-3? rapids

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Mostly class two rapids the bigger drops might be super easy class 3 at the level I did that day. At higher water levels the drops are 3, at really high levels they become 4 apparently.

[@seabee0733]

Where is this?

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Saint Francis River in Missouri!

[@PanBoroda]

@@paddlingjourney1450 can you be more precise?

[@paddlingjourney1450]

@@PanBoroda www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/2921/main

[@Thestripper1]

You should install a kneeling thwart or pedestal. You inside thighs will thank you for it and your boat handling will improve.

[@paddlingjourney1450]

If I paddled more white water with this boat I would. I mostly tool around with it and camp. I got myself a Mohawk Probe for white water that I have been running this last season. I want to get a plastic boat next!

[@markstevens2888]

Take a lesson!

[@paddlingjourney1450]

Thanks!

[@MrBammbalamm]

@@paddlingjourney1450 You did great but a few things will bother you as you progress into bigger water. I noticed you tend too keep the boat level in the water where it would help to have the boat leaning. I think thats what Mark means when he says take a class. when you eddy in or out if you lean the boat and lift the edge out of the water you get a much smoother transition into the flow and that'll keep you swimming less. If you could find a class or a teacher you could get a few things that'll help alot

[@blackspruceroutes]

I think you did pretty good considering; A 16 foot boat A flat bottom boat Partially weighed down with luggage No thigh straps. A narrow boney creek. Congratulations! And thanks for the inspiration to get out there!!! :-)