Canoe Safety 101

Things Laura and I learned on today's canoe trip down the Fox River. Or better put, common sense things that we wish we'd remembered before launching:

1. tie everything to the boat


2. always wear your lifejacket (even on a class 1 river, even if you look silly, even if you're hot, even if you'll get tan lines)


3. study a map before launching. (there might be valuable notes like: rapids--stay left.)


4. try not to carry things like wallets and car keys, but if it's unavoidable, refer back to #1


5. stay together. (especially if you have inexperienced canoers in your fleet)


6. pack extra lunch for friends who might have forgotten #1


7. if it looks like you might die, let go of the boat


8. heavily apply sunscreen to the thighs

We survived, despite our initial negligence of the aforementioned tips. There was a moment when we had to fight to emerge from the river -- boatless, paddleless, lifejacketless, lunchless, soggy, pumping adrenaline, and thankful to be breathing air and in one piece. We have since arrived home, showered, lathered up the aloe, and are both silently contemplating our next hard core adventurous undertaking. Perhaps power-knitting or a chili cookoff...