Unlike many other Georgia rivers that begin their journeys to the sea along the flanks of ridges in the relatively pristine confines of national forest lands, the Ocmulgee-a name that means "where water boils up" in Muskogee-rises inside Atlanta's I-285 perimeter highway as the South River in a jungle of asphalt and concrete. In fact, its very headwaters are buried beneath a hazardous waste site. Its other main tributaries-the Yellow and Alcovy-rise in Atlanta's fast-growing northeast suburbs of Gwinnett County, and they too have not escaped the impacts of city life. Yet the Ocmulgee also hosts one hundred species of fish, eighty-five of which are native to the river, as well as eighteen native freshwater mussel species, including seven species found nowhere else on the planet. In the Ocmulgee River User's Guide, both novice and experienced water sports enthusiasts will fi nd all the information required to enjoy the full length of the river through Macon to its confluence with the Altamaha near Lumber City. Author Joe Cook includes detailed maps, put in and take out suggestions, fishing and camping locations, mile-by-mile points of interest, and an illustrated guide to the animals and plants commonly seen in and around the river. Day-trippers will enjoy the guide's fascinating description of the cultural and natural heritage of this richly diverse waterway. FEATURES: An introduction and overview of the river Chapters describing each river section with detailed maps and notes on river access and points of interest A compact natural history guide featuring species of interest Notes on safety and boating etiquette A fishing primer Notes on organizations working to protect the river

The remarkable eighty-five-day journey of the first two women to canoe the 2,000-mile route from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay Unrelenting winds, carnivorous polar bears, snake nests, sweltering heat, and constant hunger. Paddling from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay, following the 2,000-mile route made famous by Eric Sevareid in his 1935 classic Canoeing with the Cree, Natalie Warren and Ann Raiho faced unexpected trials, some harrowing, some simply odd. But for the two friends-the first women to make this expedition-there was one timeless challenge: the occasional pitfalls that test character and friendship. Warren's spellbinding account retraces the women's journey from inspiration to Arctic waters, giving readers an insider view from the practicalities of planning a three-month canoe expedition to the successful accomplishment of the adventure of a lifetime. Along the route we meet the people who live and work on the waterways, including denizens of a resort who supply much-needed sustenance; a solitary resident in the wilderness who helps plug a leak; and the people of the Cree First Nation at Norway House, where the canoeists acquire a furry companion. Describing the tensions that erupt between the women (who at one point communicate with each other only by note) and the natural and human-made phenomena they encounter-from islands of trash to waterfalls and a wolf pack-Warren brings us into her experience, and we join these modern women (and their dog) as they recreate this historic trip, including the pleasures and perils, the sexism, the social and environmental implications, and the enduring wonder of the wilderness.

There are at least 31,460 freshwater lochs in Scotland, and hundreds of sea lochs. This stunning book showcases more than 50 of the most popular, interesting and beautiful, and is a perfect guide for anyone visiting or exploring Scotland, or wanting to find out about these iconic and breathtaking locations, sometimes sitting by spectacular coast and other times nestled in between towering mountains. Take in the classics such as Loch Ness and Loch Lomond, then meander round Loch Fyne (where red squirrels were first reintroduced to Scotland in 1847), the long Loch Long (20km and the straightest in Scotland), the fjord-like Loch Goil, and Scotland's oldest inhabited castle at Loch Sween. Discover the stunning Loch Awe (with its less attractive legend of the goddess who created it being transformed into an immortal hag), Loch Linnhe (bordered by the stunning railway line used for the filming of Harry Potter's Hogwart's Express) and Loch Nevis (Europe's deepest sea loch). This book is absolutely crammed with intriguing and surprising information. Packed with maps and information on local facilities, this book is the perfect guide for walkers, boaters and anyone wanting to know more about these iconic and breathtaking locations. Each chapter is beautifully illustrated with remarkable colour photography, as well as absorbing text on the landscape, wildlife and history.

"Outstanding. Its combination of historical material, maps, photos, and travelogue brings the fur trade era alive. Seldom has the past and the present been brought together so successfully." -George Melnyk, University of Calgary "The reader is exposed to hundreds of points of interest, historical rock paintings, landmarks, campsites, local histories, and folklore...[the book] will tell any canoeist or adventurer almost all they need to know." -James Winkel, Saskatchewan History An invaluable resource for paddlers preparing to face the challenges of Canada's old fur trade highway, Canoeing the Churchill is also an exhilarating trek into the past for the "armchair voyageur." With routes for both beginners and experts, Canoeing the Churchill provides practical "on the water advice" for the entire 1,100 km route--from Methy Portage to Cumberland House. Canoeing the Churchill "will introduce the beauty of the north and its rich cultural heritage to readers from all parts of the world." -Keith Goulet, Cumberland House Cree Nation

For some learners a picture is worth a thousand words--and this lavishly illustrated volume proves the rule. The expert advice and lively illustrations combine to offer serious how-to instruction in an entertaining fashion to sea kayakers of all levels.

Developed by an ACA-certified instructor over years of paddling and education, this complete program provides a visual tour of all that sea kayaking can offer, including ingenious tips on advanced paddling techniques, navigation and safety, and more.

The first edition (0953195619 which went out of print Spring 2007) rapidly became a standard text for sea kayakers. This new edition builds on that success. There are numerous improvements in the explanations and GPS is covered in more detail, reflecting the increased availability and usage of electronic navigational aids. Full use is made of colour photos, diagrams, maps and charts, further enhancing the reader's experience. Exercises to reinforce and self-assess how much the reader has taken on board are provided at the end of each chapter."Sea Kayak Navigation" is recommended as support material for the new British Canoe Union navigation courses that are currently being introduced.

This is the 2007, second edition of William Nealy's cult manual of intermediate and advanced whitewater techniques - "Kayak, the New Frontier". Carefully crafted to reflect the latest in paddling technology, William Nealy's classic, illustrated kayaking-skills manual remains dead-on hilarious.In Nealy's day, hardcore hippie hairboaters sucked air in block-long Dancers...but that was then. Today, insane youngsters steer tiny plastic boats down steep creeks with more rocks than water, and surf spinning holes and standing waves for hours without ever leaving site of their beat-up Subaru. Although shorter hair and more frequent bathing will never threaten the soundness of Nealy's illustrated techniques, equipment evolution - especially boats - has created new dynamics between moving water and modern-day paddlers. Professionally updated to reflect the latest technology, "Kayak" is back and more useful and entertaining than ever. You may break a rib laughing, but with Nealy holding your hand you'll look pretty cool doing it. The publisher confidently claims that this, the best-selling how-to-kayak manual in the world.

#1 New Release in Alcoholism and Christian Self-Help Memoir and Portrait of a Family at Its Worst and BestSome memoirs shock. Some entertain. Some take us places we're afraid to go. A rare few move us. Once in a blue moon, a book does it all. This is Risking the Rapids. Dysfunctional family. Risking the Rapids opens with the shocking death of O'Garden's older brother, which prompts her and other relatives to seek closure on a journey through the remotest spot in Montana. Described genially as a river "float", a harrowing journey unfolds. This wilderness trip is contrasted with O'Garden's account of growing up with her six siblings in a clashing Catholic family. Alcoholic father, mean mother, Catholic guilt. WCCO-TV personality Don O'Brien was well-known in the Twin Cities and in Minnesota. Whether forecasting weather and trading wisecracks with the anchor on the nightly news, pitching for sponsors, or hosting a Saturday night movie, he was a man people trusted. In private, Don O'Brien's family life was a far cry from what his fans saw on TV. Little by little we see the corrosion: nightly martinis shared with his wife Betty, an undemonstrative and icy-hearted mother. The neglect. The poisoning of self-esteem. The rigidity demanded by the Catholic church. Competition. Cruelty. All packed into ordinary days and nights as a sensitive girl comes of age. Anxiety and danger. The children vary in their response to the profound anxiety sown in the offspring of alcoholics. One brother bites his fingers to gangrene. One relentlessly bullies the author, who begins overeating compulsively. One severs all ties with the family. Danger mounts as well on the Montana raft trip, when unusual river conditions swell and speed the waters. Both stories build with escalating intensity to excruciating climaxes. If you read and liked books such as The Liars' Club, The Wounded Heart, Coming Clean, Change Me into Zeus's Daughter, or Remember Me As Loving You, you will want to read Risking the Rapids.

Review of previous edition: 'The book is much more than a trip guide. Callan weaves in anecdotes from his own trips, so there’s all the nuts and bolts info but with some good stories thrown in' The Journal of Canadian Wilderness Canoeing. Ontario’s Algonquin Park is one of North America’s foremost canoeing destinations. Only a day’s journey from the Great Lakes and much of the Eastern Seaboard, and 200 miles from Toronto, it’s a paddler’s paradise of spectacular lakes, rivers and marshes surrounded by maple hills and rocky ridges. The only way to explore the interior of the park is by canoe or on foot, where you will be rewarded with a chorus of wolves howling and the echoing call of waterfowl. You may also see more of the abundant wildlife that call it home: moose, white-tailed deer, beaver, black bears, and more than 300 bird and 30 reptile species. This revised and updated edition of A Paddler’s Guide to Algonquin Park has 64 more pages, 10 new canoe routes for a total of 35, new photographs by the author and detailed redesigned maps showing portages and permitted campsites. Callan has chosen routes of varying difficulty and experience, from easy to deep backcountry. The 10 new routes are: Across Algonquin; Cauliflower Lake; Lake la Muir/Crow Lake Loop; Lower Crow River; Mackaskill Lake; Godda Lake Loop; Carl Wilson Lake; Opeongo Lake; Ralph Bice/Daisy Loop; Big East River. Along with updates of information according to changes in park conditions, regulations, closed routes and so on, the book includes this essential information: Route difficulty; Portages; Campsite locations; Put-in and take-out recommendations; Alternative access points; Updated list of local outfitters and guides; Updated web sites and more. Kevin Callan has paddled Algonquin Park for three decades. His practical advice and lively descriptions are like having him sitting in the lead canoe — and that would be an adventure.

The canoe is a symbol unique to Canada. One of the greatest gifts of First Peoples to all those who came after, the canoe is Canada's most powerful icon. Within this Canexus II publication are a collection of essays by paddling enthusiasts and experts. Contributing authors include: Eugene Arima, Shanna Balazs, David Finch, Ralph Frese, Toni Harting, Bob Henderson, Bruce W. Hodgins, Bert Horwood, Gwyneth Hoyle, John Jennings, Timothy Kent, Peter Labor, Adrian Lee, Kenneth R. Lister, Becky Mason, James Raffan, Alister Thomas and Kirk Wipper.

With its sparkling sea, 2,700km of coast and more than 800 islands and islets, Brittany is a paradise for sea kayakers. Brimming with local knowledge and practical advice, this guide contains full details of 60 paddles covering the entire Atlantic and Channel coasts of Brittany from Le Croisic to Cancale. Although these trips could all be undertaken as single voyages, advice is also given on linking several into longer expeditions or on simply selecting a spot for a couple of hours on the water. Each itinerary is accompanied by a detailed sketch map and contains all the information necessary for a safe and enjoyable day out; good launching and landing spots, timing and tidal information, distances and any local conditions to watch out for. Superb colour photographs, notes and anecdotes will stimulate further interest in this fascinating region. Equally relevant for the experienced sea kayaker, or a relative beginner, this guide will help you make the most of a week's holiday or lay the foundations for a lifetime of exploring this exciting coast. Good paddling!

From gentle streams to challenging rapids, the rivers of Vermont and New Hampshire flow through some of New England's most unspoiled countryside. The rivers featured here range from flatwater to class 3 rapids, and offer reliable water levels for paddlers from summer through fall. Here the touring paddler will find covered bridges, granite ledges, historic towns and villages, and a variety of places to fish and camp. Roioli Schweiker, an authority on the waters of New England, has distilled a lifetime of paddling experience into this friendly, no-nonsense guide. Features for this completely revised and updated third edition include maps denoting access points, rapids, bridges, and dams; tables showing mileage and river conditions; tips on trip planning, canoe touring, and camping; and information on picnic areas, short hikes, and historic sites along the way.

This is the 2012 edition of the most comprehensive guidebook to canoeing and kayaking the rivers of Wales. Nearly all the rivers of the principality are covered, mostly from navigable source to sea or confluence. From lazy gentle tours suitable for families, to raging torrents and waterfalls. There are over 180 rivers and two thousand kilometres of paddling. The book is simple to navigate with quick reference information, detailed descriptions and area maps of the river catchments. There are a great many more colour photographs in this new edition compared with the old. There's also an eclectic mix of anecdotes for a perspective on the paddling scene in Wales, past and present - but the best tales, yet to be told, are left for you to discover on the Welsh rivers. This is completely revised and updated since reprints of the first edition in 2003 and 2006. It has not been available since 2008 and there is no competitor or comparable book since the first edition.

Canoeing and Kayaking New York includes descriptions of 50 of the best trips on New York's dozens of rivers. Along with runs for both experienced paddlers and novices and profiles for both over-nighters and short, round-trip day paddles, this book contains all the information necessary for a safe, enjoyable trip. Kevin Stiegelmaier combines information about tides, river gauges, GPS waypoints, and maps with personal anecdotes, historical trivia, and descriptions of local plants and animals, sprinkled with a touch of humor.

Canoeing North Into the Unknown is an important book about canoeing Canada's most remote and fabled rivers, the rivers that flow north to the Arctic. Bruce W. Hodgins and Gwyneth Hoyle have amassed an unparalleled amount of information on who canoed these rivers and when. The rivers have long been highways for the aboriginal peoples, and the journals of those who followed in their wake, from early fur-traders, missionaries and surveyors to 20th-century recreational canoeists, provide a rich heritage of history and adventure. The account of each river system includes a geographical description, its historical significance, and chronological records of those who have canoed its waters. As well, there are maps, photos, indexes and bibliography. This book will be indispensable to all who love canoe travel, the North, Canadian heritage and adventure.

This is an inspiring, high quality guidebook for the South East of England. It is written for the recreational, non-specialist paddler and the trips are suitable for all kinds of canoes, kayaks, sit-on-tops and inflatables. The guidebook will also be useful for group leaders planning organised trips. This family-friendly guide features 26 easy but interesting paddling trips, mostly 1-3 hours long, within an hour or two of London. They provide good access and parking, include pubs and tea shops; castles and camping; and, canoe and kayak hire. This title is produced in association with Canoe England. All trips are thoroughly researched, selected, and tested by Peter Knowles.

Despite the growing interest in making paddles and canoes, it is difficult to find reliable information for that craft. For the how-to beginner, a paddle represents the perfect challenge, both finite and functional. For the skilled woodworker, the opportunity to experiment with design and technique to create a tailor-made product that perfectly suits a paddler's needs is a dream come true. In Canoe Paddles: A Complete Guide to Making Your Own, longtime canoeist and woodworker Graham Warren provides detailed information and guidance to make a canoe paddle that will be used with confidence and cherished for generations. The book is thoroughly illustrated with photographs, line drawings and plans with measurements for: How to make a paddle having a single blade, a bent shaft, or double blades; How to protect a paddle with oil or varnish; What to look for when test-driving a paddle; How to decorate a paddle; How to care for and repair a paddle.The book also covers: Paddle design - grips, shaft, blade, flexibility, weight, balance; Paddle woods and adhesives; Hand tools, power tools and homemade tools, carving and finishing tools; Making the paddle - size, design, mark out, cut and carve; Paddle plans, including Beavertail, Voyageur, Algonquin, Whitewater, Bent-shaft, Double-blade, Child's; Templates for grips, tips and blades; Materials sources. The authors include an appreciation of the evolution of the paddle plus a special chapter by renowned canoe-building teacher David Gidmark, which celebrates paddle-making in the native American tradition.

Since its establishment as a federally protected wilderness in 1964, the Boundary Waters has become one of our nation's most valuable-and most frequently visited-natural treasures. When Amy and Dave Freeman learned of toxic mining proposed within the area's watershed, they decided to take action-by spending a year in the wilderness, and sharing their experience through video, photos, and blogs with an audience of hundreds of thousands of concerned citizens. This book tells the deeper story of their adventure in northern Minnesota: of loons whistling under a moonrise, of ice booming as it forms and cracks, of a moose and her calf swimming across a misty lake. With the magic-and urgent-message that has rallied an international audience to the campaign to save the Boundary Waters, A Year in the Wilderness is a rousing cry of witness activism, and a stunning tribute to this singularly beautiful region.

Recreation -- Travel -- Nature

From Bayou Bartholomew in the north to the Atchafalaya Swamp in the south, from the Sabine River in the west to the Pearl River in the east, Louisiana abounds with water to explore. "Canoeing Louisiana" is your guidebook for paddling through a Deep South region that boasts a great variety of waterways.

The book takes a broad focus, covering the state in a way that anyone--local or visitor, day-floater or wilderness tripper--can enjoy. The book especially highlights waters that are in or near public lands, including wildlife management areas, parks, national forests and national wildlife refuges. In Louisiana there's no shortage of options, from easy day jaunts to semi-wilderness expeditions.

Although there is no whitewater in this bayou state, there is nature galore--a wealth of woods, water, and wildlife. And there's considerable variety: clear sandy streams like Tangipahoa and Whiskey Chitto; vast swamps like Atchafalaya and Honey Island; hill-country bayous like Bodcau and D'Arbonne; gorgeous lakes like Chicot and Bistineau; and sea kayaking destinations such as Grand Isle and Lake Pontchartrain. Paddlers who still want an adrenaline thrill can try finding a way through seemingly endless cypress swamps, dodging cottonmouth snakes, or paddling among alligators.

Author Ernest Herndon has identified more than thirty waterways which meet criteria for good paddling. "Canoeing Louisiana" provides general descriptions and specific information on where to go and what to expect. It also discusses types of boats and gear most suited to Louisiana, as well as techniques for camping, navigation, and fishing. And it explores relevant facets of history, ecology, folklore, and biology since most paddlers want to know more than just the logistics of a paddling destination.

This is the only comprehensive guidebook about Louisiana's waterways. It will appeal to all those who have an interest in the natural wonders of the Bayou State.

Ernest Herndon is a staff writer and outdoors editor of the "Enterprise-Journal" in McComb, Mississippi. He is also the author of "Canoeing Mississippi" (University Press of Mississippi). See the author's Web site at www.ernestherndon.com.