For a change this post is not about a hike but about a canoe trip that we did on the Russian river. We got up early in the morning to arrive at Burke's Canoe Trips around 11am. After a short safety message and shelving over 60$ per canoe (one canoe fits two to three persons) we can head off to grab our canoes. What follows is a mellow journey down river that lasts for about 5-6 hours and features paddeling, swimming, some adrenaline rushes, and lots of beautiful scenery.
Trip description
This is a very easy trip that almost anyone can do. Burke's canoe trips ensures that you can swim and you must wear a swim vest at all times. It is important that you bring a cooler (or backpack) with enough food and drink for the day (consumption of alcohol is not allowed). A pro tip: use trash bags to seal your backpack and leave all valuables (and electronic gadgets) in your car as the canoe might tip and you get a nice refreshment! Although we were careful canoers, we tipped once when we got stuck on top of tree stump that reached halfway out of the water (and some girls in a canoe crashed into us when we were struggling to get free of said stump). In addition, the stream velocity can be high in some spots. Overall we were paddling for around 3-4 hours with roughly two hours of drying up or just relaxing on the beaches alongside the river.
The way back was a lot quicker than the journey down stream.
Picture time
Starting our journey.
Some detour through the bushes.
Wildlife alongside the river.
The ducks were inspecting our canoes.
Summary
It was a very fun day trip that I would do again. We underestimated the thrill factor and the current once when we tipped but it was never dangerous as we were wearing our vests. Just watch out for your valuables and gadgets - they might not like to get wet!