| We had a camping holiday once on the banks of the | | | | of one of the drops, your canoe would perch |
| Thamalakane River just outside Maun, in Botswana. A | | | | precariously over the edge until half its length projected |
| river in the midst of the Kalahari semi-desert, | | | | into space before it tipped downwards, and most likely |
| incongruous! The river was full of reeds and ran no | | | | you would fall out as it dropped into the water below. |
| more than 4' deep in the middle. This was below the | | | | Wearing a life jacket is thus important. |
| road bridge. The water was directed into frothy, | | | | The remoteness of the area means it would be very |
| narrow, churning channels as it negotiated its way | | | | likely that you would see wild life, both in the water and |
| through the arches of the bridge, which were high | | | | at the waters' edge - an experience unlike anything to |
| enough for a man in his kayaks to get through. My | | | | be found in city parks or other built-up areas. |
| husband decided he needed to make sure he was | | | | There are plenty of quiet stretches where paddling is |
| made of the stern stuff of early explorers, so he took | | | | gentle and the river is at peace, only to be disturbed if |
| our fibreglass 2 seater kayak and down the chute he | | | | the weather changes. Even then, if it's rain and not |
| went. | | | | wind, the rain only wets the back of the river, it doesn't |
| We were just outdoor enthusiasts, not whitewater | | | | affect the flow. When the wind determines to blow |
| experts! But he insisted! It was an experience inducing | | | | though, is the time to beware. |
| feelings, ultimately deeply pleasurable, that remained | | | | There is a wide choice of very suitable kayaks and |
| vivid in his memory, told and retold for many years | | | | canoes for whitewater. |
| afterwards. | | | | Some of the companies who make them are: |
| The Paull River in Saskatchewan provides ample | | | | Necky - who say about themselves that their kayaks |
| opportunity to test your skill for whitewater, and in fact, | | | | have sleek lines, elegant shapes and a wide variety of |
| for fishing too. It's in a remote corner of | | | | uses. |
| Saskatchewan, only to be reached by air. The river | | | | Airhead - whose kayaks are suitable for moderate |
| rises in Paull Lake and then runs for a stretch of about | | | | whitewater |
| 40 miles before joining the much larger Churchill River. | | | | Pyranha - who say that they have always been at |
| Paddling it can take about 4 days. | | | | the cutting edge of whitewater paddling. |
| Portages exist if you do not want to attempt all the | | | | Dagger - their goal is to represent everything that is |
| rapids - that means carrying your canoe overland | | | | great about getting on the water even to the pure |
| along the laid-out trail. Tuck Falls, for example is about | | | | rush of whitewater. |
| 12' high in some places If you found yourself at the top | | | | |