Solo canoeing is an outstanding way to get in touch with paddling at its most elemental level. One paddler, a single bladed paddle, a canoe with no rudder, and a set of skills - very little between you and the raw experience. When it comes to the canoe itself, a Bell Merlin II is a sweet machine. In my opinion it is a near perfect blend of characteristics: it can turn on a dime when asked but will go straight ahead for miles with 5 or 6 strokes on a side in the sit-and-switch. And it's nice to look at too.
That's Ted in the upper photo - paddling near Burrows Island in north Puget Sound. If I'm not mistaken, Ted likes this boat too, but I think he prefers a go-fast-and-straight design over this multi-purpose style. Not me. This is it for me. OK, I admit, I'll need one day to add a straight and fast boat to the quiver...
Kaj
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