: Here in Canada I used to try to expand the paddling season to the full 12
: months I felt entitled to. I have managed to get the boat into the water
: right up to November, and once in January; never quite managed December
: tho. The geese walking around on the ice seemed a bit confused when I
: paddled past them in the narrow open channel. So narrow, I couldn't turn
: the boat, but the one I was using goes equally well in either direction.
: The paddles skid on ice so I contemplated putting tire studs on the paddle
: at one so I could follow even narrower channels but common sense
: prevailed. I did confirm by experiment that a kayak is not suited for use
: as an icebreaker! It did what all good icebreakers did, slid up on top of
: the ice so the weight could break it. That is, until I hit a thicker piece
: of ice; the bow rode up and up until the boat became unstable. I didn't
: get a ducking fortunately, just a bad scare; a lake with an uninhabited
: shore is not a good place for a mid-winter dip.

Hope you wear a drysuit.

Bill H.