Dennis – 8 hours ago  »  
I’m sure that there is somebody somewhere who has perfected the installation of highway pegs on their canoe and are waiting egerly for an opportunity to share that knowlege with the world.

What are highway pegs?

Thanks.

Sorry Crow… Highway pegs are something you add to your Honda Rebel 250 Chopper so you can put your feet up and look cool as you tool down the interstate. They are most often seen being used by middle aged men who are also growing a ponytail out of their neck hair.  ;-) I was sure that by now they would have been adapted to use as comfortable footrests for canoes. Well, at least by someone here in the Ozarks. 

MM… Seat cushions were invented by lazy North Americans who never walk anywhere and have no ass-muscles to prevent them from bruising their tailbones on hard aluminum canoe seats. Luckily we don’t need them for insulation from the cold.

Where are tips #2 and #3 ? Please make the text of the actual tip in bold type by highlighting it and clicking on the big B.

4) Think like a kayaker: outfitter your thwarts with bungee cords.

Bungee cords on thwarts hold your maps, compass, and anything else you need to securely stash. Just drill a couple of holes in the thwart run a bungee out on to the other and knot their ends.

Funny, Dennis! It seems I already have you converted, because one of Nessmuking’s three goals is to “promote self-direction by emphasizing the do-it-yourself culture in the sport of paddling.” Isn’t that what this thread is about?

Even your true blue river canoeist—and I can relate from gaining my first experiences canoeing on Iowa rivers and on the
Mississippi—want to protect the waterways they travel. Nessmuking.com “believe[s] growing paddlesport participation advances wilderness protection.” I doubt they’d argue with Jacques Yves Cousteau sentiment: “People protect what they love.” This means that they probably already practice one of Nessmuking’s goals.

As far as lightweight theology—which implies dogma, which Nessmuking doesn’t have; we’re willing to question anything and everything—traveling light makes everything easier and more pleasant, which is what this thread is about. Seriously, if you have a choice between a tent that weighs 4 pounds and a tent that weighs 6 pounds and both provide the same level of comfort, why take the on-the-water resistance hit and extra weight on you back during a portage? Less resistance means the canoe is easier to paddle and not having to lug 60-pound packs on portages—if on rivers, around dams—means a more pleasant trip.

5) The weight of packaging adds up, so repackage all your food items. It’s really surprising how much packaging gets hauled into the woods and much of it doesn’t burn well, so it’s best to repackage your food into light plastic bags and leave the heavy store bought packaging at home. From 8 Easy Ways to Go Lighter.

I think it’s also a good idea to take two sets of keys if you are planning to use a shuttle service. I’m happy to report that I finally shelled out the money for one of those transparent dry sacks for all of the junk from my pockets that usually makes my pants look so flattering.

I was having a little fun with Bryan before and indirectly poking fun at somebody I know who always thinks that more of everything is a good rule of thumb on a camping trip. Sometimes the best thing you can do to be comfortable and happy is to take less instead of more.

I’m also an avid repackager from my backpacking days and have often inadvertantly left the cooking directions for the camp dinner somewhere back at home. Things in bags all look pretty much the same when it’s dark and you’re really tired. This can lead to a few “surprise” style meals if you are not careful.

I never really thought of any of the things I do to prevent waste or pollution as a personal philosophy but rather just good old Midwestern common sense. The trouble is that common sense is not an easy thing to impress on people who are used to an endless supply of disposable products. I think it’s something that deserves further discussion.

I was thinking of the toilet paper earlier and if I could amend your tip I would add, “and know how to use it.”

It sounds goofy but some people require instructions on how to crap in the woods and what to do after the crap… I mean fact. 

I’m dying to see your line drawing of a bicyle basket tied to a canoe thwart so feel free to add that.

I have not seen the bicycle basket arrangement yet, just heard about it. I’m sure with a little ingenuity you could rig something similar up.  I thought for the open boaters out there it might be a handy rigging tip to experiment with.

You are on your own with the TP too.