nctry_Ben wrote on Apr 11^th, 2010 at 9:56pm:

Old Salt wrote on Apr 11th, 2010 at 7:53pm: I carry the canoe on the first trip, so that it can be immediately loaded on completion of second trip. But, I'm not a solo paddler... IMHO I would tend to take the pack on the first trip in case you needed to clear a downed tree or if you had to make a choice where the path divided or even ended so you could have things figured out for when you brought the canoe over. I wouldn't think you'd put your canoe in the water and then go for your pack. I suppose in the BW you have less to worry about, but I have seen it. Ya look good in the picture Prouboy... Does the dog have room to lay down comfortably? They do adapt, all she/he needs now is her/his own pack. I'd go with the MerlinII (Have you tried it in choppy water yet?)

Puck can lie down, but so far he has chosen not to.  He gets excited (a bad thing), when he sees loons, and likes to put his front feet on the little pack, in essence, standing up.  I'm sure a deer or moose will get him really going.  I'm training him to always stay seated.  He already knows one rule -- can't leave the canoe until he gets my okay.  I think that'll help in approaching sketchy shoreline portages.  

I've got a large dog pack, but it's too big for him.  Not sure I want to go to the hassle of packing him.  

As for portaging, until now, I've always gone with others, and what to take over first is never an issue....  I portage the canoe and a small pack, and the others grab packs.  So the order of things hasn't been an issue.  I'll have to think about this some.  

Haven't been on choppy water.  Today I was chasing the wake of powerboats, but it wasn't the same.  I'll just go slow and careful.  Each time out I feel more comfortable in the boat and confident about making a trip.  I'm getting excited.  Being a fairly strong extrovert, soloing might not be my thing.  But Puck should help, and the freedom to just meander when and where I want seems so appealing.  

prouboy