you are always taking a chance with a "blind date" - the more people involved, the higher the likelihood that you won't mesh with all of them


an alternative could be to join a canoe club, do some trips with those people, and then you would have a better idea of how compatible those people might be

there are a couple of clubs in Mpls. area - not sure if they do flatwater trips/BWCA or not - but it would give you other opportunites to paddle, and a way to meet potential partners that you would at least have done day trips with

does not even have to be a local club - our club has memebrs from several different states who may come out for a trip or two, so maybe WI or IA clubs could work also