While looking for paddling clubs for the previous post I came across a club out in Arizona (One of the 7 remaining states I need to get to have been to all 50). The club is called the Lake Pleasant Paddlers and they are very interesting. This is an informal club that meets each month. They don’t have dues and bylaws and things like that of the RICKA club. They do however, have an interpretive ranger who goes on each paddle to instruct the paddlers on the local ecosystem, history and archeology of the lake. Each month the Pleasant Paddlers go to a different part of the lake. There they learn about that area and can easily venture close to wildlife on their silent watercraft.
Arizona is very popular right now as a place to live. There seems to be more and more Arizona luxury real estate popping up. Friends of ours have a little place in Arizona and they love it for the climate. My Aunt even lived there for a while. I still need to go there and maybe I can good and visit the Pleasant Paddlers and go for a paddle with them.
I’m not starting a club at this time but I think I might join a locally established one next season. The closest one to me is RICKA which is the Rhode Island Canoe/Kayak Association. I had looked into this group once before when I thought I would have more time to paddle, it ended up that I did not. But in order to get out there more I think joining a group might be the best thing for me.
Paddling clubs allow you to get out and paddle with other people. You know that they will have their own equipment and experience. IT is also a great way to meet new people. The RICKA club has been established for 30 years and is very organized, by the looks of their website. There is even an offshoot that is specific to the BlackStone Valley River.
A Family membership for RICKA is $15 a year. Heck, we can certainly swing that, and it covers 2 adults and the children under 18. Nice. To get involved in the Blackstone Valley part of RICKA is an additional $10 a year. Not to shabby.
I think that part of the Wired Kayaker’s 2008 season is going to include membership into a paddling club. Should be fun.