Bob Spain's Canoeing Guide and Favorite Texas Paddling Trails

River Books, Sponsored by The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, Texas State U

by Bob Spain, Andrew Sansom (Foreword), Joy Emshoff (Illustrator)

Premiere paddler and Texas Canoe Racing Hall of Famer Bob Spain presents a thorough and personal guide to all aspects of canoeing. He opens with a brief history of canoes and canoe making in North America followed by an illustrated how-to section on proper paddling technique and posture. Instructional photos and drawings by Spain’s paddling partner and wife, Joy Emshoff, help make your first-time paddling adventure less intimidating and more enjoyable. Readers will learn how to hold a paddle, perform basic strokes, and improve their technique as well as gain important information on the various types of canoes available. A handy checklist in the back of the book outlines important safety gear and essential equipment to pack in your canoe for day trips and overnight expeditions.

Both newcomers to the sport and seasoned paddlers will find Spain’s detailed descriptions of his ten favorite inland and coastal Texas paddling trails entertaining and helpful. He provides useful logistical information—such as launch and take-out locations—GPS coordinates, available camping sites, and suggestions for nearby paddling trails. These trails offer paddlers a unique opportunity to explore the state and its varied wildlife while promoting the importance of preserving waterways. Spain concludes with a discussion on pressing conservation issues—water pollution, urban growth, habitat destruction, invasive species, and natural disasters—and the role ordinary people can have in protecting these natural resources for future generations.

(Printed on waterproof paper)

224 pages, Paperback

Published May 11, 2018

Reviews

[RTB: Review of Texas Books]

by Jennifer Ravey

Just in time for summer comes Bob Spain's Canoeing Guide and Favorite Texas Paddling Trails. Conveniently printed on waterproof paper, the guide covers a brief history of canoes, canoe design, paddling gear, paddling technique, safety, Texas waters, Bob Spain's favorite paddling trails, and a discussion of conservation.

Perfect for the novice paddler but just as handy for hobbyists, Bob Spain's Canoeing Guide details the pros and cons of various boats, along with pricing and design, and the appendices include gear lists for day or overnight trips.

While the first several chapters are necessary and interesting for those just taking up a paddle, the real gem of this guide is in Bob Spain's favorite paddling trails.

Complete with descriptions of the geography of the area, flora and fauna as well as maps, GPS coordinates, and driving directions (including current construction and other impediments), this section of the guide makes planning a canoe trip - half-day or otherwise - a breeze. Photographs and depictions of signs paddlers will encounter make this handy book essential for those exploring Texas waterways.

The final chapter on conservation is a brief treatise on habitat destruction, water resources, and invasive species as well as natural disasters. While Texans love the outdoors, in order to continue to enjoy such recreation, paddlers should be aware of conservation efforts. As Andrew Sansom, Executive Director of The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University, notes in the foreword, "those who increasingly use our rivers and streams often come to love and even defend them from the many threats that these waterways face" (viii).

Convenient, practical, and well thought out, Bob Spain's Canoeing Guide is a must for those interested in exploring Texas by canoe or kayak.

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