Saturday Canoe Trips

Get dazed and canoe-sed with weekly canoe tours of the Holston, French Broad and Tennessee rivers offered this month by the city’s parks and recreation department and Ijams Nature Center.

Participants will surely have a more relaxing experience than my last canoe trip, throughout which my first mate repeatedly yelled “Faster! Faster!” in Danish while my dog almost drowned trying to follow the canoe across the lake.

Don’t let my little story scare you. The leisurely excursions each Saturday in July will depart from Holston River Park at 3300 Holston Hills Rd. and arrive downtown after a few peaceful hours of paddling, wildlife watching and picnicking.

Participants will meet at 8 a.m. to learn canoe safety and proper paddling technique before setting sail, followed by a lunch break (pack it in a waterproof container) and more canoeing.

Canoe trips are $20 per person and are open to anyone who is able to swim and willing to wear life jackets. Group rates are also available and life jackets are provided. Canoe can-do’ers should wear clothing that dries easily and appropriate footwear and pack lunch, water, a hat and sun block.

Make your reservations by calling 311 no later than the Wednesday before your desired trip. And if you can write a better canoe haiku, e-mail it to wright@knoxvoice.com.