Soggy Bottom Paddlers Women's Travel Group

30/08/2026

Great adventures start with peaceful mornings.

29/08/2026

Another glorious run on a new-to-us section of the Cuyahoga River Cuyahoga Valley National Park (near Cleveland, Ohio). Thanks to Cuyahoga Valley Adventures for opening this new adventure.

21/08/2026

The Salt River Rendezvous trip in Mesa Arizona is filling up! This is a small group so if you’re thinking about coming with us in May, act now. https://www.soggybottompaddlers.com/upcoming-trips/may-2027-salt-river-rendezvous-details

15/08/2026

15/08/2026

LESSONS LEARNED: Sometimes you don't have the right kayak to get the job done.

Angie and I took the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad from Brecksville, Ohio to Peninsula, Ohio to kayak through a new-to-us section of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The railroad has a program where they load/unload your kayak and then we paddle back to our cars. Very cool. We met up with a new friend, Sue from . She had a hard-shell Dagger sit-in kayak. We took my GoPlus inflatables.

We prepared for the trip by asking other kayakers online and volunteers at CVNP for details about this section of the river. We checked the water level and it was at a suggested level for paddling. We brought all things one might need for a trip (carabiners, ropes, phone, water, etc.). We felt ready.

The put-in was at the base of a little waterfall and we immediately needed to navigate some short pretty gentle rapids. Sue got through no problem. However, my inflatables have a (usually) nice skeg. Angie got stuck on the first little rapid. I got on the next one. We fought our skegs because the water was so low so we took them off. Still got stuck. We got more exercise getting off rocks than we did actually paddling. Phew!!

I suggested we get off the water at Boston Mills (a few miles down) rather than finishing the 8-9 mile trip. Angie agreed and Sue continued on in her hard shell. (She said we made the right decision. It was a struggle through the rest of the trip even with her more appropriate kayak).

Moral(s) of the Story:
- Sometimes kayaking is hard!
- Not all kayaks are meant for all rivers. While my inflatables have been great on all the other rivers we had been on, this one was way too low and rocky.
- It's ok to get off the river if you're battling the water currents, rocks, your kayak or anything else. Don't be tough if you can be smart.
- Make sure all the people you come with return. We did not leave the area until we knew Sue returned and was ok.
- Have a great time through the adversity. We learned how to do this section better and plan to come back and finish the trip with higher water and better gear. :)

Now onto the next adventure!

13/08/2026

Looking for a place to get away? Come stay at this peaceful ranch, see the sites, and kayak with us in May 2027 in Arizona. Details at https://www.soggybottompaddlers.com/upcoming-trips/may-2027-salt-river-rendezvous-details

12/08/2026

Salt River Rendezvous in Mesa, Arizona in May 2027 is a small group travel event and it's filling up. Whether you've kayaked before or this is your first time, this trip is for you. Read more and serve your spot now. https://www.soggybottompaddlers.com/upcoming-trips/may-2027-salt-river-rendezvous-details

11/08/2026

Taking the Cuyahoga Valley National Park train to kayak the river. Alway adventure! https://facebook.com/events/s/cvnp-train-to-kayaking-the-riv/1035849665733943/@

30/07/2026

Looking for peace in the desert? Check!

29/07/2026

We’re out west working on our 2027 May Mesa, AZ trip.