Bob Spain's Canoeing Guide and Favorite Texas Paddling Trails (Pam and Will Harte Books on Rivers, sponsored by The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, Texas State University)

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)

BOB SPAIN is a certified canoe instructor and renowned competitive paddler who helped establish the Texas Paddling Trail program. He was inducted into the Texas Canoe Racing Hall of Fame and continues to compete in canoe races in Texas and around the country, including the grueling Texas Water Safari. He retired from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and lives in Austin, Texas.