Do something you’ve never done before

Canadice Lake Outfitters: Packaged relaxation –

by Brittany Touris –

This past Father’s Day, I took my dad kayaking out on Canadice Lake, a smaller finger lake between Hemlock and Honeoye. My dad lives less than a mile away from the lake, so we’ve gone out kayaking plenty of times before. When I’m out on the water, a feeling of calm comes over me. If I look around, the shoreline is natural: plants and water life. Aside from other kayakers, nothing is manmade out there. It’s quiet, unlike the bustle of Rochester that I’m used to.

Usually when we go out, there’s a bit of a hassle before we actually get to enjoy that serenity. First, we have to figure out exactly how to load several kayaks into the truck securely enough to drive to the launch area. We struggle for a while with a combination of bungie cords and ratchet straps. Then, of course, after the meditative experience on the lake, we’re immediately brought back to the reality of repeating this process to get the kayaks home.

On this outing, we decided to forego that process altogether and tried out some rental kayaks from Canadice Lake Outfitters. I had never heard of a kayak or canoe rental place on Canadice Lake before, but their website lays it out simply enough, so I knew what to expect. 1. Call and reserve. 2. Meet at their residence. 3. Follow them to the shore where they set you up with a boats and help you get out there.

It was as simple as that. John Kenney, co-owner with his wife, Gina, helped us out. They had the boats all set up by the shore, ready for us.

As usual, we had a great time exploring the lake. The wildlife was beautiful—we were able to see a Baltimore Oriole and a muskrat– who had made a home out of tree roots that protruded off the shore. My boyfriend, Adym, brought his fishing pole, but to his dismay, didn’t catch anything. But looking into the clear water, we could see bass, bluegills, crappies, perch, and others.

Once back to the shore, I was met with a challenge. “Want to try the paddle board?” John asked me.

I was hesitant, since I’d never tried paddle boarding. I’ve seen people doing it before, and it always seemed like an activity you needed a level of skill for. Skill that I didn’t think I had.

John encouraged me to try, giving me the only instruction I really needed. Start on your knees, when you get your balance, stand up. So I tried, and found that it wasn’t nearly as difficult as I thought. I floated around for a bit and started to get a feel for it, watching the life of the lake pass by beneath me.

John and Gina met while attending SUNY Brockport. After graduation, they were looking to buy a house and wanted something far away from suburban life, closer to nature. Their realtor found a place on Canadice Lake Road. They’ve lived here, in the same house, for twenty years. John describes Canadice Lake Outfitters, which they began four years ago, as their “side hustle, but full time on the weekends.” In addition to Canadice Lake, they also service Hemlock, Honeoye, and Conesus for additional costs.

Their events are probably what excited me the most—full moon paddles, wine tastings, and paddle board yoga. Before I had gotten on that paddle board, I would have thought the idea of doing yoga on it was ridiculous. Now, I’m checking my schedule to see if I can make their weekly Saturday morning classes. They do it in a shallow spot along the South end of the lake, so it’s no problem if you fall. Just get right back on. Afterward, you’re able to take the paddleboard out for a bit to explore the lake, as part of the $30 class.

No matter what your skills or experiences are with kayaking, canoeing, or paddle boarding, Canadice Lake Outfitters has a new experience for you. Perhaps you live in the city and want to get away or maybe you may have lived on Canadice Lake your entire life and want to see it through a new angle—how about “downward dog”?

Personally, I love knowing that new experiences are just a short car trip away. It’s a chance to unwind after work, or experience some excitement on the weekend.

For more information about events and prices, visit their website www.canadicelakeoutfitters.com. Here they have information on how to set up a rental and packages that are available.