Three cheers for senior solo-travelers! We can do it! 👋🇨🇦 And do it safely!

I’m a bit older than you, and 100% - I use all the tools, tips, and techniques I can to keep myself safe from injury. I have a 17-1/2’ square transom Clipper (best canoes ever!). I had a t-bone extender on my truck bed to transport it, putting it on/off much the same as you - just not as high. But even with a canoe cart, getting it to the water and back just got to be too much. Your vids got me going and I had to come up with something! So I recently bought an old trailer $150 and @$120 in parts so a young friend will convert it into a canoe trailer. It has a little 2hp motor so if I get tired or in sudden bad weather, I can motor myself to safety. Once the winter lets go of us, I’ll be taking notes on your camping trips - especially the food! - and then I’ll be out with my 2 dogs. Thank you so much for your vids - inspiring me to get back to real adventuring again!

I'm a college student and I recently found your channel and I just wanted to say that I want to be like you one day :)

Where there's a will, there is a way and you have both Wendy! 👏👍

I love how you say that you're happy to receive help to load your canoe 😊

I am you g woman and I am your biggest fan. I am working/cleaning while listening to you. I can’t wait to go camping tomorrow cuz it’s week end.

It is hard to break down the steps for something like loading a canoe. Great job with breakdown and explanation. It seems easier than expected

Wow what an inspiration! I never thought I would be able to load my kayak myself but you’ve given me a reason to rethink this

Hello from TEXAS! I just found you ❤! I’m 66 and recovering from thyroid cancer and I WANT to be like you !! I’ve wanted to girl camp or solo and you dear lady are giving me COURAGE ❤️ I also have a 55ish pound kayak I haven’t taken anywhere - (hubs does the hard part when we go) thank you for your information.

I had one of those step stools. Very sturdy. For scale, it makes me realize you're on the petite side. That third rail on your roof invaluable. Great body mechanics demonstrated. Well done!

Awesome set-up, Wendy! You are a huge resource for us aging lovelies! 👍🇨🇦😎🙏💫💃

Thank you for sharing this information! The canoe and rack companies should pay you a commission! Well done.👍

Thank you, Wendy. I was curious how you did it alone. Great tips about purchasing a new canoe too. And I agree, accept help when offered. It fosters a sense of community!

You tied that truckers hitch like a boss at the end! You are so inspiring!

You make it look so easy, but of course you are in great shape body and mind.

I wanted to stop heaving my plastic 'fishing' kayak onto my car, so I bought an inflatable one. It was quick and easy to get onto the water, but I couldn't really keep up with friends in canoes. The next year I bought an inflatable standup paddleboard and had some fun social times on it. But all that pumping gets old real fast. I sold both and now (at age 72 and fit) I'm thinking I may dust off that kayak and see if the rack will go on my car. 32 pounds sounds pretty great to me. Best of both worlds. And that period of being social in the wake of a breakup is long behind me. I live in the bush, so I'm not interested in overnights, but I would like to get back onto the many lakes I live among.

I just asked in another video how you loaded the canoe! Thank you for this. You give really great tips!

Thanks Wendy for your inspiration. I've always wanted to have a canoe ever since I took a 2-week commuter up in Northern Ontario on the lakes there. I'm 65 and you are in inspiration to me because I'm going to start doing weekends, camping trips and maybe someday get a canoe. Thank you. If you can do it I can.

Agree with all the other comments! What an inspiration and determination. I too will be thinking about replacing my kayak i sold because i had problems loading it. Kudos to you 👍

Excellent demonstration and explanation of how and why you are performing a step a particular way! You are an inspiration!

I've heard a lot of people say that getting older causes muscle loss and that's just not true. The muscle loss is a product of not doing what's needed to maintain that muscle mass. I just want to encourage you to rethink that and consider taking up a real resistance program. Like, real weights and functional strength training. I saw a video of an old man in his 80s barely able to pick up a 10lb kettle bell and in the final video, he was heaving a 60lb kettlbell like a boss. That old man is stronger than most people half his age. And working on core stuff strengthens you so you're not as likely to fall it get hurt if you do trip. Rethink that because you're active. If you added some strength training to what you do, you'd be unstoppable. You probably already are but it'll be easier and you won't have to worry as much about injuries. Edited to add: What is true about aging and muscle mass is that we get less efficient with a specific amino acid and it just means you need more protein.

Wendy, you made that look so easy-peasy! That's such a great video; very clear instructions and shows where there's a will, there's a way. Your canoe is beautiful, and that ultra-light factor is amazing. I'm with you - if someone offers to help load your canoe or kayak, say yes. It makes them feel good to help and lightens our load just a tad, and then if I'm able to help someone else, I'll return the favour. Thanks so much for sharing. Hope you're doing well.

What a gift you are to us 😁 Thank you for the demonstration! ❤

I wanted to add a tip for anyone who has a pickup truck with a trailer hitch. You can buy a truck bed extender (Haul-Master) from Harbor Freight for about $60 that extends your bed by 3 feet. I got this for my 15.5ft canoe that I find too heavy to lift on top of the roof of a car, even with help. I love not having to lift it over my head and I think its much easier to tie down and you dont have part of your canoe blocking your view while you drive!

This is brilliant. It solves my transportation problem to take more solo trips. I'll look for a comparable rack. Thanks for all your videos by the way. I enjoy them and they gave me the encouragement I needed to venture out more solo

Nice video. Thank you for sharing. 👍364

You are truly inspirational! I may not be as old as you but you give me the courage to keep on keepin💜 Bless you!

G’day, Wendy. As I watch your procedure, I have suggestions for your consideration. First though, I congratulate your spunk and determination. Good on ya!! 1. I recommend that you do your loading and unloading with the rear end of your vehicle into the wind. A wind gust from either side will easily shove your boat over, and even completely off and onto the ground. A wind gust from the front-on end could easily lift the bow, and slide to one side or the other. Wind from the rear will streamline along the boat, helping to maintain the positioning that you put it into. 2. After the boat is off, I suggest that you remove the accessory rack, and lock it in your vehicle for security reasons. 3. Get the seat repositioned in your boat! You want the front edge of the seat on the balance point of an empty boat. Your canoe appears to be symmetrical, so the balance point may be right at the center of the boat. Your single seat canoe will be easier for you to paddle in a straight line, to turn, to maneuver, and everything else. You will like it even better than you do now. 4. Carry along a kayak paddle and try it out for a couple of miles. I think that you will be pleasantly surprised. You have more paddle in the water, and more leverage to boot. When you do a bow or stern rudder maneuver with it, just try to keep the grin off of your face. 5. When you load your boat, you are setting its enter of Gravity (CG). That affects the grim of the boat. With you and your load in the boat, you normally want the bow a couple of inches higher than the stern - a wee bit nose high. That way, with the stern lower in the water, the aft part of the boat will be the pivot point. That makes turning much easier and more predictable. The bow will move left or right, and steering feels “normal”. About the only time you want a nose down trim configuration, is if you are paddling into a strong headwind. Then, you want the bow ent to be deeper than the stern, nose down. The wind will streamline the boat in behind the bow, and help to prevent broaching. If going into a strong headwind blows the bow around sideways, you are in too rough of conditions for safety. Get off the water ASAP. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying

Very inspiring! Love your channel from one west coaster, Canadian (now living in Germany) to another.

Just yesterday, my friend and I had a conversation about loading a canoe on a car. Your video is perfectly timed! Lol Thanks for the demonstration!

Thank you Wendy. I am one of the people that asked how to show us how you load your canoe. It is very impressive that you can do it yourself. Your tips have helped me to load our canoes much more easily than it has been. If we are going to continue to do the things we love we may need to modify the way we do things. Many thanks for your help. You are an inspiration!

Thanks for the great tips! As I get older, I worry about loading my kayak in the truck alone - the step stool idea is excellent, and I will be adding one to my tool box! Have a great weekend, Wendy. Hope you are able to get out there and enjoy ❤

Wendy! This was very helpful. I've been wanting a canoe, but was worried about the weight. Now I know! Thank you - L

Very helpful video. Thank you! You looked so small behind that canoe -- it's hard to believe something that big only weighs 36 lbs!

Very thorough demonstration Wendy, thank you!

We had a 14ft fishing boat but always thought I would like a canoe.

You are such an inspiration!!!

Excellent demonstration 😀

Thanks so much for this. Just the sort of information I've been looking for!

I loved my kayak that I bought in 1984, it wasn't terribly heavy and I was a champ at putting it on all my different vehicles, but I finally realized a couple of years ago that I just wasn't using it any more because of the loading and tying process. So I researched and bought a foldable kayak. It's made of a type of corrugated plastic, weighs only 20 lbs and fits in the back of my car. So happy to be able to be floating again...

Awesome!! Thank you !! I love to kayak and I don’t want to buy a trailer but I had no idea how I was gonna get my kayak on the top of the car by myself … fantastic … I’ll be looking into this !! Thanks for sharing!!

Thanks for this. I am going to have another go at my kayak adventure (small dream)! Getting it on the vehicle was holding me back. I will consider a canoe. They look more comfy and lighter.

Nice canoe! And very good knot tying :) And I like how you double checked the secureness right before you hopped in your car 🚗

Wendy I just love your enthusiasm for the outdoors. I wish I could meet some ladies like you that want to get outdoors in nature. I have to admit I have camped a few times alone but felt uneasy. Maybe I will try again.

Thank you so much. I didn’t know that back bar to leverage it on the rack system was a thing. Very awesome thank you. Looks the only place I may struggle with would be the flipping it over part. You inspire me!!

What an inspiration you are! I have a bit of a ‘canoe wish’ now (come on $2100.00! Please fall from the sky). This was awesome! Thanks

You are my hero...and inspiration. Thank you. You have given me such confidence. Keep on keeping on wonderful ❤

Good for you!👏💪🫶

You are one sharp lady! Spot on 👍

Thanks for the info, I like you, traded my heavy kayak for an 18lb pack canoe. I use a similar technique to load it on my Honda. Great tip on how you pick up your canoe to load it. Now if I could only figure out an easy way to get it on my 13ft high truck camper.😊 Enjoy your channel, nice to see another (older) woman adventuring on her own.

Nice little canoe I had an aluminum canoe years ago it was a beast to load.

Wow Wendy, I'm so dim, I didn't even begin to imagine that perfectly practical easy strategy for stowing your canoe when I asked! Excellent!! Sincere thanks for the answer in a demonstration. God bless you Wendy, happy travels. 🇦🇺🐞

Nicely done. Improvise and overcome!

Nice clear video Wendy. I drive a small van and use a similar method, but at nearly 80 years loading my heavy wood strip canoe is like wrestling a small elephant onto the roof rack! Time to find a lighter canoe I think..😊

Awesome canoe. Unfortunately, the closest Clipper dealer is 700 miles from me in St Louis, Missouri. Guess I could make it a week-long trip with a stop in Ozarks.

I worked at REI for five years, this is a phenomenal video! If i still worked there id have everyone watch it. I need a canoe or Kayak, its a big decision. I don't like getting into and out of a sit in Kayak. I do really like the two sided paddle. I'm in my 60s now. I love watching you, very inspirational.

Yes, i do the same with my 5m kayak. I use balance. To avoid scratching the paint work, i place a towel over the rear window and boot to then slide the kayak up and onto my roof racks. Luckily, i have a sedan so i don't need a ladder. However, the one you have is a very good idea. ❤

Just wanted to say how great it was to stumble across your channel. I am 71 now and solo camped for years…I don’t like campgrounds so when I couldn’t backpack anymore I quit camping but you are inspiring me! I miss being out in the back country sooo much!

Fantastic advice thankyou..I didn’t know there were light canoes..I had to give mine up as it was just getting too heavy for me..I have a light kayak now but prefer a canoe 👍

Soooo great!

You are amazing! I can only hope to be as active as you are when I am your age. Thank you for sharing your tips and tricks so others can maintain their active lifestyle!

thanks for the tips Wendy, That is a light canoe for sure, And love the roof rack you have ( Yakama ? ) that would be something I would need to use on my SUV along with the rack's I have that go cross wise like yours. love the extension . I have a hyundai santa fe. Thanks again this's was a big help .

Wendy, just started watching your videos and love watching such a young lady having so much fun!! I have the same Yakima roller bar on my 4 Runner to carry my 80 lb. fishing kayak and love it!

I just found your channel and find you so inspirational! Thank you for sharing with us. ☺️💕

This video was invaluable, Wendy. Thank you so much for showing us how you single-handedly load your canoe. I can see now where I'm going wrong.

Nice canoe. I bought a lightweight Raddison canoe a couple weeks back for the lighter weight and stability. Gotta keep going, no matter what it takes.

Thanks Wendy.. Very helpful info!

Thanks Wendy for the instructions for loading and unloading your beautiful Canoe. I couldn't load my 82 pound Rodetion Ridgeback dog for a vet visit but a very nice young beefier girl had no problem carrying her into the office. ( Leg problem). But today I loaded my picked up my 42 pound Boxer Bulldog,(13 yrs old). So I guess I can do some still. I'm a little older than you are but am kind of stuck at home with the 3dogs. Thanks for your channel.

You always have such good information! Thanks

Thank you! This was very informative ❤

I’m over 73 and I kayak solo. I have an extender rack on my pickup that fits my 14 foot kayak. I can load by myself by just lifting the front onto the rack then using the wheeled kayak cart to push it on from the rear. If I get too creaky to eventually be unable to get into my sit inside I think I’m going to get a canoe like yours. Live your adventures!

Fantastic! and love your videos :)

Brilliant!

You go girl.

Thanks for explaining this. Ultra light is the way to go when we grow older. 🪶

What a great channel! Just subbed, and shall be looking 4 your uploads, fabulous info!

Nothing beats experience. Admirable.

You're a rock star. and we love you.

Thank you I wondered this myself

very instructive

Nice process! Thank-you! Loving that folding step you have. Wish my Trailhead Prospector rental (no TM purchase) was that light. I use almost the same process to get my canoe onto my old Jeep Patriot from the back as it is high, but square. I just drape a thick towel across the back. I'm a short fellow only 5'8". So, lottsa fun.

Great video. I learned so much from it. Thanks for all the tips

Your amazing 😊Thankyou for the video

Thank you for this and great job! I will be heading out Monday for a couple weeks in the deserts of Utah. my plan this time is to do a video of me setting up my (Swiss Army Knife) truck to show folks all the bells and whistles that my Ta Crow Ma has. This will be a fun trip and different from past trips. My videos have been about where I am and not about my ugly mug. Happy trails Wendy and look forward to seeing you soon. Stephen from Raven Trails / Truck Camping

Great video, thanks for sharing. Admiration for your drive.

Nice video, very informative. Cheers!

Excellent information 💯

You are amazing, Wendy! I’m a new subscriber and your zest for life and the outdoors is contagious! I love your ingenuity and method with loading and unloading your canoe. Brains over brawn! ❤ Thank you for sharing your adventures with us. 😊

Hi Wendy, and thank you for your videos! I have a question: does one of your videos explain why you've decided to use a kayak paddle with your canoe? I did see you said at one point that it's what you've been used to for all your paddling years. Any other reason? I'm researching getting a light-weight canoe & kit, so I appreciate any tips you have. Very much appreciate your video re: loading the canoe on your car; thanks! I'll test different canoes before buying of course, but have loved hearing about your lightweight Clipper. And thanks again for your channel; you are definitely an inspiration! (I'm mid-70s and have loved canoeing/kayaking during my years but multiple knee injuries have slowed me down. BUT, I very much need to get back on the water, so getting ready for that great joy!)

Nice!!!❤❤❤

I was wondering how you loaded it. Then here is your video. Also answered the type of canoe. Lighter than the kayak I sold that was getting heavy.😂

Good strapping job too 😊

You are really awesome Wendy😊

I found your channel and I am trying to catch up on all your videos. you’re an amazing woman.

Hello, I am sure you're a huge inspiration to everyone. Many, many beautiful trips in the future!

Wendy of many Wonders, you are a trail blazer ! peace & love from Montreal, Canada

Thank you, Wendy, for demonstrating this for us. My husband invented a way to load our tandem kyak on our giant truck. One time, he accidentally lost control, and the kyak fell on my car, leaving two dents on the back bumper.😊😮

You are an amazing woman. Well done.

I was so curious about this - and was going to ask if people offer to give you a hand with loading/unloading - happy you addressed all of that :) Thank you for sharing!

You must have read my mind. I was going to ask you on the last video how this would work on my Corolla. I will be 67 soon and am just under 4"10, but strong. And I have a 38 year old daughter who's even stronger. She will be watching this doon@