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Kayaking in Canberra is popular I assume mainly because of the numerous lakes, combined with a population that seems to have enough cash to spend on toys like kayaks.
As a background to Canberra, it's a planned city that was built in the early 1900's (I think) specifically to be Australia's capital city. As a result there were a number of lakes formed, mainly by the damming of the Molonglo River to give Lake Burley-Griffin, but also a few others from different streams like Lake Ginninderra and Googong reservoir. Anyway, long story short: there is a lot of water and we like to paddle on it to pass the time.
Lake Burley-Griffin has vertical concrete walls along a lot of it's shores and as a result there can be quite a lot of multi-directional chop when the winds come up. Most flat water paddlers confine themselves to the the calmer waters of the Molonglo river to avoid a swim, but the more sturdy boats can enjoy a really peaceful trip around the lake, a pretty different and relaxing way to see the nation's capital.
In building this Pygmy kayak, I'm hoping I can venture past the sheltered waters of the Molonglo more often, and as a result clock up a lot more miles - It can get pretty boring just doing laps of the river! I always envy those guys in sea kayaks who I power past in my flatwater K1, only to have to turn around when the river mouth opens up at the Hospice, as they carry on merrily onto the lake. I guess it's true what they say about the grass always being greener on the other side of the fence!
I also would like to be able to take a fishing rod out with me, I've tried throwing a line in the lake before from the shore with no luck, but it's still a pretty cruisy way to pass the hours on a lazy Sunday in summer. The only fish in the lakes as far as I know are Carp and Redfin, but I'll take what I can get.
