We proved it! Even landlubbers can enjoy paddling on the waterways of Central & Western New York. My husband Rich and I qualify as dyed-in-the-wool landlubbers. We enjoy long distance hiking and feel best with backpacks strapped to our backs. But, for the past two years we traded our backpacks for kayaks (not on our backs, of course) and explored 55 ponds and over 620 miles of flat-water streams as research for two new guidebooks. Along the way we discovered some special places and experienced surprises that left us with a whole new appreciation for Central & Western New York.

One of the first streams we paddled was Oswayo Creek from Shinglehouse, Pennsylvania to Toll Gate Corner, New York. It led us through pristine wild areas with no sight or sound created by man. A pair of eagles acted as our self-appointed guides. They perched on a tree along shore and waited for us to catch up. Then they'd swoop down the creek to find a new perch downstream and patiently wait for us again. It was almost as if they were trying to say "this way to New York State."

Back in Rochester (our hometown), we launched into Black Creek where it meets the Genesee River and paddled upstream. We expected to find blowdowns and logjams blocking our progress and instead found a clear, winding channel lined with the brilliant red of cardinal flower in full bloom. Then, the southern reaches of the Genesee River, from Wellsville to Portageville, became an unexpected delight. The clear water moves briskly, but bends were lined with cobblestone banks that allowed novice paddlers, such as us, to scout suspect curves for strainers, and to easily walk around ones that made us uncomfortable. In the Southern Tier we paddled the wide, easy Susquehanna River to circumnavigate Hiawatha Island and hiked trails on the island, to stretch our legs.

In Ithaca, we explored Cayuga Inlet and the mouths of Fall Creek, Cascadilla Creek and Pleasant Brook near Cayuga Lake, and treated ourselves to ice cream with a stop at a dock along the way. Owasco Outlet from Throopsville to the Erie Canal was another crystal clear, moving stream. Here, we'd round a bend to startle a group of deer standing in the creek, and watch them bound out of view. In West River Marsh at the south end of Canandaigua Lake our paddles sliced through duckweed, as we startled ducks resting on the placid water. In Eighteenmile Creek below Burt Dam it felt like floating on the top of an aquarium. Below our kayaks, fish of various sizes, shapes and colors darted among the waving sea grasses.

Many ponds, such as Labrador Pond and Dryden Lake, offered peaceful seclusion, nestled in wooded hills. Hanging Bog Pond provided solitude and the chance to paddle close to rare bog plants like sphagnum moss and pitcher plants. In Lamoka Lake we paddled out to Red Bank Island and swung on the tree rope to drop into the refreshing water on a warm summer day.

For a unique experience, you can't beat the Buffalo River Urban Canoe Trail that takes you past historical remains of an active industrial area. Or for a longer adventure, explore Cassadaga and Conewango Creeks in the southwestern part of the state, that are maintained as cleared channels, with good access points, and lean-tos for camping. Finally, we were pleasantly surprised by the beauty of the Tioughnioga River north of Binghamton. The water flowed in a wide valley with low banks providing panoramic views rimed with farm-dotted hills.

Even landlubbers can find beauty and surprises galore on local waterways. Our two new guidebooks (Take a Paddle - Finger Lakes New York Quiet Water for Canoes & Kayaks and Take a Paddle - Western New York Quiet Water for Canoes & Kayaks, www.footprintpress.com, 1-800-431-1579) are packed full of maps and all the details you need to explore area ponds and waterways. They even cover where to rent boats, find shuttle services, and where to find paddling lessons and guided tours. Landlubbers and veteran paddlers alike can have fun exploring our area's water trails.

Sue Freeman and her husband, Rich spend as much time as they can outdoors, then write about it to get us outside, too. Sue's first appearance in 14850 Magazine was "Ithaca's loaded with waterfalls" in our June 2002 issue. Photos courtesy of Sue Freeman, Footprint Press.