ROW YOUR BOAT

Despite pandemic, business booming at Northbrook Canoe

POCOPSON » As Americans seek a safer escape in the outdoors during the ongoing pandemic, business is booming at Northbrook Canoe Company.

Husband and wife team Zane and Susan Soderberger are working mostly seven day weeks and even put in hours on their 16th wedding anniversary.

Hundreds of people a day are floating down the Brandywine Creek on 155 canoes, 59 kayaks and more than 300 Northbrook tubes. Business has nearly doubled.

Most customers take a bus upstream and float back down to a dock at 1810 Beagle Road. Along the way they experience little other than trees, slow moving water, other tubers and boaters, a railroad bed and an occasional turtle or blue heron.

Zane said that part of the increased popularity this year is due to customers being able to socially distance on the river.

“There is no one safer than Mother Nature when it comes to the pandemic,” he said.

This is the first year that reservations have been required and limited. In the past, walkups were permitted.

“People are willing to get up at 8 a.m. to get out at 9 a.m. and still get that exercise and enjoyment of nature,” Zane Soderberger said.

Instead of having 35 reservations at 1 p.m., the number of customers is limited to 15 to 18.

“By doing that there is a more consistent stream of customers,” Zane said about the business started by Susan’s father Ezekiel Hubbard 44 years ago.

Zane said most employees work six 10-hour days per week, seasonally. Typically,

the business runs from May 1 to the first week of October when it supplies all the canoes for the Marshalton Triathlon. This year the triathlon was canceled and the business opened up three weeks later than usual.

“I’m tired and it’s a lot of work, but it’s great to give that enjoyment and allow an escape,” Zane said. Susan agreed. “It would be nice to have

a day off together,” she said. “It just isn’t working out this year.”

Susan talked about the teamwork needed to operate a canoe. She said that the person in the front, or the bow, acts as the navigator, while the person in the rear, or stern, steers.

“You’ve got to have that communication,” she said. “The spotter calls out the obstacle so the person in

the back knows which way to go.

“Although it’s calm and serene it either makes or breaks a relationship.”

Northbrook runs seven days a week. For reservations call 610-993-2279. Also offered is the everyother-week, adult only, Canoe and Dine, which includes a twilight canoe trip, live music and a BBQ bonfire.

BILL RETTEW — MEDIANEWS GROUP Zane and Susan Soderberge of Northbrook Canoe Company say people are flocking for canoe rides during the pandemic.

BILL RETTEW — MEDIANEWSGROUP Hundreds of people are floating down the Brandywine Creek every day on 155 canoes, 59 kayaks and more than 300 Northbrook tubes. Business has nearly doubled.