It is addictive.
It is total relaxation.
You will meet lots of people with beards, collies and sandals.
As above, get some swimming lessons asap. It is a sport where not if but when you swim.
Find a local club – see if they have some coaching going on.
I would also recommend Ray Goodwins book – http://www.raygoodwin.com/RayGoodwin.com/The_Book.html – and he is also a great, great coach should you want to go down that route. He is the chap that did a Ray Meers series canoeing in Canada. (Clicky here for vid)
Register on http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk (Like STW, but straight-laced and with a penchant for knives, stoves, cool paddles and bannock)
Buy a canoe.
Enjoy.
Then you get to do all sorts of fun…
[url=https://flic.kr/p/6UFQq2]Cantle Canoe Trip[/url] by matt_outandabout, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/8xxBMf]P1040196[/url] by matt_outandabout, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/c6ufGJ]IMGP3270[/url] by matt_outandabout, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/cHRaZW]River Tay Canoe[/url] by matt_outandabout, on Flickr
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[url=https://flic.kr/p/9yMrop]R0011537[/url] by matt_outandabout, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/dYNufk]Instructor Training Course[/url] by matt_outandabout, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/dYNHua]Instructor Training Course[/url] by matt_outandabout, on Flickr