Many thanks for the helpful input on my previous questions, so maybe I can
ask another one: what makes for a good paddling cadence? I've spent some
time looking at the various videos showing the forward stroke at different
web sites, and they seem to show a very fast cadence (about one complete
stroke rotation every second or even faster), while the printed advice seems
to emphasize torso rotation and gliding between the strokes. Since I tend
to focus on technique, I've been concentrating on a solid front plant (as
far forward as I can without bending the body) around the toes, a steady
rotation while keeping the paddle close to the side of the boat, and
extracting the paddle near the hip. Doing this gives me a cadence of about
one every two seconds or so.

On a measured course, I did 8 km (5 miles) in just over 1 hour (no wind or
current), and on a recent day paddle, I did 32 km (20 miles) in about 4.5
hours (10-20 kph wind headwind, for first half of trip, same as tailwind for
return). My boat is a Current Design Sqall (plastic, 16'6" long) and I'm
using Aquabound "expedition" paddles. All my paddling to date has been on
flat water, although I like to go out when the wind is up. So, is my
cadence a reasonable one for a "regular" paddler? Should I be shortening
the stroke to increase the cadence?