Our paddling pace tends to be quite leisurely throughout the day. Our intention is to travel no faster than the slowest paddler in the group, that way we can utilize endurance to get us where we need to go.
Occasionally, we’re confronted with strong currents that require sustained paddling for channel crossings. For your safety, this is where your kind, unfailingly polite Outdoor Odyssey’s guide may turn into an ogre and implore (i.e. demand) that you “put the pedal to the metal” and paddle strong and fast in order to make it across the channel in a timely and efficient manner. Your guide will then, of course, revert back to their previous happy demeanor. 
