Canoe...in the water...soon...

Happy Fourth of July to everyone out there. Our annual Fourth of July picnic (and surprise 7oth Birthday Party for Dad) was a success, and the pulled pork and homemade sauces went over well. More about the pork and sauces in another post.

Remember the canoe we were given back, oh two years ago? Well, just throwing out a quick update on getting our canoeing activities rolling.

"She" has been resting comfortably in our garage since we took ownership, patiently awaiting the day that she'll feel the water lapping against her sides. We are getting closer to that day, as today, I purchased three PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices) for me, The Wife, and Boompstar.

Two of the three had to be ordered online from EMS.com, but I ran over to pick up mine from the local EMS because the website didn't have my size in stock (???). I've been researching PFDs for two years, and finally decided on EMS's Allagash for The Wife and I, and Stohlquist's Nemo for Boompstar.

The next step is to head up to Oak Orchard Canoes, on beautiful Irondequoit Bay here in Rochester, and select suitable paddles. Even though Canoeing was my very first merit badge as a first-year Scout at Massawepie Scout Camps, I'll need to review proper paddle fitting technique for The Wife and I. Boompstar gets a short one... for now... but not for long.

So, as it looks now... I think we'll be on the water soon. I can already hear the lapping.

Mmm... canoey goodness... mmm

Dang.

Okay, so my "post-a-day" thought got left by the roadside. I'll work on it. Really.

A few weeks back, I was chatting with my friend Jim. Our phone conversations tend to fly all over the place, and somehow we went from codework to the canoe in his backyard. Canoe?!?

He told me he was wondering what to do with this 12' foot Grumman aluminum canoe that's been sitting in his backyard for 10 years. He got it from his brother, and used it to teach Canoeing merit badge to his troop. For the past several years, it's been sitting on sawhorses.

Ever since I took Canoeing MB my first year at Massawepie (the ULTIMATE Boy Scout Camp), I have always wanted a canoe.

I was thinking that a 12-footer solo would be a great starter boat, so I asked the only question I could think of... "How much you want for it?"

This, of course, was met by a brief pause.

"Well, I know it'll have a good home, so why don't you come over and pick it up."

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The next day, I jumped in the Caravan, and headed for Jim's. When I got there, he took me to the backyard. The first words out of my mouth were, "Jim, this is a 17-footer." Jim answers "Okay."
Needless to say, it is now referred to as "the canoe in MY backyard."

It needs some clean up, and a coat or two of auto wax, and check of the rivets, but it's in great shape. And then I need to get some PFDs (that's Personal flotation Devices, for those of you playing the home version) and paddles, and she'll be in the water in no time.

I also need to teach my Sweetie how to canoe, and then when Boomper is old enough (he's only 18-months old), he'll learn as well. I'm looking forward to taking afternoon floats, exploring the local waterways, and maybe an extended canoe trip in the Adirondacks, or maybe even Algonquin Provincial Park.

Thanks Jim, "she" has found a good, and loving home.

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