The red canoe.

Tenacity is a pretty fair substitute for bravery, and the best form of tenacity I know is expressed in a Danish fur trapper's principle: 'The next mile is the only one a person really has to make.' -- Eric Sevareid  (Canoeing with the Cree)

I finished reading Canoeing with the Cree a few weeks ago.  Well, actually I devoured it in my reading prowess style.  I love a book that makes you want to leave your laundry undone, the dishes unwashed and in general makes you leave your present condition to travel with someone else.  

The story is 2 young men (17 &19) who decided after they graduate from high school to spend the summer canoeing 2000 miles from Minnesota, through Canada and ending up in the Pacific Ocean.  They were not experienced canoeist - but just kids on an adventure.  Their triumph was most likely due to no fear because they were young and didn't know what lay before them.

In the spirit of those two...I'd like to try my hand at a few longer canoe trips this summer.  In order to accomplish this the canoe I will need must have room for 2 rowdy dogs – 1 rowdy man and a bunch of gear.   Plus it needed to be light enough to portage for at least a ¼ mile.  No longer than that – because after all we are not voyageurs, only a kith that likes to paddle.

Sure sure we have another canoe and a kayak.  Those 2 pieces of equipment are on the property and never leave.  That is their home.  Besides, the canoe at the property probably weighs close to 200 lbs and is more of a duck hunting boat.

So Dan researched many a canoe.  We did our taxes (received a refund) and we’ve put in the hard work of being frugal and focused on savings – so the purchase of a canoe won out. We were looking around and voila the old craig’s list did it’s trick again!  We found a red canoe.  17feet long.  Plenty of space.  Light enough.   Did I mention?  It also came with 2 paddles made by the native American community and an anchor. We happily brought her home yesterday and she is awaiting her first voyage.

I’m predicting a minimum of two longer trips this summer!  Camping at water access only sites.  Catching dinner over the edge.  Above all – going downstream. 

And so it goes….