On Saturday Bridgit, Eli, and I went to the QuietWater Symposium at MSU. It was a lot of fun, the speakers we saw were interesting and we learned lots on new tips. There were also lots of great exhibitors selling things and spreading awareness of causes.
None of us (wife, kid, me) have been canoeing since Oct. 1st. The whole having a baby on Oct. 5 put a rude end to my paddling season. I won't take Eli out until the water warms up along with the air, but all I need is some warm air and I would be happy. Hopefully we will have a warm March and I can get out some.
I have been eyeing this new canoe trail that stretches 740 miles of through New York, Vermont, Québec, New Hampshire, and Maine. It has gotten a good amount of press since it officially opened this spring. One person so far has through tripped it and it took him 55 days. There is some upstream poleing required and up to class IV rapids, but looks like a fun couple of months. Bridgit just bears with me when I mention the possibility of doing the whole thing at once. Eli thinks it's a great idea.
I think that we need to start doing a piece at a time every summer.
Bridgit, my brother Nick, and I went out to Pickerel Lake on Saturday and had a great time. I also had my first experience canoeing with a baby. I got a rude awakening.
Sunday afternoon we took a trip down the Huron from Dexter to Delhi. Alex (age 
and I paddled the Malecite. I read in a book the suggestion to paddle the canoe facing backwards with the youth in the front (stern seat) and the adult in the back (bow seat) It helps distribute the weight and makes it easier for youth to reach the water. It worked fantastic.
Michael with Theresa (age 3) and Kathleen were in kayaks. Bridgit, Amy, and Stu (9 months) were in the Kipawa. I expected that Amy wouldn't paddle much because she would be dealing with the little one. I wasn't ready for him crying because he didn't like the lifejacket.
Infant life jackets make babies look like orange and yellow marshmallows. Stu cried and nursed until he fell asleep, then he was fine.
I have read a cool web site about canoeing with kids, maybe I should read it again. I am also looking at getting Cradle to the Canoe
I just got my copy of Canoe Songs Volume I and it is really cool they have samples of all the tracks on the web page. The CD benefits the Canadian Canoe Museum
It looks like it's going to be another warm week. I am hoping to get the canoes prepped this week. Bridgit's Nighthawk suffered some damage a few weeks ago when a large doll house fell from its shelf in the barn. I am going to have to do some gel-coat repair. I don't think the glass was compromised, or else I will have to do a patch.
Bridgit's Nighthawk is finished. She paddled it over a week ago and since they we have lowered the seat a little more than an inch. Abe and I played around in it this afternoon.
Anna's Combi 14' 9″ is in really good shape now. The wood has been replaced, and is the oil is drying. She is leaving for WA on Tuesday, so we need to get the boat ready.
I was able to find ash in the right lengths to make gunwales; the wood was only $45, and thats enough to do two canoes. Anna's father had bought the same board from the same guy earlier in the day, so we only ripped and milled one down. Today we are going to start the restoration of a Nighthawk 2 and a Combi 14'9″. I will take many picts and will have them up soon.
Tonight Abe and Kelli got new canoes, well new to them. Abe bought a Mad River Eclipse and Kelli got a Blackhawk Combi 14'9″ both are sweet boats. Abe and I are going to take his out tomorrow afternoon for a spin.
This afternoon I got my new canoe, well its not new, they haven't made them in a few years.
The pictures aren't really great but they were taken in garage lighting at night. You get the idea and I have only owned the canoe for a few hours.