Infi Canoeing

[Bigfattyt]

Howdy all.

I just got back today from a two day canoe trip.

10 boys, ages 12-19. Two adults.

Six canoes, and only two pieces of infi.

Last year, I took my BAD, and CABS

Here are some pics from last year.

(darned Russian Olive trees. Hate them with a passion. Many places on this float, you have to go through strainers. Big thorns.



Couple of scouts trying to get through without getting impaled.



This is where we camped last year.





This year it was totally overgrown with poky weeds.

We went two weeks later this year. Much hotter, but the mosquitos were worse, and the weeds were taller.

I had my B11 on my side, and my CABS cross draw horizontal weak side (both in BuyBrown sheaths). Unfortunately, I did not get pics in the field (I had just used the B11 to rescue the one of the young men who went in the water to untangle this catfish. I hacked through some Russian Olive branches to get him out.

(You can just see the handle of the B11 poking from behind my right hip here). Good size fish. One of the kids went into the water to untangle it from a branch.


One of the places we stop every year.

(my yellow canoe). Not me in the pics.



One of the reasons we stop here.


Done.

This is the pull out spot. Tired, hot, and thirsty.

[kdstrick]

Aw man, looks like a great trip!

Cudos for introducing (or reinforcing) young men to the outdoors. Once tasted it will likely lead to a life-long love affair with it.


Beats the hell out of playing golf...


.

[topfuel6]

That first pic is very interesting/creepy.

[Bigfattyt]

That first pic is very interesting/creepy.

Funny!

I blurred his face.

[bobbystoney]

Great pics! The sand dunes look like a blast.

[AngryDaddyBird]

Funny!

I blurred his face.

Pretty trippy looking!
I like Kayaking the shores and waves. Never went up a river yet but looks fun. You ever tried kayak fishing? Its Awesome!

[RussMo]

Dream trip for any kid, great pics Bro!!!

[jball1125]

Wow that looks like a great time.

[Bigfattyt]

I would have snapped more pics this year, but my phone is new, and expensive! I kept it double sealed most of the trip.

[Garth Reckner]

Looks like a great time. I haven't been canoeing in years. Gonna have to add that to the list of things to get back to.

Garth

[Pokey1]

It looks like you had a great time! I am definitely going canoeing this year

[Need2Know]

Neat trip. Like the leaping on the dunes pic, looks like fun.
Kind of cool to hear the B11 saved the day, unfortunate the youngling went after the fishy and got encumbered.

[Bigfattyt]

Neat trip. Like the leaping on the dunes pic, looks like fun.
Kind of cool to hear the B11 saved the day, unfortunate the youngling went after the fishy and got encumbered.

It was pretty funny, I was just going to cut the catfish loose. He went in through some Russian Olive, right in the water after the cat fish.

I had to slash a group of overhanging thorny Russian Olives to get to him, and give him a hand up and out.

He then cleaned the fish, and cooked it that night (we had already eaten by that point).

Did not taste too bad, but sure did have a lot of sand on it (I think he neglected to wash it off with clean fresh drinking water before tossing it in the pan. Man did it have alot of crunchy sand in the bite I took!), but two of the boys ate it all.




We also stopped in one of the small lakes and played in the "quick sand".


I took a step and disappeared to my waist! It was pretty funny. Luckily I had my paddle to brace with, and one leg out on more solid sand.

I should have taken the phone out and gotten some pics of the boys playing in the "quick sand" getting stuck and then getting out. One of the boys got all the way up to his waist, and we had to pull him out.

[whetrock]

Seeing threads like these has me hankerin' for a Canoe. They just seem so darn practical for venturing in the outdoors. I'm gonna have to break down and get one sooner or later. Also nice INFI as well a must for the hardcore outdoorsman.

[tiogatires]

What kind of mohawk is that? I have the solo 14 and wanna get a larger boat.

[Bigfattyt]

What kind of mohawk is that? I have the solo 14 and wanna get a larger boat.

XL15. It turns quick, but is not the straightest tracker, especially solo. It is not too hard to keep it in line with tandem. But sitting the middle with you self, I am going to have to get a double ended canoe paddle. It is 35 inches wide, and turns on a dime.

For what I am using it for on the lake, no doubt the intrepid would be better. They had none made up, and were working on a big batch of the new white water play boats when I ordered. They had a few XL15's done, and I got wide seats, and a removable center seat.

The canoe often feels very squirrel. I have tipped it once on accident, in a cold lake (24 mph or so cross wind, boat waves, initiated a turn, had a non canoeist in the front, and my 7 year old in the middle. I took my paddle out to switch sides at the same time as the front did too, hit by a side wave, and wind all perfect). A paddle brace would have saved us if I had my paddle in. The water was pretty cold, and after getting the canoe to shore, the wind was pretty cold on the little guy! We were trying to rescue a canoe with three teenagers who could not do anything but paddle in circles until the wind blew them hundreds of yards down the lake.

In it by my self, or with another relaxed paddler, it is ok. It is much harder to tip on purpose than it feels.

We have tipped it about 40+ times on purpose. I had it out with 5 of my nieces and nephews in it at the same time as me tipping it over, and dumping it out in the lake.

[Helle]

Good to see someone getting a paddle wet and making those lasting memories.

Thanks for sharing.

[David Brown]

super cool.
I remember those days

[grunt soldier]

great pictures. that first one is a bit freaky lol. I love canoeing but don't own one. we just rent them at the river and go play. looks like you guys had a great time. good to see kids outside instead of playing video games.

[cut it out]

Nice pics!! I use a canoe to jump shoot ducks. Last trip last winter I had my Battle Rat along and it was super handy to cut fallen branches blocking the creek. It was a unused back water and we filled the canoe with mallards and geese!! This winter my Basic 11 will be top dog!