Paddling into 2014

Neat! I have one of those paddles for my grandaughter. And a minnow net. A toy boat on a string helps sometimes too!

Greg took his "new" Blue Hole OCA to the Buffalo National River this past weekend and had a grand two day float with his wife. I am happy to have played a role in his aquisition of this classic canoe.

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I did an overnight this weekend with the Scouts. Same waterway we take every year.

Parked the boats.

Played some water football.





 
Nice trip again BFT!

Here is today's mashup for all you yakkers out there from my buds in Arkansas. I have canoed most of these waters. There is one smaller one I don't recognize. Brushy Creek? Little Sugar Creek? Mind the sound level. Vimeo does't give the video posters much choice in music. ASCAP and all that.

[video=vimeo;98292083]http://vimeo.com/98292083[/video]
 
Finally made it to the river again. I left Jake and the big Guide at home and took the Morningstar hoping to catch some fish. No such luck. After an epic flood, 20' on the gauge, the river had finally dropped to a more normal 3 1/2'. But it was still murky and the fish haven't settled back into their old habitat yet.

Of course the livery rentals were in abundance. I had to stop once and help unpin a canoe. We had just freed it and ferried it across the river when I looked up and saw that my morningstar had taken it's place, albeit not pinned. Some dudus had hit my beached canoe and sent it into the current without it's captain. No matter, empty canoes seldom broach themselves and it was easily retrieved.

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The weather was mostly clear with a few welcome clouds, temps in the high nineties sent me into the shade for rest stops frequently. There was a gentle breeze blowing though so the heat and humidity wasn't oppressive.

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At the takeout, the livery headquarters, the flood had really changed the gravel bar, as it had all up and down the river. I couldn't pull down close to the water to load the canoe, but even stopping well short I got my truck stuck in the loose gravel. I went ahead and loaded the canoe and gear then retrieved my chain box with the 24' log chain, hooked it to the front crossmember and stretched it out. As expected, a lifted 4x4 with fat tires drove up right on cue and I was out and on solid ground in a jiffy.

All in all it was a good trip.
 
Very few things in life are as much fun as messing about in small boats. Glad you had a nice day.:)
 
Well, I finally got a canoe. So, while I might not be paddling into 2014 I might be paddling out of 2014. It requires a bit of TLC to get it up to snuff. While the FG (tuff weave) looks to be streched in places, it doesn't have any soft spots or cracks. I will need to refinish the seats and portage brace. At any rate I hope to take it out by the end of July.:)
 
Congrats! You can refinish if you like such projects or... you can replace and upgrade at the same time. Check Eds Canoes and Rutabaga Paddlesports for parts and pieces. Cheaper than one might think.
 
Codger_64 said:
Congrats! You can refinish if you like such projects or... you can replace and upgrade at the same time. Check Eds Canoes and Rutabaga Paddlesports for parts and pieces. Cheaper than one might think.
Click to expand...

The seats are pressed cane. Since I've never repaired one before I'll refinish these. And my wife picked up an old chair that needs the same repair. I'll do all 3 seats at the same time which will substantially cut my prep time. It looks like the cost of materials will be less than the price of a new canoe seat.
 
I took my father in law canoeing with me. There is a little waterway called the Frenchman Wasteway that I have been meaning to try just about my whole life. There is a lower section with a lot of little rapids and drops that takes about 1.5 hours.

I took my father in law, and it was just about the most fun I have ever had canoeing. I was laughing and grinning the whole time. We almost went over many times. The waves and drops and holes were big enough that we had to stop 1/2 way to empty the canoe out. We were soaked from the waves. I had my camera, but there was no way I could take any pics once the water started moving faster. I'm going to go back and maybe get some pics of some of the fun parts.

Here is the put in for the short paddle. After a few turns it narrows and gets much faster.



This is the pull out spot about 4.5 miles later. Potholes Reservoir.



Here is the trusty kid hauler!




Here are a few pics that are not mine. They show a few spots on this waterway, though the water level was higher when I went. (they are from google images. I intended to get a few pics at the higher level, but was not able).



This is a scout canoe trapped on the rock. It has been there for a while!



Here is one of the fun little drops. The water was higher, and there was a pretty big hole right here in the middle when we went over.

 
Before I pulled the yoke and seats I carried the canoe a short distance using the yoke. The center of gravity was a little behind me and it seemed to be a little difficult keeping the canoe balanced. It seems that I might be able to get the CG in front of me if I reverse the yoke. How do you canoeists prefer the CG when carrying the canoe?
 
I prefer to not carry them. But when I do, ever so slightly tail heavy is good for me. I can hold the front down with my hands or let it rise as needed to give me a better view of where I am going. Mewolf1 is a member who does that French-Canadian "por-tage" thing often so his advice is much better than mine on this.
 
Excellent trip report BFT! Yeah, the serendipity of moving water with a new partner can make for some memorable moments for sure! At least your XL-15 was made for that with so much rocker!
 
Man, you guys are killing me! I've been lusting after a Grumman for years, but I just can't justify it out here in dry ol' Cali-for-nye-a...

And canoes ain't exactly ocean-going vessels.

I'm going to have to live vicariously through you for a bit...
 
Alan, life just seriously kicked me in the ass and I am moving your way. Not all the way mind you... but not so far. I will see if Idaho's rivers like my canoes. Perhaps you can come for a paddle sometime. Just outside of Twin Falls. I am heading there for a week visit with my daughter's family in a few days, and a Snake River rafting trip. Then I will be moving there around the end of next month.

A Grumman? I see excellent deals on them all the time in every condition up to like new, and in every size. When the time comes, you should have no problem finding your ship of dreams. I cut my canoeing teeth in a Grumman at a military academy in Chattanooga before they faked the moon landing! :D
 
No more TN??? Shore looks purty dere sometimes...

We almost bought some land out there, Shelby Co way...

Then we came to our senses and realized we probably wouldn't be back, sho' nuff...

Worked for Grumman for 16 years, cours'n Tomcats are tetch more involved than canoes, but maybe I could'a gotten an employee discount...

Someone's got a 14 footer that looks to be in good shape, we'll see...
 
I believe they are made by Marathon (new ownership of the old factory?) and are now using the Grumman name again under a licensing agreement. So if in your search you find one labeled Marathon, don't automaticly reject it. Also know that they were made in (three?) different metal thicknesses. .050 is now standard with .062 thwarts and .080 stem caps. With or without shoe keels.

I love Arkansas and Tennessee rivers and streams, but life has other plans for me. I will be able to see the Tetons from my back deck and maybe I can learn some mountain man lingo. "Well, I'll be et for the devil's tater!".
 
Push on...

I'm still looking for my navel, it's a long trip, isn't it?
 
AKC said:
Push on...

I'm still looking for my navel, it's a long trip, isn't it?
Click to expand...

Not so bad on the flight out and back for the visit, other than the layover in Denver where there is not enough oxygen. The drive out will be 1,600 and some odd miles. Needless to say, Jake and I will make many rest stops to water the trees... er... sagebrush... or whatever grows between here and there. If a Codger and his sidekick pee on BLM land and no one sees, is it still a crime?
 
Something for you yakkers. Middle Fork of the Little Red River at the end of June. Add your own music.

[video=vimeo;100041548]http://vimeo.com/100041548[/video]
 
I've refinished my yolk and seats. Only smacked myself half a dozen times seating the spline on the cane seats. Anyone asks, the bruse is due to martial arts training:) I have some oxidized paint on the hull and the inside could use a little lipstick. What should I use on the hull? I'd like to spiffy her up for the maiden voyage. When I get her in the water I'll take some pictures. OH, and what size paddles?????
 
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