This one WAS my ride a long time ago. I'm posting this because if anybody can understand this note, the group that frequents this site can. In the late 70's, my dad bought this canoe in order to take me fishing on a lake nearby that a friend had told him about where we could find northern pike. Dad had been "fished out" by his dad when he was young, but I enjoyed fishing, so dad was kind of stuck. The friend drew a map of the lake for dad, where to go on it, what time of day, what lures use, and we caught fish. It was terrific. Later on, this canoe made at least one trip to Algonquin, in...1991 - the only camping trip I EVER took with my dad. Magnetawan to Daisy, where dad's sleeping bag got soaked, the next day to Misty - the only time camping I never was able to get a fire going was that second day - it rained for three days without stopping and we cut it short a day. But I got to show dad a moose (it walked right across my path because it had a calf I hadn't seen on my right), and we saw a bear (from the car). I logged a lot of miles on the Erie canal with this boat, trolling for smallmouth, and had the opportunity to paddle my grandmother around one time on Chautauqua lake in NY when she was around 80 if not a few years older. 17 Grumman "lightweight model" (72 pounds). It was always a pretty good carry to tell the truth, well balanced and pretty comfortable. It has been in my folks' garage unused since 1992. We're donating it to a little Christian camp about an hour south of my home. I used to go there for weekend retreats when I was a kid, my daughter has gone there for summer camp a few times, and will again this summer. The camp was sold by the local presbytery a few years ago, some people bought it and have been operating it in much the same way for several years now. The camp got second life, and now the boat will as well. They have a tiny pond there, and a couple of beat up canoes. Now they'll have one that is in good shape, at least for now. There will be kids playing with it in the water who might not otherwise get to be in a canoe, swamping it, laughing, splashing, and enjoying it. I couldn't be happier about that. I'm going to paint "Grampa" on the inside before taking it down there tomorrow, so my daughter knows which canoe was grampa's. Maybe the kids will call it Grampa, and that works for me. I called dad to tell him what we were doing with the boat. He says "What if I need a canoe?" He's joking. I hope...he can barely walk up stairs, shuffle walks, has a pacemaker and is 85. He's hanging in there, but he isn't canoeing anymore that's for sure, and barely ever did to begin with. I told him if he needed a canoe I'd set him up. I never thought I'd feel nostalgic for this boat, but once I got it down and on the car I did, and wanted to share it with you guys.
breed85 wrote:
