It’s hunting season now and I’m glad I was out yesterday, because the steady, cold rain falling today makes it a fine day to stay warm and dry indoors. A couple of degrees colder and we’d be in the midst of a snowstorm, but so far November has been, like last year, unseasonable warm.
Looking out at my canoe shed, I can’t help but think how little I’ve gotten out paddling this past year. Sitting here with coffee, I'm feeling a little nostalgic, recalling all the experiences and places a canoe has taken me.
I grew up around various small watercraft; light fishing boats and flat-bottomed duck boats, but my canoe knowledge was limited. I was in high school when I’d saved enough money to buy a brand new 17-foot Grumman aluminum canoe. For not much more than two hundred bucks it came with two cheap paddles and two orange ox-collar PFDs. That was the start.
I kept that Grumman for years, hauling it atop my vehicle to the various places I lived and exploring the rivers and lakes around the state. It was my access to fishing, trapping, and recreation. Of course, the wilderness area became a favorite locale and after I settled down I couldn’t shake the lure of canoe country, and even though partners were easy to find, I was taken with the thought of solo paddling – going it alone. The Grumman was sold, and I went through several canoes of different materials before I was satisfied with one royalex for the rough stuff that would also serve as a tandem when needed and a light-weight kevlar solo canoe that has taken me hundreds of miles to wilderness waters and camps. The fishing was great, the sights wonderful, and the life outdoors incredible.
I hope those days aren’t over.
Al
ReplyDeleteI've never owned a canoe, but I have fished from one several times. One canoe trip I will never forget was with my nephew and his sons on Bear Creek in northern Alabama. I won't go into detail, but if you're interested in the trip's outcome, check out my blog post titled "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly."
You and I share similar backgrounds, both being raised with an appreciation for the outdoors. I often reminisce about my younger brother and me fishing in the small creeks near our home and hunting quail, as well as going coon hunting with our Redbone hounds and our dad.
Let’s hope that both of us will be fortunate enough to enjoy the outdoors for many more years to come. Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!-----thanks for sharing
Bill
ReplyDeleteIn my younger days I also did a bit of coon hunting with my trapping partner's Black & Tan, Sam, and his Bluetick, Moses. Great memories!
I enjoyed your "Good, Bad, & Ugly" and was reminded of a harrowing experience trying to run a spring run-off rapids when I believed my skill matched my enthusiasm. I survived and my canoe still wears the scars of that close call. No wonder Pat McManus titled a book "They Shoot Canoes, Don't They?" Happy Thanksgiving!