Friday, July 31, 2009
PEDAL POWER!!
I have a short time to make this work, but I am making my canoe Pedal Powered this year. I cut up a couple old bicycles that will be used to make the necessary drive for the paddles on either side. Tomorrow I will start welding and cutting the wood for the paddles. I hope to get it all done tomorrow so I can test it and have time to work out bugs before the trip in a week. :)
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Photos from previous trips
I have been adding photos from previous trips so we can reminisce. I lost the 2006 photos when my computers crashed, and I have no 2004 or 2005 photos. So if anyone has some and would like to send them to me that would be swell.
These are required by law.
You must have these things if you are in a boat on the water.
1. ID - drivers license or something like
2. Signal making device - whistle or air horn
3. Flotation device - and not a cooler with a ratchet strap on it
Technically a canoe does not have to be registered, although it is recommended and it's only $18.
We will probably put in up at Buckaloons the morning of the 7th (10am), so a launch pass will be needed to us that facility. I will not have any way to transport a bunch of canoes this year, so folks will be on their own.
Remember this is the "North" trip this year, so hammock space can get scarce on the 2nd night. The trees are a little big to reach around. Bring some really long straps, or a tarp to lay on the ground.
Sunscreen and water!! Most of us have done this trip before so it should not be a big deal.
Look forward to seeing you on the river!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
The grand old tips from a veteran canoer
GOOD ideas and tips from a veteran:
- bring plenty to drink.. Fluids are at a premium by the last morning
- sun burn is a real threat.. (out for many hours in the open sun with the reflection of the water) bring high power, waterproof sunblock and use it. but DON'T get it in your eyes.. It's waterproof and won't stop burning like crazy for a long time. Insides of thighs and calves are more sun exposed than normal in the squatting boat position..
- waterproof "dry bags" are a smart move in case of rain or capsizing
- bring a light for night time.. It gets completely dark
- we don't litter.. you will pack out everything you bring in. glass bottles and metal cans tend to be hassle over the 3 days.
- the lighter you pack the higher you float, the easier you propel, the less you drag, the quicker you break camp, and the less comfortable you are while camping.. Your call.
- cell phones work intermittantly
- Food is expensive, but available at the IGA in Tionesta on the 2nd night..
- there really are river police after all, so bring life jackets and register your boat if it's not (at least in Emlenton.. )
- GPS's work slick, but may sink. iPods, eyeglasses, buckled canoes, pipe boombooms and dead geese definitely sink. Bavarian pretzels don't.
- bartering exists and thrives... if you can provide a commodity like fire starting, entertainment, snacks, cigars, or coffee for others, maybe you'll be invited into a tent during a downpour for example...
- habanero sauce is really hot and you cannot ride a cooler to Oil City after dark..
- bottle rockets burn holes in brand new rain flies, and cans on the fire are NOT cooling down.
- paddling upstream sucks. a canoe CAN be help together almost exclusively with high-quality duct tape..
- the fire arms are for retrieving twitching backstraps from strangling deer on the bank, and green chicken is edible..
- gorillas in the mist are a myth and should not be fired upon
- rocks do NOT float gently to the bottoms of the river..
- the river water is NOT antiseptic and WILL put you in the hospital if you have an open wound. Ibuprofen and neosporin are nice
- DON'T mess with the cook.. or Gordon. He's armed... well.
- Joe doesn't appreciate having his generosity rammed down his throat.
- putting packs of firecrackers down porta-potty exhaust tubes is NOT socially acceptable
- towing swimmers is a losing proposition
- milipedes are toxic to mucus linings of the eyes, nose and throat
- "mup-heres" are almost as deserving of tarring and feathering as the game commission
- Ted is narcoleptic dead weight as a partner. If you are in Chris's boat, you will dump at least once. If you are near Chris at any time you are in danger of random acts of exuberance.. (like being friends with an enormous saint Bernard with ADHD)
- that thing in the middle of the river isn't swimming upstream.. harpooned turtles do.
- a little b&e during desperate midnight island camp floodings is a case for moral relativism, but leads to warm, dry poker games
- weed wackers have nothing to do with canoeing, you can't build a sail on a canoe, and holding all the boats together like a barge through rock-strewn rapids is dumb..
- rope swing at your own risk
- you will never forget this weekend. (the north trip is cooler)
- bring plenty to drink.. Fluids are at a premium by the last morning
- sun burn is a real threat.. (out for many hours in the open sun with the reflection of the water) bring high power, waterproof sunblock and use it. but DON'T get it in your eyes.. It's waterproof and won't stop burning like crazy for a long time. Insides of thighs and calves are more sun exposed than normal in the squatting boat position..
- waterproof "dry bags" are a smart move in case of rain or capsizing
- bring a light for night time.. It gets completely dark
- we don't litter.. you will pack out everything you bring in. glass bottles and metal cans tend to be hassle over the 3 days.
- the lighter you pack the higher you float, the easier you propel, the less you drag, the quicker you break camp, and the less comfortable you are while camping.. Your call.
- cell phones work intermittantly
- Food is expensive, but available at the IGA in Tionesta on the 2nd night..
- there really are river police after all, so bring life jackets and register your boat if it's not (at least in Emlenton.. )
- GPS's work slick, but may sink. iPods, eyeglasses, buckled canoes, pipe boombooms and dead geese definitely sink. Bavarian pretzels don't.
- bartering exists and thrives... if you can provide a commodity like fire starting, entertainment, snacks, cigars, or coffee for others, maybe you'll be invited into a tent during a downpour for example...
- habanero sauce is really hot and you cannot ride a cooler to Oil City after dark..
- bottle rockets burn holes in brand new rain flies, and cans on the fire are NOT cooling down.
- paddling upstream sucks. a canoe CAN be help together almost exclusively with high-quality duct tape..
- the fire arms are for retrieving twitching backstraps from strangling deer on the bank, and green chicken is edible..
- gorillas in the mist are a myth and should not be fired upon
- rocks do NOT float gently to the bottoms of the river..
- the river water is NOT antiseptic and WILL put you in the hospital if you have an open wound. Ibuprofen and neosporin are nice
- DON'T mess with the cook.. or Gordon. He's armed... well.
- Joe doesn't appreciate having his generosity rammed down his throat.
- putting packs of firecrackers down porta-potty exhaust tubes is NOT socially acceptable
- towing swimmers is a losing proposition
- milipedes are toxic to mucus linings of the eyes, nose and throat
- "mup-heres" are almost as deserving of tarring and feathering as the game commission
- Ted is narcoleptic dead weight as a partner. If you are in Chris's boat, you will dump at least once. If you are near Chris at any time you are in danger of random acts of exuberance.. (like being friends with an enormous saint Bernard with ADHD)
- that thing in the middle of the river isn't swimming upstream.. harpooned turtles do.
- a little b&e during desperate midnight island camp floodings is a case for moral relativism, but leads to warm, dry poker games
- weed wackers have nothing to do with canoeing, you can't build a sail on a canoe, and holding all the boats together like a barge through rock-strewn rapids is dumb..
- rope swing at your own risk
- you will never forget this weekend. (the north trip is cooler)
Friday, July 24, 2009
Dates for Epic Canoe Trip 2009
August 7th thru August 9th will be the dates for Epic Canoe Trip 2009. Set your calendars, get yours days off, get your kitchen, and get your gear!
The river is high this year so I vote for a North Trip. Anyone else care to vote?
The river is high this year so I vote for a North Trip. Anyone else care to vote?
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Another Summer is upon us and another Epic Canoe Trip is in order!
The time has come and the plans are in the works. Hopefully all the information you need will get posted here for the next upcoming epic canoe trip.
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