Ladies and gents, a canoe

Well, it's finally come, the much ballyhooed arrival of a new 17' 9" cedar strip canoe into my world. About 10 weeks of my everyday life consumed with all things wood and canoe, with a more than satisfactory result I'm pleased to say. It has been a personally incredible process to create something from a long-simmered vision into something very tangible. It began from a random thought long ago, grew to faint goal, then I bought a book and started really dreaming. I suppose it was inevitable at that point, but to have finally achieved it all, I can't really describe the feeling I get.

One of the best experiences through this whole process has been sharing work, excitement, and evolution with a great community here in the Similkameen, as well as all of you who have followed along with this blog. To all of you, my utmost thanks for your encouragement, humor, questions, and for continually reminding me how fortunate and blessed I am to have the people in my life that I do.

Now, once the water starts thawing, it's a pretty easy assumption as to where I'll be found and what I'll be doing this summer. Paddling partners are always welcome and wanted, so if you track me down for a ride, I'll surely oblige. And if you start thinking "gosh, I sure would like something like that," I know a guy who might be able fix you up proper!

This whole blogging thing has been pretty fun too, so I don't really intend to discontinue this one. Instead, I see an evolution towards a chronicle of the impending life together of this canoe and its captain. I guarantee there will be a story or two worth reading about! At the very least, stay tuned for various christening events and first paddles coming up.

And with that, I leave you with some words to live by from my old friend Dave Thoreau:
"Everyone must believe in something. I believe I'll go canoeing." 

Born of the orchards, now bound for open waters.

I carved these paddles a couple years ago to start greasing the skids towards building the whole canoe. Bow seat will eventually be lowered a couple inches, hence the wonky bolts sticking out underneath.