Friday

Life without the internet.  Getting some good pics - will be able to catchup the posting when we are back to the connected world.  Had some good paddling with more to
come.  
In the mean time...
Here is the black rat snake.

Day 1 Charleston Lake PP

Arrived and set up camp.  We wanted to get out on the water but the wind was strong and we were tired.  Decided to try in the morning. 
The wind never relented.  Went anyway thinking if we could get across Running Bay into the creek we'd be okay.  Several times the wind tried to show us who's the boss, but we managed.  Paddled to the boardwalk and back, all in all, an uneventful trip with not much wildlife.  Got some nice shots of of mama osprey feeding her young.  Will post later when in wifi territory.  Tomorrow is calling for rain :-( so it is probably a trip to town.

Happy Canada Day!

What a beautiful Canada Day here in Niagara - sun and heat.  Could only have been better if we had been on the water.  Spent the day packing the trailer though, and listening to the live music drifting down from the park up the street where all the Canada Day celebrations were taking place.
Soon enough The Purple Canoe will take it's maiden paddle on the clear, cool waters of Charleston Lake.  Looking forward to camping time with our 'canoeing partners' Mark and Maureen for some relaxing, fun times around the fire.

Out with the old...passing the torch

Today we found a buyer for our 'old' canoe and the transition is complete.
 (felt more like passing the torch)
A pleasant young man who will be taking it up to Algonquin this weekend.  I can only imagine the adventures it is about to discover!  We wish him the very best and many happy paddles and portages - who knows, maybe he'll find himself a paddle in the park. If you canoe in Algonquin - pay attention! Check out the information here, you may find yourself the owner of a wonderful new paddle - you just need to be on the look out.

Ciao

This and that and in-between

Well, can only look at the canoe for so long.  What does one do when one is not paddling?  I like to follow several blogs that, in one way or another, involve canoeing, camping or the great outdoors.  I will have to put up a list on the side bar.  There is a very compelling one about the life of Tom Thomson in the spring of 1917 leading up to his death on July 08.  The story is told by "Tom Thomson" himself as he chronicles his life in Algonquin Park utilizing actual documents and pictures to supplement 'his' narrative.  Most of his travels around the park were in a canoe.  The site is ttlastspring.com or you can follow along on  twitter @TTLastSpring .  I must say, the story is compelling and and I can see The Purple Canoe making a trip up to Canoe Lake in Algonquin.

Coming home.

There was an air of excitement around the morning coffee.  Today is the day we pick up our canoe and  we were off to Hamilton right after our first shift.  When we arrived there it was in the lot getting a bath.

Nothing like a shiny canoe!

After we took care of the business, it was time to put the canoe on the roof and strap it down.

All loaded and ready to go.

Safe and sound, now to sell the 14'r

O.K. Decision made.

 On Thursday June 19th, we travelled to Burlington to take a look at some canoes over at Beach Marine.  We had been considering getting a new canoe for some time - the big upgrade from 14' to 15' .
She kind of wanted a red canoe so you just know what colour they didn't have in the style we were looking for... sigh.  O.K. plan B.  Yellow? - too bright, white? - too plain, green? - same as current one, nope, blue? - so cold, then, Paulette said "how about a purple one?".  The seed was sown.
We took a look.  Not a bad colour.  We took a second look and after much pondering, a deal was set.
Of course I didn't have my blocks and straps with the truck (cause we were just looking) so we arranged to pick it up next week.
At home the internet quickly turned it's eyes toward purple.  Seems like a good choice.  Somewhere between red and blue, although the Oxford Dictionary says it is a deep, rich shade between crimson and violet.  Now that sounds good.  More surfing and oh my, good judgement, peace of mind, meditation, magic, mystery and royalty. Canoeing in The Purple Canoe should be quite the peaceful journey of discovery,  can't wait to wet the paddle.  Tuesday we bring it home.  Deciding "we have to name it" caused us to put forth every possible concoction of words that referenced purple.  After much exchange Liz looked at me and simply said "why not just name it The Purple Canoe?" ...and so here we are.