I have similar memories regarding Canoes, insofar as I grew up in Scouting, as a Sea Scout in Lantzville. Think a group of Dad’s who realized Scouts Canada has resources and provides a source of direction, who then took it and ran with it.

Merit badges and macaroni art? Nah. We built our Canoes and Kayaks ourselves and were responsible for keeping our hides alive with (as we aged) minimal supervision. As in, Pete and Bob threatened with the butane-powered potato canon and we fibre-glassed the crafts ourselves.

All-in-all it was a phenomenal experience to create the vessel that would carry you out to the wilderness for the week(end). I don’t think any of us will be happy living in urban environments thanks to the sense of personal capacity and inter-reliance it engendered in us but remain deeply linked with uncivilized Canada.

Yang and Missy gave us a paddle for a wedding present, I think getting that nearly caused a tear to well up. There’s just so much about canoeing that’s about beauty, freedom and, in its own way, companionship.