I think last year, it was unanimous that this was an event 'not to
miss".
Aah but this year only the defending champions returned. we just
have so many things to fit in and so little time to get them in.
Malcolm and I set off on Saturday morning to try it again.
Same start place same course (pretty much) as last year. There
wwere probably about 25 boats this year so maybe a little more
competition.
We used our same strategy as last year. We took off to the right,
hard, (an attempt to make people think we are fast, then quickly
slowed down to a pace that we could maintain.
We quickly picked off the first three controls, then pulled into shore to
get a couple of ones on land. We turned to check on the competition.
Already, as were leaving this site, there is a canoe (two adults and a
teenage girl in it) pulling into shore. Now have brought two canoes with
us -the pro boat and the double XX. We decided to use the double XX as
there are big waves in the harbour. Now we have to turn with the wind
getting us sideways. Wow hard to stay in any kind of line - big waves from
the side bigger wind from the side and the double XX rides very high. We
finally make the island. It was tiring I dropped off Malcolm and he runs
to the left as I walk the canoe around to the right. When all you are
doing is waiting, the time passes soooo sloow. I have made it to shore and
found the last control, and am still waiting. Finally Malcolm shows and we
get the last one and we wade out to canoe. I step one foot to right of the
reeds that I walked in to shore on and poof. I am in water that is up to
my neck. Well I guess we never thought that we stay dry.
Now straight
across the waves No partly from the side All from the side. We finally
make it to the far shore and while waiting at the island someone has
actually made it past us. The same canoe with three people in it is now
ahead of us. We get to the next control. (you remember the one- the one by
the railway bridge) they are leading us by 20 yards coming out as we are
going into it. We grab it, then we do the portage thing while the
competition is trying to paddle aroud the point. Up, over, and back to the
water. In we go and get the next control. Now we look up and we are a
hundred metres from that one(done) and the competition is still about 200
metres from getting it. Well the look on their faces was worth it. Quick
around the corner and up the river. As we are returning down stream we
pass them again ( the lead is getting longer). " Oh so you guys
portaged?". We answered "Well yes the race should go to the smartest". Now
we are in good shape - we have a lead- and the race returns into the wind.
We really don't mind going into the wind. It takes a while to get the last
4 or 5 but we pull in first again.
It turns out that the canoe that we
worked so hard to beat was a family. The sternsman was an ex prof from
Queens and his wife a school teacher. They have lots of canoeing
experience and have a cottage in Nova Scotia. I actually won a book (as a
draw prize) by this author. "Deep Waters" a great story about the
Kamiskaming canoe disaster in the 70's in which 13 boys and a leader
drowned whilst trying to follow one of the routes of the voyageurs. We had
a good time and we won't be back next year (small hike and all) so we
leave our trophy for someone else. It was good way to spend a day.
Viking
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