Cowper's New Canoe

[Edgar]

I got a couple of shots of Cowper's new canoe last Saturday at the Rockport.

[Deuce]

The 2.5 Evinrude must have fallen off when he was rolling it.

[Cowper]

New canoe? No, very old canoe! I can't really take credit for this one, as It's actually the creation of an Arkansas paddler named Mike Beard (aka, Mikey). :myday" Among other things, Mike was known for always being very open about inviting others to join him on river trips, and for piecing together old broken boats. I was at his house one day and made the mistake of complimenting something he had created from the remains of a 17 foot canoe found wrapped around a tree. Three minutes later the boat was in the back of my pickup truck and he wouldn't let me unload it. I've had it ever since, but that's OK, it doesn't take up much room.

I once outfitted it with Wal Mart oars and rowed it from Remmel down to the ledge; but generally it only comes out to play as a C-1. It has also been used for surfing, with partial success. But this past weekend was the first time I'd ever tried it "Chicago bob" style (double blade), that actually worked out pretty good.

I think the things I enjoyed the most were:
1) When we66erno1 came to the realization that my avatar was a real photo, not a photoshop creation, and
2) When Micah took it for a spin, and did pretty well. I love seeing the next generation having as much fun as I always have at this stuff...

[Jim Krueger]

About 3 or 4 years ago several of us were making the downriver trip from the dam one Saturday, and this boat was along for the journey. I think Cowper may have been in his raft that day, at any rate we were a big enough group that we were spread out a bit. Somewhere about half way into the trip I looked over to the side and saw Jessica (Robinson at the time) sitting there ,grinning, and neatly eddied-out in some brush waiting on the group. Jessica seemed to fit the boat as well as anyone could. We floated and visited the rest of the way down that day. I just don't remember the part at the end where she ran the ledge, I'm sure it would have been camera-worthy

Best Regards
Jim Moose

[c8mb]

That sure looks like some of Red Greens handiwork!