Recent content by jdeerfoot

Through the years I have used a variety of inflatable pillows which I generally liked but none of them seemed to last more than a few years. Now when I find one I like I usually order a spare. A buddy suggested that perhaps it was my tainted booze breathe (too much cheap scotch and bourbon)...

Pasties are available in the UP and some are tasty. I had a friend from Green Bay WI who had a side business commercially producing pasties, which were not. Sorry Pete. When Gamma mentioned poutine, the best I have ever had was from a small mom and pop food trailer parked in an alley between...

I remember trying a chest load on a BWCA trip long ago when I was still agile. I learned then that I needed to see where a placed my feet. So, given my current and permanent lack of agility, it is not for me anymore.

Finally finished viewing the video - what a trip! I always wondered what Labrador looked like, now I know.

Very similar, if not the same, as the cagoule I purchased from REI in the early 1970’s.

When I first joined this site I was looking to sell a never sold, unused 17’ OT Penobscot RX. It came out of the boat storage area from Johnson Outdoors, the owner of OT Canoe. What I really wanted was a 16’ Penobscot RX, but the company only had two 17’ Penobscot RX boats left. I got the red...

The nature center where I volunteer just got a donation of several canoes and about a dozen kayaks from a university paddling program that was shut down. To be included in the donation was a pristine and apparently never used 1975 OT Tripper with a hull date of 1975. As we were picking up the...

Gamma, I feel your disappointment in how the logistics of your trip are not working out. I guess the FOW trip advisors (I am one) have steered too many want-to-paddle Wabakimi trippers to the railroad for inexpensive entry/exit. To be fair many paddlers are seeking the inexpensive option so get...

The train will stop anywhere on its route as long as you request it, by noting a mileage marker, when you make your reservation. Somewhere FOW has a mileage marker map of all the usual stops for the train in the park - these are stops where you could start or end a trip.

Reach out to the Friends of Wabakimi (www.Wabakimi.org) for trip planning advice. Train-in/out is a popular and low cost option to access Wabakimi. The passenger train (Via Rail) runs several times weekly. Fares are low cost and the fee for a boat/gear in the baggage car is $100. Reservations...

Andy Baxter, RBW owner, was at Canoecopia while many other Canadians skipped the show this year. He is a very entertaining guy, who serves as the straight man in Kevin Callan’s video. My main paddling group, the Friends of Wabakimi, had a good turnout of US members but none of our Canadian...

Canoecopia 2026 purchase. I decided to gave this pack liner a try after years of using plastic bag pack liners with my #2 Duluth Packs. It cost about $40.00.

On the canoe boards a sure sign of spring is the reoccurrence of this topic every year. In terms of gyms, the only thing I thing they offer that I have stuck with has been the lap pool. I realized I enjoyed distance swimming way back in the early 1960’s when the Boy Scouts offered the Mile Swim...

I have to say I have a sense of foreboding regarding the future of both the shop (Rutabaga) and the show. How long before Darren just closes the shop, which was his original intention, and maybe gives up on the show. As I have mentioned before, the whole North American paddle sports industry...

In the early 1970’s I had one which I purchased from REI. I liked it for back packing and with gaiters it would keep you quite dry. A nice feature in mine was the ability to tie up the garment at your waist. Another benefit or drawback, depending on your perspective, would be the puddle of rain...