Hello Everyone,
I've recently retired and rewarded myself with a new solo canoe, something I've desired for a long, long time. I found this website while searching for ideas on setting up my boat for tripping - even before I took delivery. I started paddling in the Scouts in the mid-1960's at the old Boyhaven scout camp in Rock City Falls NY and after a family move to the Corning/Elmira area took in with a new troop that was big on Adirondack canoe camping: think Raquette Lake, Cranberry Lake, etc. All done in Grummans; 15' and 17' and we didn't care or know better because then it was all about the experience, and in the long run I wouldn't have had it any other way.
In the early 80's I moved to the northern Finger Lakes. Back then I was reading a lot of Harry Roberts and Sigurd Olsen and becoming more aware of more ideas for gear and explorations. I also learned of Dave Curtis and his shop in the village of Hemlock, only a 25 minute drive from my home and would stop in occasionally although it was also my growing family era so it was going to continue to be borrowed or rented options for a while.
In the fall of 2000, I was visiting Bay Creek Paddling in Rochester and there was a guy named Bill Swift there dropping off a load of boats for inventory and I ended up walking away with a Kipawa that was my only canoe until last week when I took delivery of my brand new Hemlock Peregrine. And three days later I was launching it on Long Lake for a short 2 night trip that I timed to set me up for spectating the Adirondack 90 from my front row seat on the water.
So here are a couple pictures of the new boat. Thanks to all for what I've learned so far from this group and looking forward to learning and sharing more.
John P
I've recently retired and rewarded myself with a new solo canoe, something I've desired for a long, long time. I found this website while searching for ideas on setting up my boat for tripping - even before I took delivery. I started paddling in the Scouts in the mid-1960's at the old Boyhaven scout camp in Rock City Falls NY and after a family move to the Corning/Elmira area took in with a new troop that was big on Adirondack canoe camping: think Raquette Lake, Cranberry Lake, etc. All done in Grummans; 15' and 17' and we didn't care or know better because then it was all about the experience, and in the long run I wouldn't have had it any other way.
In the early 80's I moved to the northern Finger Lakes. Back then I was reading a lot of Harry Roberts and Sigurd Olsen and becoming more aware of more ideas for gear and explorations. I also learned of Dave Curtis and his shop in the village of Hemlock, only a 25 minute drive from my home and would stop in occasionally although it was also my growing family era so it was going to continue to be borrowed or rented options for a while.
In the fall of 2000, I was visiting Bay Creek Paddling in Rochester and there was a guy named Bill Swift there dropping off a load of boats for inventory and I ended up walking away with a Kipawa that was my only canoe until last week when I took delivery of my brand new Hemlock Peregrine. And three days later I was launching it on Long Lake for a short 2 night trip that I timed to set me up for spectating the Adirondack 90 from my front row seat on the water.
So here are a couple pictures of the new boat. Thanks to all for what I've learned so far from this group and looking forward to learning and sharing more.
John P
