Let’s Go Shopping, Everything will be ok. – Bare Naked Ladies

I popped out of bed just before 6am. Not sure if it was because I am anticipating the trade show or if I was anticipating all the web-work I need to get done before we leave today for Madison.

Mary and I have been going to Canoecopia for a few years now. The first year we went with friends and like most folks new to the event we really dropped some reddies. Mainly because we were short of everything. I think we took 3 trips from the event hall to the parking-lot. Each time we said we were done, we would think of something else to buy.

Last year we were in that painful place you come to when you’re drowning in gear. We walked around looking at stuff and could not find much to actually purchase. Now I know some of you would say that it’s the joy of looking that’s the most fun. But for us souvenirs are important. We want toys! In the end we walked out with a couple of ARC lights and I got my Greenland paddle. Last year was great too in that Nigel Dennis was there. Of course we were too “star-struck” to actually go up and say hello. But we did watch his slide show presentation. Since then I have seen Nigel a couple times and still have not had the courage to go up and say hello. I don’t know why that is exactly. I guess I often feel that if you were in his place you wouldn’t want every one with a paddle coming up and bugging you. Besides what would you say?, “Nice Boat”??. We also went to Brent Reitz’s presentation on the Forward Stroke. Which by the way is very worthwhile. You do have to translate his style a bit for your own needs but all-in-all I think Brent has really opened up a door for paddlers.

This year there is really nothing I want. Well. . . Actually I would like to get a Greenland style storm paddle to replace my main Greenland paddle. I have found that for me, the Euro paddle is my main stick, but I love to play with the Greenland rolls and In a good wind there is nothing like it. So using a storm as a spare seems like the perfect option.

I hope to get some free time to run around with a camera as well. Not sure if I will pull that off or not.

So this morning before we head out I have to finish putting together a bunch of 360 IPIX pictures for the Grand Marquis in Wisconsin Dells. Those are the pictures you see on the web that you can spin around and look at every nook of a room. So about 6 of those and I can get my brain back on kayaking for the day.

So, looking for a Canoecopia tip? Well, get there early on Friday or early Sunday if you are a heavy shopper. Otherwise the event is usually pretty swamped and can have long lines at the check out. Be sure to catch at least one speaker. Oh, and get in on a raffle or two. My favorite cause is supporting the Friends of Devil’s Lake State Park. (No real surprise there)

See you there!

-dm

Related Posts:

1. Canoecopia Notes – Day One
2. BCU Week – 2005 – Tybee Island, Georgia
3. Canoecopia Notes – Day 2
4. Canoecopia Notes – Day 3
5. 10 Useless Tips For Canoecopia