The first sign of spring in the mid-west is the arrival of the Canoecopia Gazette. Each year it arrives at our door with a regularity that even Michael Cherthoff couldn’t screw up. I always imagine thousands of repressed paddlers running back from their mailboxes holding up their baggy long underwear in one hand and the Gazette in the other yelling, “It’s here!! It’s here!!” Then for the next 63 hours they will sit on the kitchen floor reading every article, existing on Gatorade and walnuts cracked with a hammer. Well, I will be anyway!

I know it can take a few days for the Gazette get to everyone’s door, so I won’t spoil it. But here’s a little teaser. . .

Keywords You’re Likely To Find in the Canoecopia Gazette 2006

ripcord – marriage – raccoons – stroke – bonanza – spanking – underwater – best – largest – sasha – efficiency – wild – pool – shamanistic – poetry – wondervest – bargains – sustainability – racks – saddles – orphans – pretty – rowing – flambeau – horodowich – wanigans – symposium – enthusiasm – divas – butterflies – mollusk – community – kids – brain – haanas – reitz – jigging – loon – love

and my favorite which comes from Yakima, “anal-retentive”. . .

Canoecopia is the world’s largest paddlesport expo and will be held March 10 – 12 at the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall in Madison, Wisconsin. For more details visit Canoecopia.com

On Saturday, March 11th, I know I will be spending my day at the Door County Symposium booth. with Milwaukee’s uber kayaker, Mr. John Browning. So feel free to come up and chat. . Oh, and while you’re at it you can sign up for the symposium otherwise it will be back to schleppin’ boats for me!!

-d