leastbest - but still one of the best
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Canoe the Mohican
posted Saturday, 30 July 2005
As vacation winded down we decided to take a canoe trip down in Loudonville, Ohio. I haven't been down there in over twenty years and took Route 301 all the way down to Route 3. It's a beautiful ride and I'm always surprised that the flatness of Ohio turns to rolling hills such a short way from here. I suppose w
orking right on the lake and being raised in Elyria can do that to you.
The hour ride passed easily with the wife and I listening to R. L. Burnside's First Recordings cd. The wife is surprisingly tolerant of my musical choices. In the meantime the daughter was in the backseat listening on her headphones to Green Day.
We arrived late in the day as we had slept late and had a leisurely lunch at Nicks in Elyria. Arriving late we couldn't raft or tube, only canoe. We decided on the two hour trip and gathered our paddles and life jackets. All the while I was annoying my family by singing the theme song to Gilligan's Island, emphasizing 'a three hour tour'. I wore the biggest life jacket they had but it looked awfully small on me.
We hit the water and after a few minor problems we were fine. The river was incredibly crowded being that it was Saturday and every once in aw
hile you would come to a logjam of people. Everyone was nice and campers along the shore watched bemused.
I was a little surprised to see the amount of beer in the canoes (and canoeists hands). Many had capsized their canoes and at one point we saw an unopened can floating down the river. With great skill we maneuvered the canoe to capture the can. When I looked at the can I was disappointed to find it was a can of beer, I'm such an old fart, I was hoping for diet pepsi.
My daughter was such a good sport. The canoes have seats in the front and back but she had to sit on the floor in the middle. Water slowly built up and even sitting on a life jacket she was soaking wet. It was a perfect day to canoe and I hope to go back before summer ends on a weekday and take a longer trip.
The three hour tour ended at Frye's Landing and we brought our canoe to shore. As we waited for the bus we watched them bring canoes to shore and purge them of their empty beer cans. I wouldn't doubt if they make more money from the recycled aluminum than from the canoe rental.
Once the bus was filled the driver got on and took off like a bat out of Hell. I wonder if there is a checkbox on the application form that says 'Death Wish?'. As we careened down the backroads of Loudonville I closed my eyes and tried to think of chess games of old but it didn't help much. I've been on roller coasters at Cedar Point that are easier on the stomach.
We survived and the ride back was relaxing. It was a great way to end a vacation. I needed these two weeks off. I go on vacation again for two weeks in two weeks. Life is good.
orking right on the lake and being raised in Elyria can do that to you.The hour ride passed easily with the wife and I listening to R. L. Burnside's First Recordings cd. The wife is surprisingly tolerant of my musical choices. In the meantime the daughter was in the backseat listening on her headphones to Green Day.
We arrived late in the day as we had slept late and had a leisurely lunch at Nicks in Elyria. Arriving late we couldn't raft or tube, only canoe. We decided on the two hour trip and gathered our paddles and life jackets. All the while I was annoying my family by singing the theme song to Gilligan's Island, emphasizing 'a three hour tour'. I wore the biggest life jacket they had but it looked awfully small on me.
We hit the water and after a few minor problems we were fine. The river was incredibly crowded being that it was Saturday and every once in aw
hile you would come to a logjam of people. Everyone was nice and campers along the shore watched bemused.I was a little surprised to see the amount of beer in the canoes (and canoeists hands). Many had capsized their canoes and at one point we saw an unopened can floating down the river. With great skill we maneuvered the canoe to capture the can. When I looked at the can I was disappointed to find it was a can of beer, I'm such an old fart, I was hoping for diet pepsi.
My daughter was such a good sport. The canoes have seats in the front and back but she had to sit on the floor in the middle. Water slowly built up and even sitting on a life jacket she was soaking wet. It was a perfect day to canoe and I hope to go back before summer ends on a weekday and take a longer trip.
The three hour tour ended at Frye's Landing and we brought our canoe to shore. As we waited for the bus we watched them bring canoes to shore and purge them of their empty beer cans. I wouldn't doubt if they make more money from the recycled aluminum than from the canoe rental.
Once the bus was filled the driver got on and took off like a bat out of Hell. I wonder if there is a checkbox on the application form that says 'Death Wish?'. As we careened down the backroads of Loudonville I closed my eyes and tried to think of chess games of old but it didn't help much. I've been on roller coasters at Cedar Point that are easier on the stomach.
We survived and the ride back was relaxing. It was a great way to end a vacation. I needed these two weeks off. I go on vacation again for two weeks in two weeks. Life is good.
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