Obviously duct tape is an essential ingredient to pack for a canoe trip. We have learned that one more criteria is important. COLOURED duct tape.
Joe was bright enough to pack a roll of pink duct tape and that has made identifying things about a billion times easier. We have pink duct tape on our camp boxes, pink duct tape on our PFDs, and most importantly pink duct tape on our paddles. We don't have carbon fiber paddles but there a lot of other identical wooden ones on the brigade and we can tell if they belong to us at a glance.
After setting up, our camp usually looks like someone took a huge box, filled it with wet clothes, pots, tin mugs, sleeping pads, and woolen blankets then detonated the whole thing. We seems to manage well enough though (better and better each day) and I think that we owe a lot of this to pink duct tape.
Most of the other groups have some very nice cooking rigs with multiple burners etc so we are picking up some life lessons on how to build a car camping/canoeing system.
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I'll let the pictures tell the story;) Note: The final photo is NOT posed.
Note: This photo is NOT posed.
This week we spend three nights camping in the same spot (but paddling all three days) at the Sakajawea State Park at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers. This is an important spot for several reasons. It is a traditional trading spot for many first nations because of the two big rivers, and also a place of importance for the Lewis & Clark mission and NWC trade. When David Thompson arrived at this spot in 1811 he posted a sign claiming that land for Britain (how thoughtful of him) and promising to erect a trading post there which did indeed happen. At our arrival the 8th and 9th generation Thompsons, Lavern Thompson and his son, planted a replica of that sign and we did some dancing. The park is beautiful and a wonderful place to spend three nights. Being here for more than one day allows us to unpack and spread out a little..... a luxury in our travelling vagabond lifestyle. There is also a beautiful exhibit for Sakajawea and Lewis & Clark on site.
Last night we needed to move our boats around the point so we took advantage of a beautiful sunset to take some video of us paddling in full voyageur garb... a pretty normal thing for us but the latest that we have been paddling at night before was 7pm (a LONG day).
Arrival at Sakajawea State Park
The Thompson Family (8th and 9th generation) return to the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers.
The Thompson's mark the park as British territory (note: to avoid boos we made sure to bring up how beautiful the area was and how this made us wish that it were part of our country).
Dave interprets to the children of Eric (a member of the brigade from Richland)
We're pretty sure that David Thompson slept here.
Now that we are getting on to the lower Columbia we have had one windy day after another. Nothing bad on the water so far (aside from the occasional headwind) but our tents have tried to flee our campsite on several occasions before being pegged down.
Fortunately the current has been strong and in our favour and we have been ripping along. We did 83 km yesterday by combining two days worth of paddling into one day. There were some naps required after but we are no worse for wear:) See the video below to view the river current that we have been riding.
On a day off from paddling we decided to work our legs and climb up between the mountains to the West to Lake Colchuck, a glacier fed lake. A lot of elevation to go up but what a view. Took us about 8 hours round trip with a LOT of dawdling and adventures along the way. We even went in for a (COLD!!!) swim.
Andy makes a new beard from Old Man's Beard
Natalie looks up up up!
Lots of ice and snow up here!
We arrived in in the beautiful town of Wenatchee just a few days ago. Probably our biggest arrival to date with wonderful crowds to greet us, feed us, and share in our adventure. One couple even asked (without being prompted) if we had any pemmican that they could see! Dave arrived as David Thompson and gave an eloquent and moving speech in 1st person. Graham and Abe piped their hearts out.
A wonderful welcome
Michel Boulard and David Thompson GQ!
Ross addresses the crowd.
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