Dragon Boat Paddles

Finally after months of impovement I submitted the latest design of DB Paddles to the I.D.B.F.

Fanshaw Lake D.B. Festival

The conditions were perfect for the Fanshaw Lake Dragon Boat Races. Mild temperature, no wind, blue sky. The races all were beautifully matched through the wide sectrum of classes. I parked myself under a chestnut tree, worked on paddles and talked to people passing by. I was really pleased with the positive feedback from racers regarding my newest Racing Paddle design. It is in for approval with the I.D.B.F.
I sold some paddles, which is nice. The most interesting thing was an enqyirey about a Bicycle attachment to go with my Kayak Cart. I had been thinking about this for a while and now I'm commited to coming up with something this week. This will be an attachment that will universally mount on bycicles and trycicles and hold the stem or stern of a kayak with a universal flex-joint. Suggestions?
Here is a picture of the D.B. paddle donated by Frencman's Bay Kayak Works at the Festival.

Redleaf School: Visitors from France

It was a perfect day at the beach for Arlene Heasmans' students from France. They were full of fun and phisical daring as they tried out my replica Eskimo craft. Then the Rouge Canoe club very generously lent them plastic sit-on-tops to try out and they had a wondergul time. They paddled on the estuary side of the spit and swam in the waves on the Lake side. A very active bunch, they showed the typical Gallic sence of humor. I don't think they really absorbed much of what I said regarding the history of Fenelon or the Eskimo use of the Kayak but the important thing is that they had fun in the sun and nobody drowned.
I wish them all the best, eh?
Jim Prendergast

Racoon Refugee

On Saturday afternoon I was in the shop working on some paddles and a raccoon came to the open doorway. He was a youngish raccoon, about a year old and h e looked a bit beaten-up. I suggested that he try the wildlife sanctuary next-door. He turned back to the sweltering heat outside then decided that the cool of the shop was more attractive. He snuffled around a bit, looking kind of shaky, then curled-up and fell asleep under my workbench. I had a look at him, he had serious cuts on his arms and had looked confused and shaky. I know that feeling. I used to get in fights when I was young. Not play-fights. Real fights. When they are over you shake uncontrollably, you feel sick to your stomach, your in shock. So I let the little fellow rest. When I'd finished my work I got him some Fries and Gravy and a bowl of water and left him in the cool dark to rest.
I called the Toronto Humane Society since the Durham Humane Society is Long-Distance from Pickering. They kindly referred me to the Toronto Wildlife Center. I left the particulars with them and they called me back first thing Sunday morning to arrange to pick-up the wounded raccoon for treatment.
The raccoon, who I've named Axle after my father (who was a legendary fighter) had spent the night in a kayak and was feeling somewhat revived on Sunday. He drank allot of water and washed his wounded arm. While I worked on another paddle he wandered around the shop. By the time the Toronto Wildlife people arrived he had fallen asleep again. The Wildlife experts put him gently in a cage. They said that they would sedate him and examine him for further injuries, give him antibiotics and dress his wounds.
I hope he recovers quickly and I hope he returns to this neighbourhood. Not everybody knows how to deal with raccoons but I've grown up around here and I know that if you make allowances for them they are fun to have around.
Good luck Axle!

Friday Night Kayak Social

Friday night at Frenchman's Bay is a wonderful phenomenon. Kayakers, Canoeists, Kiteboarders, Swimmers out in the wind and the waves by the beach.
People trading the Highway for the Lake. I met several interesting local Kayakers and Canoeists this evening. The most interesting was Bob with his hand-made Strip-planked canoe. I believe he said it was made by his Grandfather for his Uncle and Aunt. It sat for 30 years then Bob got it. He put a layer of Shellac on it (it doesn't have a skin) and it floats like a dream. It has a slight tumblehome like an Ojibwa or Peterborough design. it must have a hundred 1/4" ribs, all fit with clenched brass nails. No leaks. What a beautiful craft.