Paddle Canada 1. 28 April 08

Crew leader learning how to blog in 3C weather
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

Welcome to the Paddle Canada 1 Blog!

Welcome to the Paddle Canada 1 Blog!

Starting May 10, the Paddle Canada 1 Team will be joining 15 other teams leaving Rocky Mountain House in Alberta, arriving in Old Fort William in Ontario on July 13!

The teams are paddling replica 25 foot Canot Du Nord canoes, each with a crew of 8-10 enthusiastic voyageur wannabes!

This blog will be updated regularly with pictures and stories of the trip. Check back often!

Team Paddle Canada 1 consists of:

Tonya Shalay, Richard Griffith, Ed Howell, Darryl Sexsmith, Boudi Van Oldenborgh, Robbie Bates, David Bates, Len Miller, Ross McDonald, Janice Dicks, William Bishopp, Jay Bailey, and Kirk Wipper.

We are recreating David Thompson's 1808 journey to Old Fort William to tell the world of his discovery of the Howse Pass through the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean in Canada. The 3600 km voyage will take 63 paddling days, and will visit 40 communities along the way to share his history with them. Look for paddlers wearing period costumes and demonstrating period skills in music and navigation.

See the David Thompson Brigade website for more exciting details and updates of this journey!

http://www.2008thompsonbrigade.com/

Crew Leader Eric Williams models his capote, an authentic Hudson's Bay blanket similar to what would have been used in trade in the early 1800's.

Note the four stripes on the label indicating the cost of the blanket in beaver pelts.

Two Canot canoes await the start of their trip to Alberta. The canoes are 25 feet long, and weigh about 320lbs! [10 mile portage, anyone?]