Why I paddle (get it? eyepaddle) ;)

[eyepaddle]

A local outdoor sports store had a large on-the-river demo for new boats and equipment this weekend, there were abot thirty or so people on the tiny little river (the calm eddies were PACKED with people) many of them brand new faces. Including a campus group from U of M Duluth, many of whom had never paddled on moving water before. You've just got to admire the sense of adventure of any person willing to try out a new activity on water when te temps are in the mid 30s and the banks are covered in snow! Many of the more experienced paddlers are certified instructors, in this pic you can see two standing out in the water coaching a brand new paddler learning to side surf. The look on her face captres the moment eloquently! :)

The sense of comraderie on the river is truly heartening, especially in this day and age, where people's schedules, lives and intersts so often serve to keep us from talking to strangers or even just sitting back and experiencing an all-encompassing NOW, without thoughts of past and future stress. Just stopping and smelling the roses, if you will; or in this case, feeling the spray! (It's a little hard to make out, but I'm in the back standing up, giving pointers to the next boater in line for the wave!)