It's worth at least "speed-browing" the show and sitting in on a seminar or two. I made sure to give a passing wave to folks such as Harlan. He was knee deep in booking prospective clients so I didn't want to stop and chat him up. Other than that, I wouldn't have walked the hall at all.

I'll echo everything that's been said here. It's all about the people. It's always great to see everyone!!

I think the last "real" gear purchase I made was a paddle I bought several years ago now. But I still like looking 

Scott (ml)

mpeebles wrote on Mar 12^th, 2019 at 12:50pm:


Well, if you’re burned alive, I’ll have to join you. I feel the same way. I’ve told people that Copia is just the excuse to get together. We probably have more knowledge and experience than all of the presenters put together!

'Copia has drifted over the years to be less "canoe-centric."  When I first began to make the trip to Madison, I WAS doing it to go to the conference ... going to presentations and at least looking at gear.

Now, its all about people.  Quite frankly, if the get-togethers were eliminated, I wouldn'd come.  (And there have been years where I didn't actually go to any presentations ... only to the gatherings and walking the halls to see who I could find.  One year I didn't even do that!)

dd

I may sound like a heretic and with the risk of being burned alive in a wilderness fire pit on some unnamed lake by a mob of Copia worshipers, I enjoy the get togethers more than the show.  It's nice to see and buy new "stuff" but it's precious to experience such great fellowship.  An added benefit of the get togethers......no buyers remorse! 

HighnDry wrote on Mar 10^th, 2019 at 11:04pm:


I have to agree that it never seems like enough time. I thought about that on my drive home yesterday and it occurred to me, for the first time, that there may be a way to extend the time we have together. Of course, those of us staying at the motel, get together for breakfast on Saturday and Sunday morning.

Also, Copia runs from 10-5 on Sunday. If there’s enough interest, we could add a dinner on Sunday evening. The motel rate is cheaper on Sunday night. Get together for breakfast on Monday before heading home. I don’t know how much interest there might be for this? As a retired guy, I could stay another day... thoughts?

We would enjoy having db come over, but he’s a busy guy. We appreciate all of his hard work keeping QJ such a great place to gather!

Thanks for everything Mule Lars and Old Salt and whoever else contributed to the dinners.  It was so good Sat. night I had to go to bed so I could stop eating.   And really good beer too!

Thanks to MuleLars for making the arrangements. The BBQ was awesome! Also, thanks to Wally13 and mpeebles who assisted in many ways, just doing the little unseen things that made the weekend a great time.  Thanks guys! We have an awesome group!  The timing of the storm kept a few from venturing out, but didn’t deter the spirit of those who did. An excellent show.

When we have these annual gatherings, I think of the ancient fur traders and natives who gathered at Grand Portage and later at Fort William. They spent most of their lives in isolated pursuit of the fur trade and reveled in the opportunity to gather and meet fellow voyaguers. Another image that springs to mind is that of a canoe party of friends gathering around the campfire swapping fun stories. We have some gifted storytellers in our midst. It is impossible to convey that sense adequately on this site. Like paddling, camping, fishing, anything, it must be experienced to be understood.

It WAS a lot of fun. I wish that I could have had more time to talk to everyone in-between the sessions and at the QJ dinner. There never seems to be enough time! Maybe DB will even make it next year!

Thanks to  all those that made for a great weekend. It was a lot of fun.