CJ -

Bravo!  Bravo!!  When do WE leave?!!

Also, Tripper has made a good point about following a potential paddling partner's posts.  That's what got me in the canoe with HIM, anyway.  I was the big winner on that arrangement, learning more from him in one short trip than on several trips where I was the "most experienced" party member.  

Hey, one other thought.  To calm the fears of spouses & other relatives [who can race to conclusions like:"What!!  You're headed into the wilderness with someone you DON'T KNOW and might be a hatchet-murdering Internet Maniac!"], I recommend at least a brief face-to-face meeting to talk things over.

That's how Tripper did it, anyway... and he STILL let me come along!!

Jimbo   8)