Jimbo has done a good job in his analysis and I will second what he has said. In looking for more advanced programming I went to hear Rob Kesselring talk about planning a far north canoe trip. Unfortunately he decided to change things up this year and just tell stories. The opposite of that was the Hudson Bay bound girls. The computer quit but they were given another which made a jumble of their pictures. They still managed to give a great program about an advanced trip.

We use canoes and have this feeling, whether true or not, that the kayaks are getting too much of the show. I checked in with Bending Branches to look at the new double blade paddle  they are making for canoe use. I was told it exist but they had none at the show. It reinforced the feeling that kayaks were pushing us aside. On the positive side I was able to have a good talk with the new owners of Lendal Paddles. So many solo canoe paddlers approached them during the show that they are going to look into what they can do for us along the line of a long high quality double blade.

Thanks for asking our views on a great event.