This year I stayed with friends in the Clarion and found that to be very convenient and allowed me to attend all three days. It also allowed me to see all the presentations I was interested in and still browse Friday and Sunday when it is a little less crowded. Of course each year the interaction with others from the on-line community becomes a bigger part of my experience. I did not make the noon lunch with QJ but did make it out for a great time at the dinner in Verona.

I was pleased with the addition new speakers and programs. The speakers doing presentations about far north canoeing were the most interesting to me. On the tamer side I was very pleased with the jobs Kevin Callan and Larry Ricker did in presenting programs on WCPP. You know how dear that park is to me so I usually get pretty worried when someone is portraying it.

In the more advanced tripping programs I started with Bear Paulsens account of his Wind and Peel river trip. It was interesting and I knew from the bio that it would include his car troubles as part of the presentation. Dave Sproule gave a very informative program about the Missinaibi River. It was given in such a way that I took away information that will be useful. I am interested in trips out to Hudson Bay and checked out Jay Timmerman's version. Well, I guess I need to buy his book to find out what happened for very little was offered in the program.

Saving the best for last. It was a shame that Pete Marshall only had one time slot and that in the BWCA room at the end of the day. For me it was the gem of the whole weekend. Fantastic topic, content and presentation are my thoughts. An off the charts and fresh approach for a paddling endeavor. Skagway to Hudson Bay in one long trip done by sheer will by four people that would not give up.

I am a little wordy here because I know Darrin will be checking this out as he did last year. Thank you Darrin for listening last year. I had an issue last year with the non-stocking of kayak paddles longer than 240cm. For canoe use many need 260 or even 280 but they are never in stock. I checked in with Bending Branches on Sunday morning and was told they had a bunch of 260's but they all sold out. A small thing in a big show but I am very happy to see some small things that are important to canoeist being taken seriously. :)