Well. . .it was nice to see a bunch of you at the lunch at the Coliseum.  I don't post much on QJ anymore and we don't go to the Q, so we have become more active on bwca.com (hence attending the dinner with them, which was also a fun time), but we did really enjoy getting the chance to see some of you, and even to meet some of you that we have never met before.

We did buy a few things; a couple that we planned upon buying and a couple that just caught our eye as we walked the floor.  Replaced a SeaLine bag, bought some Cache Lake food (not a lot), and I treated myself to a bug shirt, since this year's trip will be during black fly season and I tend to really swell up with those bites.  And we bought a small Sawyer paddle for our grandson, who is turning seven in May and going to Fenske Lake Cabins with us in June.

I attended one photography session wherein I didn't learn much and one that I found quite interesting (the one entitled something like "How did you get that shot?").  We enjoyed Kevin Callan's Woodland Caribou presentation.  Also, had never attended the cook-off before, but we went this time, and found that entertaining, silly fun.

But mainly we enjoyed the concerts/performances by Jerry Vandiver and the One Match Band.  We were supporters of Jerry's efforts to bring the band to Canoecopia this year, and I pledged extra money for the privilege (?) of playing cowbell on one song along with Kevin Callan and two other volunteers/victims.  It was just great fun!

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I had spoken with Kevin Callan at the Quiet Water Symposium in Lansing, MI, last weekend and told him that we would be playing cowbell together.  He remarked at that time that he thought it would be neat to do his performance in a cow suit.  I was sort hoping that he wouldn't show up in one, but of course, being Kevin Callan, he did!  He's quite the clown!

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Jerry's Saturday performance was standing-room only and was the highlight of Canoecopia for us this year.  His tribute to canoeing dogs was a real hit, in a beautiful song and video:  "Me and Molly".

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Did you stop by the Lafayette County Cheese booth and taste the cranberry goat cheese?  I am going online this afternoon to order some!  It was fabulous!!

We stayed at a hotel about ten miles from the venue, had a quiet night's sleep both nights and a great swim in the pool in the morning before heading to 'Copia.  We sort of like that distance from the excitement.  Guess that makes us the stodgy old folks.  LOL!

All in all, we really enjoyed this year's Canoecopia.