Hey.<\/p>\n

I try to put stuff up here fairly often, but the truth is, I’ve been writing a lot on the side (the paying gig stuff) and I believe that there are only so many words inside my head that are worthwhile to anyone besides me, and that’s even debatable sometimes. \u00a0Anyway, I’d rather not put up anything than something lame.<\/p>\n

But it’s a lovely day, and I’m writing from the backyard of Canoelover Basecamp, soaking up some shade. \u00a0I inherited my skin pigments from the Picts<\/a> so I \u00a0try to reflex sun and soak up shade. \u00a0Wife 1.3.1b is sitting next to me knitting. \u00a0A murder of crows is annoyed by our presence, and I suspect by the fledglingesque appearance and the soprano cawing that a she-crow nested in the big oak and is kicking the babies out of the nest a little. \u00a0Monochromatic dogs place themselves strategically in the yard and a clump of dianthus<\/em> from next door is dumping scent prodigally. \u00a0 I’m enjoying moving the hose, adjust to a trickle, from plant to plant in my new little hosta garden. \u00a0The Japanese maple has been pruned to resemble a bonsai.\u00a0\u00a0It’s a perfect day.<\/p>\n

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On the canoe front, there are changes afoot. \u00a0I am\u00a0rearranging\/thinning\/culling canoes from the fleet. \u00a0Too many is too many. \u00a0In my mind’s ear I can perceive audible gasps from the readership. \u00a0You’re thinking Canoelover has blown a head gasket<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Not so. \u00a0I have a few boats that are dusty and aren’t being paddled as much as they should be paddled. \u00a0I also have a new sea kayak that is but half paid for, and I need to turn boats that don’t get wet often into one that does. \u00a0So the Moore-built Mike Galt-designed Dandy is up on the block. That’s because Friday a Lotus Dandy is showed up. \u00a0It’s like driving a replica Porsche Speedster for a few years then finding a real one. \u00a0So no change in the fleet count. \u00a0But I am also selling my Blackhawk Ariel…again, more than a millimeter of dust and it’s gone, buh bye<\/em>. \u00a0I shall miss thee, Ariel. So that’s down one. I am also considering selling off one of my Pat Moore designed and built boats — a Proem or a Reverie II. \u00a0The Rev is a collectible boat, one of a kind, and I am \u00a0torn. \u00a0It’s like owning a P-51 Mustang. \u00a0If you fly it, you run the risk of crashing and destroying it, but flying is what they were made for. \u00a0Bollocks<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Anyway, I may be two down. \u00a0Let me know if you’re interested in any of them.<\/p>\n

In other news: \u00a0 Got a permit for the BWCA in August. \u00a0Just Wife 1.3.1b and I, \u00a0no kids or other\u00a0encumbrances. That will be the first time just the two of us are going without kids since we had them. \u00a0A few weeks before that we have the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market trade show in Salt Lake City. \u00a0We’re taking a few extra days on each side to drive out and do some camping along the way, usually in one of these<\/a>. \u00a0Not sure of the route just yet, but it will be nowhere near an interstate. \u00a0Roadside America is a fantastic service (roadsideamerica.com) that tells you where all the stupid\/cool\/bizarre roadside attractions are. \u00a0World’s largest ball of bailing twine? \u00a0Grant Wood’s American Gothic house? \u00a0The Maharishi Tower of Invincibility? \u00a0It’s all there.<\/p>\n

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We’re traveling in style in our TC Teardrop<\/a>. \u00a0It’s basically a tent that rolls…with a really nice mattress inside. \u00a0 No significant change in mileage (they weigh very little and are out of the slipstream). \u00a0Pull up to a rest stop, throw open the kitchen and have a nice omelet or a curry or whatever. \u00a0Indian food in Nebraska. \u00a0It can happen.<\/p>\n

Needless to say, we’re already looking forward to August.<\/p>\n