at Cumberland

We're moving further east each day. Today we started at the EB Campbell dam on the Saskatchewan River, still in Saskatchewan, but not for long. In two days we will enter Manitoba.

For a primer on this river, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan_River

This is proving to be a marathon kind of trip. Lots of paddling, more than one usually does in a day, at least at my age. Thanks to more paddlers than seats, we can change up our crew at least partly on most days. We appreciate this. We are up early, mostly at 4:30 am, although today it was 3:30 am. We're on the water by 6 usually, an hour earlier today (no wonder my fingers aren't working so well.)

Yesterday we were off the water by 2, planned so we could avoid winds on the big Lake Tobin. Which we did. It was actually the first day we could have a real happy hour, a time to sit and chat. We had no obligations to sit and listen to speeches or perform for locals. It was lovely. We could even get to know each other better.

Those who are not paddling have to clean up camp, move to the crew change spot, then get in paddling gear for the change. The new road crew then moves to either the next crew change location, or to camp. It's a bit of a crazy way to live. But it's only for a couple of months.

A lot of this is about how our team of paddlers is getting along. Most folks are pitching in and helping where necessary. Most folks paddle, or not, according to the needs of the team. It's the exceptions that are difficult to address, and can make for difficult feelings occasionally. No, we've not had any blow-ups, or even anything close to it. Only a bad flu bug that has laid a couple of the brigade low, including one of my team.

I'm writing from the Cumberland House community school. They are planning quite the program for the day. The children were let out of school early to participate in canoe races--from age 11 and up! With real entrance fees and prize money. Canoeing and canoe races are very much part of the culture here. No wonder the Cumberland House team is always first into camp, even though they often start later.

That's it from the river bank.