1940

While surfing the Web one evening I stumbled upon a copy of Woodsmoke2002, a publication of the DOC. It included an article by the legendary Ross McKinney and two by our own Ike Weed. One of these is short enough to be reprinted here:

Ledyard Canoe Club (1938): "With our patron saint John Ledyard snickering slyly up in a blue April sky, 12 members of the Canoe Club, their brains addled with winter, crawl out of their palatial boathouse on the banks of the Connecticut, fling their craft aboard a waiting truck and roar off to the remote headwaters of the White River.... Launching the puny canvas-and- wood forms into the snapping teeth of the river... the dauntless canoeists catapult down sluice after sluice, crashing through 3-foot combers, pouring the calories into their paddles and bailing like fiends.

"Looks good along the edge next to those rocks,' shouts someone above the roar of the water. 'Waves are only about 15 feet high! Lotta water t'day; covers up the boulders!' "But the wonderful memories of good fellowship, good weather, good food and good sport will last a long time and all the canoesmashing, duckings, sunburn and wet feet take on an elegant and humorous hue. Happy paddling!" We appreciate your flowing prose, Ike!

Bill Halsey is enthusiastic about our class mini-reunion to be held September 2,3 and 4. Activities will center around the Hanover Inn. He has lined up an interesting speaker and promises a good time for all.

4612 Mercado Drive, Sebring, FL33872; (863) 471-2679; avt@strato.net