Eddylines by John Lane
Looking back to July, we had a wonderful event with Elaine and Bob Mravetz performing freestyle canoeing. This fall we can look forward to the Kelley's Island Poker Paddle and a Muskingum River canoe/kayak camping trip. Both of these are being run by two of our newer leaders, Curt Goetz and Jeff Rhoades.
COP boating continues to offer members and the general public access to boating education and fun. Here's part of an email from Andrea Gorzitze, a MORPC/Franklin County Greenways planner who helped organize the Gahanna Riverfest:
"On behalf of the Friends of Big Walnut Creek and Franklin County Greenways, I would like to thank Columbus Outdoor Pursuits for providing canoes and volunteers to make our Riverfest 2002 event at Gahanna's Bar-B-Q Blues and Jazz Fest on June 15 such a great success! John Lane organized the availability of canoes and volunteers. Jon Blake and Andy DiPalma donated their time and expertise to make the canoe float an exciting experience for all participants. What a wonderful way for people to get to know their creek!
Our fiscal agent, Franklin County, is presently processing a $50 donation to COP as a small token of our appreciation for your generous support of our event."
Ann Gerckens, Eileen Troutman, Bill Ploughe and Jeff Haven (no doubt with other helping hands) offered boating experience to New Albany High School students in June.
Guy Sheaffer organized another great "Red, White and Boom" boating event. Walt Taylor, George and Jim Kostura and I hauled boats.
Thinking of all this work and volunteer led events is enough to make one tired! I never tire of the joy that one sees when one of our boating students does a wet exit and surfaces with a grin or finally "gets" an eddy turn. This is the legacy that we are all creating as we do the work that is COP boating.
As our summer winds down, Gauley season rafting heats up next month with a couple COP trips. Check out our new events, honor the old and come join us on our expeditions to somewhere.
See You On The Water