We've lived within 100 yards of the Tippecanoe river for almost 14 years, and I've never canoed it. Always wanted to, but the kids were younger, or we were busy doing other things...it just never happened.

Well, today was the day. It's 52 degrees out, with 20mph winds, so boating on the lake is sub-optimal, and there's a match going on at the range this weekend, so that's not an option. My oldest turns 12 in a few weeks, and he's big enough to handle paddling. So I decided we'd try a test run on the river to see if he's up for a longer trip later this summer.

We dug our 17' aluminum Sea Nymph that used to be long to my grandpa's out of the backyard where it has been sitting for several years, and loaded it up with fishing poles, life jackets, water bottles, etc, then carried it across the road, though the neighbor's yard, and down to the river.

We shoved off, and it was fantastic. Nice steady flow of water....enough to move you along, but not enough to be dangerous. The water was clear, and the gravel bottom was clearly visible the whole time...about 6"-3' down. There were numerous tree-falls and such that we had to navigate, but we handled them like pros. A couple of times we had to get out, balance on logs, and lift the canoe over them, then climb back in. We got it done...no mishaps, didn't lose the canoe or any gear, and nobody fell in. It was just about the perfect day crusing through the woods on the water...blue skies, no bugs, and we were sheltered from the wind down in the riverbed.

After about 4 miles, we reached the point where we'd planned to pull out. We beached the front of the canoe, and my son started to climb out. Well you guessed it, he got excited, stepped to one side, and dumped the canoe...with me still seated in the back about 15 feet out into the river. Of course I came up yelling...soaked in 50 degree water (and of course in full view of all the traffic on the road!).

I managed to wade out, and we dragged the canoe, which now weighed about 800lbs, up and dumped it. My gun, spare mag, and phone all got dunked. Thankfully, I'd thought ahead and put my phone in a bag as well as switched my P245 out for my P320.

I called my wife and told her to bring the truck to the pull-out spot, and asked her to bring some towels to sit on because we got dumped. And what does my son, standing there warm and dry, look at me and say?

"We only need one."

He almost got to walk home!

Thankfully a P320 is easy to dry out...

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
..."We only need one."....

yeah, because you're riding in the back!

quote:

Originally posted by IntrepidTraveler:

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
..."We only need one."....

yeah, because you're riding in the back!

Lol yeah, I wish I'd thought of that one at the time !

Safety tip: Never stand up in a canoe!

quote:

Originally posted by IntrepidTraveler:

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
..."We only need one."....

yeah, because you're riding in the back!

Best quote of the day!

quote:

Tippecanoe

Well THERE'S your problem!

quote:

Originally posted by bobtheelf:

quote:

Tippecanoe

Well THERE'S your problem!

Yeah, it is somewhat unfortunately (but appropriately!) named...

Love my canoe! I’d like to go down a river sometime. We have a lot of old mine pits so I troll around there.

I always try to carry a Glock when canoeing. Good call on carrying your P320. Glad you guys are safe and had a great time!

Thanks for sharing.

Glad you took the polymer one.


Reading this, one thing kept coming into my mind:


"& Tyler, too."



man, i gotta be old

quote:

Reading this, one thing kept coming into my mind:


"& Tyler, too."

Yup, same river! We're upstream from there...right at the source. But Battleground is only about an hour and a half away.

quote:

Originally posted by ersatzknarf:
Thanks for sharing.

Glad you took the polymer one.


Reading this, one thing kept coming into my mind:


"& Tyler, too."



man, i gotta be old

Wait, didn't you post one time about going to high school with John Tyler??

Good story. He will always remember that trip!

You’ve probably already thought of this but don’t put that ammo back in your carry gun. Shoot it up. I’d not trust ammo that’s been underwater even if briefly.

quote:

Originally posted by craglawnmanor:

Wait, didn't you post one time about going to high school with John Tyler??

Nah, that was Calvin Coolidge!

quote:

Originally posted by rangemaster:

You’ve probably already thought of this but don’t put that ammo back in your carry gun. Shoot it up. I’d not trust ammo that’s been underwater even if briefly.

I second that. I got dunked in a lake very briefly and was surprised next week when several rounds failed during qualification. LE sealed ammo and everything.

Yep agreed. It's now range fodder.