Canoecopia 2010

We just got back from Canoecopia last night. Its the biggest canoe/kayak show in the country and it was amazing. We were finally able to meet the wonderful people who have helped out our cause, including Molly from Duluth Pack and Joe from Holz Paddles.  They donated our giant pink Duluth Pack and two beautiful handmade Holz paddles. Canoecopia was a great opportunity to get the word out and connect to the people who've helped us out. A big thanks to Rutabaga for putting on the show, and of course to all those who have donated, offered discounts, and helped support our cause!

More Gear!

A few companies have donated gear for our trip. Guyot Designs sent us two sets of squishy bowls, cups, and utensils. I've used them backpacking and they are awesome. GCI Outdoors sent us two canoe seats, which I tested and work very well. OtterBox sent us three of their largest boxes, waterproof to 100 feet and perfect for all our valuable stuff on the trip. Thanks for the donations! They'll be a huge help.

The Canoe has Arrived!

The Old Town Canoe and Kayak Company has donated the largest canoe they make to us for the trip. We could not be more thankful for their incredible generosity. The canoe is the 20 foot Tripper XL, made specifically for long journeys. It can easily carry all of our gear, and will allow our trip to be far more safe and enjoyable then in our small old canoe. We are so grateful for such an awesome gift.

We're getting ready

After spending months looking for jobs in this unwelcoming environment, we discussed productive ways to use our brains, work ethic, and thirst for adventure. That is how we developed the idea to canoe down the Mississippi River to raise money for breast cancer research.

We have dubbed this venture, “Canoe for the cure”, and are going to write journal entries in our blog so people can follow our progress down the river. We have contacted several local newspapers to help spread awareness for our cause.

While we don’t have personal funds, we do have time. We are contacting businesses and other organizations that support cancer research to contribute to the expenses we will have for travel, food, gear, and other provisions. Any sponsorships, financial donations, or equipment donations for our trip will help us immensely.