We at G-WeB know you've been waiting all year for your personalized invitation to this year's, 9th Annual Canoe Invitational. You've seen the pictures from the 4/02 Invitational when the Boys in Gore-Tex paddled 30 miles in 3-days of blustery snow and subzero temperatures, and we knew you couldn't wait to hit the high waters again. Although winter conditions were probably not in your forecast for this year's event, paddlin' with your buddies were! So, where were you?

Actually, this year's canoe trip was originally scheduled to be a 3-day backpacking trip for AXE and "g". Unfortunately, AXE stepped off a ladder the wrong way and stretched-out his ACL leaving him destined to walk only on flat land for awhile. An impromptu plan was hatched to paddle an ol' favorite: Canoe from Lower Saranac Lake to the Weller Pond lean-to in northern Middle Saranac Lake (Adirondacks, NY).

So there you have it. The 9th Annual Canoe Invitational did occurr... if only in spirit. And, in case you're wonderin'... yes... there will be a 10th Annual next year!

Anywho... the Boys had a great weekend of canoeing. AXE and "g" cruised west along Lower Saranac Lake - all the while racing up to (and passing) a flotilla of college students earning one gym credit at a local community college. "g" professed the need to get to the "do-it-yourself" lock system first (connecting the Lower and Middle Saranac Lakes) to avoid a lock-jam behind 6 canoes filled with coeds. Once the Boys were in the lock system, it became clear that the lock was not completely filling. After nearly 25 minutes (of waiting), "g" realized he forgot to close the drainage vent on the lower side of the lock. A minor (embarrassing) snafu...

The eats were great. For dinner, "g" cooked risotto with shrimp accompanied with a fine merlot. (AXE refused to drink the other bottle sporting a huge picture of a fish on it's label.) For breakfast, AXE cooked pancakes with apples, Canadian bacon (which "g" thought was turkey, and accidentally ate half on a sandwich the day before), and freshly squeezed OJ.

The paddle home was hair-raising because they were confronted with a gushing head wind and white caps. Things were nerve-rackingly AOK until the Boys ran aground on a submerged rock laden outcrop of shoreline. The wind and waves had pushed them onto two large flat rocks. In the moment of panic that followed, they knew they must jettison themselves (without tipping their canoe) off their perch before the next set of waves smashed them into smithereens along a shore line of large jagged rocks! They couldn't begin to imagine the scraping damage to the bottom of "g's" light fiberglass canoe as they frantically used their ores to push themselves into deeper water.

And... the Boys did returned safely home. And... much to their surprise, "g's" boat-bottom was unscathed by their rock encounter. G-WeB looks forward to seeing you next year (really)... for the 2004, 10th Annual Canoe Invitational. See ya then!