Hello again, loyal readers! Both of you deserve medals for attending so freakily often. :-)

Over there on the inverted left side is the conclusion of our canoeing. Some of that fatigue may be mere facade, but allow me to assure you that we were tired, pet tired, and that at least some of what you see there isn't completely fabricated by allegedly enfeebled minds.

We felt something, which has long been the basis for a few of the "Christian" denominations floating around out there, basis, so you may rest assured that while we're not up for starting up our own denomination at this point, we are dreadfully sincere. :-)

Now, the key to understanding this over-bright and grainy photo is simply this, dear reader: Last year, I found this little stunt to be very popular among my fellow riversmen, most of whom were inebriated, so I, while floating most predictably down the river, decided to have a little fun. Knowing that my own balance to be at times awe inspiring and incredible even to myself, I knew that it would be something that *ahem* my fellow riversmen could fully *cough* appreciate.

Your apprehension is physically palpable, my dear! "Did they like it?" The answer to that, reader both dear and feared, is an emphatic YES! They LOVED it! The question shining in everyone's eyes was universally seen: "Has there 'ere been such a show on our lowly river? Does he do it for free? Has he had many offers of arranged marriage? He does have great balance, you know!" To this, I have but simple answers: "Yes", "Yes", "2, unless you don't count a promised one as an 'offer'", and "Perhaps, relatively speaking."

Honestly, what happened is that I had a few groups of tipsy canoers hoot and holler about my skill in terms of "WHOA, look at that guy!", "He's gotta bite the dust eventually", and "He must get ALL the girls" to which I nearly responded aloud, "You'd be surprised."

In any case, a lot of people took notice and not a few, again, tipsy, canoers said things to me that were generally along the lines of "Oh, it's just too easy for you to do it normally, isn't it?", "Do you think we can do that in our canoe?", and "How does that thing handle rapids? :-) "

My friends, I was amazed by the feedback, but I fear it was not all positive. :-(

As I approached a huge group of men and women who were up on the shore near what I thought to be a rapid, I heard among the din a few shouts of "re-tard! re-tard! re-tard!". It quite nearly destroyed my faith in the general good-heartedness-ness of the riverman! Oh, how terrible it was to my socially insecure self!

..but I lived through it. :-)

From the picture you can tell that both Tyler Poe and I did it, but what you can't tell from the picture is that we never could convince Ryan to do it. He once acted like he was trying to flip over his funyak, but didn't attempt it very long. I suspect that he thought we looked like morans! It's probably absurd and I dare say a bit paranoid for me to say that, but that's what I really think he thought.. :-|

Well, I think this is enough for one day, but I'll at least conclude my finishing statement before I post this. Ok, it's done now.