This past January, the HUGELY AWESOME, Sean Smith (a.k.a. the FATPADDLER) from Australia, ventured to the northern hemisphere for a short visit. After a whirlwind of a trip to Toronto, Thunder Bay and then on to Chicago, before finally returning home just this past week, Sean reported a wonderful adventure on his website about some of his experiences in Canada. And while Fiona is usually the writer of Badger's Blog, this special occasion inspired Mike to create a short trip report of his time spent with Sean (FATPADDLER) for the short 24 hour period that Sean was in Toronto.
Here is Mike's unedited Toronto Trip Report:
Headed down to the city on a wintery Thursday night to meet this crazy Aussie who thought that it would be a good idea to leave his warm home to paddle in Canada in January. I didn't want to miss this.
Sean's first taste of Canadian Poutine. The verdict? He likes it, hey Mikey! |
Sean (FATPADDLER) and David (PaddlingInstructor.com) smile for Mike's camera |
Jim Walton (H2O Performance Paddles) with his beautiful fiance Sammy... looks like all are having fun! |
Cheers from two hemispheres! |
Cha-Ching!! $$ That was some mighty fine Poutine! |
End of the evening: (part of) Team FatPaddler in Toronto* |
"Hey... sausages!" Sean (FATPADDLER) and Alan Drummond (Toronto Team Fat Paddler Rep) early a.m. |
Looks like some cold hard fun! Photo courtesy of Alan Drummond |
Thanks for visiting Canada, Fat Paddler. Next time you'll have to come for longer so we don't have to fit in all in to such a short time.
Written by Mike Ramsay for Badger Paddles... for those who dig the water.
Alan and Sean (a.k.a. FATPADDLER) Photo courtesy of Alan Drummond |
Mike puts his arm around Sean to keep him warm. (joke) |
The man, himself: FATPADDLER |
So a big "fat" thanks to Mike for sharing his account of a winter's paddling adventure with us all, and to Sean for being such a great sport and amazing advocate for the power of self-propulsion plus to Alan for making it all happen for Toronto! Note: you can read Sean's (a.k.a. FATPADDLER) account of his January paddling adventure in Lake Ontario here: http://fatpaddler.com/2011/01/canoe-paddling-in-toronto-with-badger-paddles/ Thanks also to our sponsors Algonquin Outfitters, Swift Canoe and others, who helped to celebrate Fat Paddler's visit with us by way of a contest.
*In attendance for this photograph from L to R: Sammy & Jim of H2O Performance Paddles, Sean of FatPaddler.com, Mike of Badger Paddles, Kelly of The Complete Paddler, James and Dympna of LearnToKayak.Ca, and last... but not least... Alan... Team FatPaddler Rep, Sean's Personal Assistant and Paddling Instructor.
I honestly can't thank you all enough for such amazing hospitality. An amazing, if not brief, adventure! Cheers - FP
ReplyDeleteNice post thanx for information
ReplyDelete