tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195699600574340469.post6480270290954634347..comments2009-10-20T00:21:37.738+01:00Steve Waltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16042093138721815378noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195699600574340469.post-31814880776589458832009-10-20T00:21:37.738+01:002009-10-20T00:21:37.738+01:00More to come, Martin.Steve Waltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16042093138721815378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195699600574340469.post-47368305669688901952009-10-19T22:17:49.946+01:002009-10-19T22:17:49.946+01:00A fine story so far and please continue.Martin Ryehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03719332121719827761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195699600574340469.post-22234780166561640552009-10-17T19:45:55.947+01:002009-10-17T19:45:55.947+01:00Hi Mark, thanks for dropping by.<br />I know what you mean about hearing a Grumman coming! Yes, they do stick to rock and they can be hot or cold, depending on the weather. Even so, they can take plenty of abuse. Both the Inkas were brand new and in pristine condition when we picked them up from the outfitter. They were looking decidedly &#39;used&#39; when we returned them two weeks later! As nice as it would have been to have had a lightweight boat with some exotic lay-up, it simply would not have been a practical option. I have to confess a grudging liking for Grummans within the realm of what they are good at and a degree of disdain outside of that realm. Their seaworthyness in heavy storm-driven lake swells is a clincher for such a trip.Steve Waltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16042093138721815378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6195699600574340469.post-53725171260196879842009-10-17T16:07:46.137+01:002009-10-17T16:07:46.137+01:00What a wonderful trip this looks like!<br /><br />Grummans were the ubiquitous canoes of my American boyhood. During spring runoff, you could always hear inexpert paddlers coming downstream as they scraped and banged off rocks. The Grummans &quot;boomed.&quot; They also tended to &quot;stick&quot; much more than either the older wood-canvas or newer synthetic hulls, which tended to slide off rocks. You&#39;d find yourself sitting stalled on granite.<br /><br />Looking forward to reading more about your Swedish paddle.Mark Alvarezhttp://walkingacrosswhat.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com