Paddletramp Photography

Beautiful dogs

2012-01-29T14:28:00.001-06:00

My favorite lake in the Twin Cities area is White Bear Lake. There are fun activities held at many times of the year at this lake and yesterday I attended a dogsledding show on the lake. The Huskies are some of the most beautiful dogs there are, here are two from yesterday waiting their turn to run.

2012 Project

2012-01-21T12:32:00.001-06:00

At the end of this year my photographs will be hanging on the art gallery walls in the visitor center at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Bloomington, which is right down by the Mall of America. I a very excited because this is the perfect place to display my passion for nature and wildlife. I will have the space for December 2012 and January 2013.

With the help of my friend Brenda, I have entitled the show, "Secret Moments in Nature". (I have to give her credit because she came up with the awesome title). I know how quickly a year goes so I have started to finalize my plans for the show and will start ordering prints and framing them up. The trickiest part is deciding which photographs I want to use and I will have to save some space for photographs I haven't taken yet. It's just All So Fun!

Here are 3 photos of the wall space that I took a few weeks ago so I could envision which photos I want where. I especially like the low curved wall for some reason.

White Egret Landing

2012-01-15T15:14:00.001-06:00

This is one of my favorite bird to photograph, the White Egret. I have found it very challenging to photograph this bird as they are more skittish than your average bird. I just think the White Egret is so beautiful and with patience and perseverance sometimes I get lucky!

2012-01-12T21:57:00.000-06:00

I was on my way to the gas station the other night and was in awe of the beautiful full moon in front of me. I kept driving and headed to my favorite local lake (White Bear Lake) and ended up having a full moon photo shoot for an hour. This ended up being my favorite photo. It is near a small family owned business called Tally's Dockside where I often go in the summer to read and watch the boats come and go. It was fun to be there in the dead of winter in the dark all by myself.

Water Droplets

2012-01-02T01:28:00.001-06:00

I am pretty sure I will never get tired of photographing water drips and droplets. Whenever I come across a drip scene, I forget all time and become completely absorbed in the moment of photographing. And that my dear friend, is a good thing.

Swan Reflection

2012-01-02T00:16:00.001-06:00

This trumpeter swan seems to be checking out his reflection.

Happy Holidays to everyone far and wide!

2011-12-24T12:03:00.002-06:00

Carry a Camera

2011-12-14T21:47:00.000-06:00

A few months ago I decided to get a camera bag that allowed me to carry all my daily work things with me but also my camera with me every day. I ended up purchasing a Think Tank Urban Disguise. The thing is awesome for everyday use. Today I was reminded why I wanted to carry my camera with me every day. It has been gloomy, dreary, cloudy and rainy the last few days. Today I was very spontaneous and stopped at some local areas to make the best of the day. I was rewarded with the wonderful feeling of why I love photography. I was late to work, showed up with muddy jeans and soaking wet hair, and a big smile on my face. Man, I love photography!

Annie Leibovitz

2011-11-13T19:27:00.001-06:00

Just when I thought I had enough books to get me through the next year, I opened a Barnes and Noble email and found out that my favorite photographer Annie Liebovitz has a new book called, "Pilgrimage".

I bought it right away and I am in love with it! Every word and photograph is a delight. Annie embarked on a personal project to rejuvenate herself and her project and the rejuvenation were a success. Not only is her imagery amazing, but the book is a great history lesson on many famous creative people. If you enjoy the work of Annie Liebovitz or history, do yourself a favor and check out this book. You won't be disappointed.

Ashes and Snow

2011-11-06T13:55:00.004-06:00

My favorite photography related website is Ashes and Snow. The photographers name is Gregory Colbert. Just browsing through his website immediately makes me feel at peace. Next time you get a few minutes spend some time looking through his images. If you love photography like I do, this website is well worth your time.

Two Crosses

2011-10-30T14:17:00.001-05:00

This wooden white cross was hung on the cliff of the St. Croix River by the family and friends of a young man who died this summer when he jumped from the cliff and landed wrong in the water. My friends and I were looking at the cross when I noticed the natural made cross that is part of the rocky cliff. Can you see it? It gave us goose-bumps when we saw it.

A Great Place to Visit

2011-10-30T13:54:00.001-05:00

I have added The Canadian Canoe Museum to my list of places I want to visit. The canadians love their canoes and canoeing has a rich history in Canada. The canoe I paddle, a Quetico 16, came from Canada and I was lucky enough to get a personal tour of the shop where it was built at "The Souris River" company. One day I will take a driving vacation and head up to the Canadian Canoe Museum and learn more about our canoeing heritage.

Fun with Tomatoes

2011-10-18T21:30:00.002-05:00

I have belonged to NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals) for years now and I occasionally try hard to partake in forum discussions. Some of the members participate in a fun contest called "October Photo Rally" (or whatever month we are currently in at the time). There is a monthly theme and it is just for fun. We post a photo that goes along with the theme and members post their votes. This months theme had 3 possible topics: Animal, Vegetable (or fruit) and Mineral (Rocks). I only had time to shoot for one theme, but I had fun doing it. Here are my little tomato friends that I created. It was fun forgetting about everything for a while and just concentrating on how to pose my tomato.

Frames make a difference

2011-10-02T11:17:00.000-05:00

I love picture frames. The frame you choose to put your photograph in can make a big difference in the "look" of the image. Here are two examples of my favorite way I frame my images at home. These two photos are hanging in my living room right now. They are large, the canoe with paddle is 20x24 and the loon is 16x20. I put them in wide brown frames with a bit of carving in the wood, no mat, no glass, photo printed on metallic photo paper. Beautiful.

Flags and Canoes and a Sunny Day!

2011-09-24T13:07:00.000-05:00

September 11th is the birthday of my good friend Jim. Jim has a tattoo that fills up his entire back and is dedicated to the heros of 9-11. For this recent September 11th Jim wanted to celebrate his birthday and the 10th anniversary of 9-11 by canoeing down the St. Croix River with flags showing our love for our country. Ten of us gathered for a fun day of paddling. It was 80 degrees and sunny and we passed along flags to people we met as we stopped at various beaches. It was an amazing day that will be in my memory for a long time.

Pieces...

2011-09-10T23:52:00.002-05:00

Let's get one thing straight... I LOVE taking things apart. My entire life I have been enticed by a broken object to take it apart and see how it was put together. Stereos, tv's, radios, vcr's, dvd players, printers, etc. And of course cameras. I have taken many cameras apart but this was my first digital camera I took apart. This camera was so close to my heart and spent so much time with me. Last weekend I spent 3 hours out in the backyard sitting comfortably at a table slowly and precisely taking my old friend apart. I saved most of the pieces in different cups... all the small screws and all the coolest looking electronic pieces. It never ceases to amaze me how electronics are put together.

How I got my name of "PaddleTramp"

2011-09-06T22:38:00.000-05:00

My name of "Paddletramp" started sort of as a funny joke and it stuck. I have a passion for both photography and canoeing and I also have a full-time job as a pre-school teacher for the past 23 years. About 4 or 5 years ago or so I had an awesome assistant teacher named Maria. We hit it off right away and I also took note that she called me "quirky" in the first 15 minutes she had met me. But I knew she meant it in a kind loving way :) A few months into the summer that she worked with me, she made me this bright yellow t-shirt that said Paddletramp on it. I loved it immediately and have worn it canoeing many times. Later, when I needed to come up with a new email address I thought long and hard and suddenly "paddletramp" came into my mind. Then when I wanted to name my Fine Art Photography business, the name "Paddletramp Photography" was at the fore-front. Yes, if I would have named it "Debbie Hartmann Photography" maybe people would remember my name better. But "Paddletramp Photography" is way more fun... and that is a big part of being me... having fun at whatever I choose to do. So Thank You Maria...for the yellow t-shirt...and for the name of Paddletramp that keeps the fun in my photography!

Caught in the Act

2011-09-02T22:16:00.000-05:00

Couldn't help but post this. I couldn't help but feel a little invasive of some private time during this grasshopper photo shoot... but I kept taking the pictures anyway. Here is my favorite.

Baby Henry

2011-08-25T17:36:00.000-05:00

I met the little dude this week that bestowed that fine title of "Great-Auntie" upon me. I had a fun photo session with him. Welcome to the world little Henry. I hope you enjoy the ride.

Boundary Waters 24 years in a row!

2011-08-14T21:06:00.000-05:00

My friend Renee and I have been visiting the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness every summer for the past 24 years. Every year is different. Some years we are lean and mean canoeing machines. Some years not so much. Renee has gone on the trip 6 months pregnant, I have gone on the trip with torn muscles. Whatever life dishes out at the time of our trip, we manage to go no matter what.

This year we came across this beautiful waterfall along one of the portages and played here for a couple of hours. Renee is on the left, I am on the right. We are really happy here. And being happy is good.

Holstee Manifesto

2011-08-12T13:20:00.000-05:00

I thought this was cool. You can read about the Holstee company by clicking here. You can also see the manifesto in larger print by going to their website.

Dude shoulda been more careful...

2011-07-27T21:50:00.000-05:00

I hate lightning.... I mean really hate it. I came across this grave marker in northern Vermont. What more can I say?

Swim, Swim, Swim...

2011-07-27T20:00:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I flew from Minnesota and my friend Kay flew from Maryland and we met in Vermont to participate in an event called the "Kingdom Swim". Kay swam 6 miles in a gigantic glacial lake called "Lake Memphremagog" that is on the border of Vermont and Canada. I kayaked next to her and guided her around the bouys and made sure she was safe and also gave her food and water as needed. It was a great trip with many adventures along the way. Here is my favorite picture of Kay during the swim. This is at about Mile 4. The water was rough and our spirits were high!

Luna Moth

2011-06-27T17:45:00.000-05:00

I have waited years to see one of these Luna moths in person. I have seen pictures in books and thought that this particular moth looked so beautiful. Then this weekend my niece casually says to me, "We have this really cool moth that has been by our deck for a few days." Well needless to say when I saw the moth I ran back to my car to get my camera. It was even more beautiful in person than in the books.

Chasing the Dragonfly

2011-06-26T22:42:00.000-05:00

I followed this little critter all around the yard yesterday. I hope the neighbors weren't watching. This shot was from when he landed in the pool and was sitting on top of the water. I live for simple moments like this.

Chick and Mom

2011-06-23T20:43:00.000-05:00

Here is another of my favorite baby chick shots with the proud mommy...

Daycare Duck

2011-05-27T20:30:00.002-05:00

The duck that made a nest under a window at the preschool I work at had baby chicks hatch yesterday (Thursday May 26th)... I took tons of pics of course... this one is my favorite. It just says it all!

Really looking forward to the new canoeing season!

2011-05-16T01:20:00.000-05:00

What adventures will await us paddlers this season?

New Tattoo

2011-05-05T22:07:00.001-05:00

After months of deep thought and lots and lots of ideas going through my head, I committed to this design and had it tattooed on my back shoulder last Friday. It began with a design I liked and I had my tattoo artist customize it to my specifications. Look closely and you will see a "canoe" integrated into the design. I couldn't be happier with outcome. Seriously, I look in the mirror and just smile. The actual tattoo artwork was done by Awen at "Art With A Point" in the Calhoun Art Building in Minneapolis. He is truly an artist with a point! And for me... well it is the perfect tattoo for a Minnesota Paddletramp!

The Claw

2011-04-30T16:41:00.000-05:00

This photograph will be hanging at the Shoreview Library for the month of May as part of a group show with the "Gallery 96" artists. It was part of my Praying Mantis series. I love the shallow depth of field on the body of the mantis that leads up to the sharpness of the end of his claw. I had it printed on Metallic photo paper which really made the colors pop... love that paper. You can find this photo on my website by clicking here.

Growth of 7 Beans

2011-04-23T23:44:00.000-05:00

Seven beans in seven different baggies taped to my classroom window all on the same day. In the baggie is a wet paper towel with the bean. A common classroom experiment to watch how a bean can sprout without dirt. After a few weeks we were done with the experiment and I took the baggies off the window and was going to throw them away. I had the tiny plants all in a pile in front of me and noticed how they had all advanced to different stages of growth. I lined them all up on a piece of construction paper for the kids to view. Then took a picture. I really like this for some reason.

My current Adventure Mobile

2011-04-16T16:20:00.000-05:00

Small but efficient... gets me where I want to go. Looking forward to some new and fun adventures with both the car and the canoe this year!

Eagle Cam... eggs to hatch soon...

2011-03-27T18:50:00.000-05:00

Click here for a link to a cool Nest Cam that is viewing a beautiful eagle. The nest is located in a tree in Decorah, Iowa. My favorite part about this particular nest cam is that the camera rotates views and also occasionally zooms in closer for an intimate view of the eagles face and feathers. The eggs in the nest are predicted to hatch around April 1st, 2011. I will be checking back each day this week to see if I can view the eaglets!

Happy Spring!

2011-03-20T21:46:00.000-05:00

I like to send cards out in the Spring to my family and friends and here is the card I am sending out this Spring. Makes me smile :)

The Cult of Done Manifesto

2011-02-25T19:11:00.000-06:00

I came across this Manifesto last year and have kept in on my desktop ever since. I just really like it and it is motivational to read occasionally, especially when I feel stuck on a project.

Click on the image above and you should be able to see it larger for easier reading.

You can read more interesting things here at the website of Bre Pettis.

Street St.

2011-02-17T10:00:00.000-06:00

This photo has always made me smile. I was biking in Anoka, MN last summer and came across this Street. I didn't have my camera with me, so I biked back home and got it just so I could take a picture of this sign. It cracks me up to think of the humor of the person that named this street!

Glowing From Within

2011-02-12T23:21:00.001-06:00

Here is a photo of a baby Cardinal that I enjoyed photographing. How did I make it look like light was coming from within the baby bird? I waited until the sunlight was shining from above down into the birds nest through the leaves and branches and directly into the birds mouth. The sunlight lit up his entire mouth when I chose to Click! The other key to getting a photograph like this... patience, patience, patience.

Polar Plunge.... Brrrrrrrrr!

2011-01-30T19:11:00.000-06:00

Every winter there are some events here in Minnesota called "polar plunges". We take a frozen lake, cut a big rectangle into it, and people jump into the freezing water. I have never watched one of these events until this weekend.

This weekend I stopped by the White Bear Lake Polar Bear Plunge. There were so many people watching and the actual people who were plunging into the water were brought in by the busload. There were more than 850 plungers this year who helped raise more than $149,000 for Special Olympics Minnesota. It was a fun atmosphere and watching the people jump into the water made me smile. It also made me think people are crazy. :)

Learning Something New

2011-01-16T22:05:00.000-06:00

So this has absolutely nothing to do with photography, but more with my Quest to continue to learn new things. I have always had a desire to learn Archery. This winter I decided that it was finally time to start. I worked a third job on Sunday mornings and put every dime toward purchasing the best bow I could find that was made for female shooters.

I will be target shooting, not animal shooting. I realized right off that since I photograph animals there was no way in hell I could shoot one with an arrow. Just ain't gonna happen. I now own a Hoyt Vicxen beautiful white compound bow. After I got the bow, I then purchased a Sure-Loc target sight and some good quality carbon arrows.

I have never shot a bow and arrow in my life until today. Today I got up and decided today was the day to shoot my first arrow. I went to Bwana's Archery where they have helped me every step of the way. They have an indoor target range for practicing and league play.

All I can say is today was a good day. I shot many arrows and had a great time. I was surrounded by friendly people and great advice and am really looking forward to learning all I can about this great sport.

Barney

2011-01-10T21:06:00.000-06:00

Here's Barney. My friend Brenda's dog. This past weekend I was in hermit mode where I hunker down in the house for 2 days in a sweatshirt and hat and just enjoy the fact that the cold January weather is keeping me inside and forcing me to relax. Barney was spending the weekend since my friend Brenda was out of town. After letting Barney outside to pee, I looked at him and decided to have a little impromptu photo session with him. I filled my pocket with dog treats and grabbed the camera. After 30 minutes of "come here Barney...", "sit Barney", "by the window Barney", "treat Barney?" and many of "oh for cryin' out loud Barney"... I finally got The Shot. The way it made my friend Brenda smile today I decided it was worth every bead of sweat. "Good dog Barney!"

Coon Rapids Dam

2011-01-09T16:04:00.000-06:00

The Coon Rapids Dam has been one of my favorite places to go since I was a kid. The Dam itself has quite a history but I won't get into that. What I will get into is how I love to go there to just sit by the Mississippi River, to bike on the hidden paths in the deep woods, to shoot photos of wildlife I come across, and to go up on the bridge over the dam and watch the water as it turns from the most peaceful smoothness on one side of the dam to the most turbulent craziness on the other side.

Annie Leibovitz

2011-01-06T23:15:00.000-06:00

Annie Leibovitz. One of my photographer idols. I love her photography and everything she stands for. I was fortunate enough to attend a speaking engagement of Annie's a few years ago at a small bookstore in Minneapolis. I did not take many photos as my experience has led me to the fact that the more photos I take the less I remember about the actual event. So I must have wanted to really remember this event because I only took a couple of photos. The cool thing I like about this photograph is that it is taken as Annie is signing books for people, and the page she has open is the photo of her mom. The title of the book she is signing is called "Women". Annie and her mom. Women. Perfect photo.

National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP)

2010-12-29T19:50:00.000-06:00

I have belonged to NAPP for several years and it has been a great resource for anything Photoshop. The website is a wealth of information including tutorials, a help desk and a member forum. Included in the membership is 10 issues a year of Photoshop User magazine which in itself is worth the price of membership. Check it out if your interested in learning more about Adobe Photoshop.

Snow, snow and more snow...

2010-12-22T13:17:00.000-06:00

We might break a record for December snowfall in Minnesota. Twenty inches were dumped on us last week, and then 5 more yesterday. I like the look of it, really hate driving in it. Lately I have felt like the world is closing in on me because of the giant snowbanks everywhere. They are these mountains of whiteness that block all scenery and also block intersections of traffic making it really hard to see around the corners. Here is a huge snowbank I pulled up to in a parking lot yesterday. Certainly not the largest I've seen. Go into a school parking lot or a mall parking lot and there you will see some real impressive giants!

Ashes and Snow

2010-12-18T21:09:00.000-06:00

This is one of my favorite websites. Go there. Spend some time. Enjoy.

2010 Christmas Card

2010-12-12T22:20:00.000-06:00

I finally finished my Christmas Card for this year. Whew!
Click on the picture to see it larger.

Final word about jobs I have held

2010-12-01T11:51:00.000-06:00

O.K... let's see if I can remember a few more jobs I have had. My current part-time job is at a wonderful photography studio called Lance Hill Photography. Lance is an amazing portrait photographer who is a pleasure to work for. When clients leave our studio after having their portraits taken, all they talk about is their great experience with Lance. My main task at the photo studio is working at the computer with Adobe Photoshop and doing stuff with the photos. I love it... it is challenging and rewarding to take part in creating memories for families and senior high school graduates. I have worked there for about 10 years.
Here is a list of more jobs I have held over the years: Nanny in New York; Lifeguard at Bunker Hills Wave Pool; Swim Instructor and Camp Counselor at Camp Kippewa in Maine; Desk Attendant at Northtown Racquetball Club; Slide Developer at Kodak; Lifeguard at YMCA; Bingo worker at Little Canada Bingo Hall; and last but not least I work occasionally throughout the year for Kittleson Marketing putting Butterbraid orders together. I am positive I am leaving out a few jobs (for some of my other favorite jobs see previous blog posts).

A book I had to buy

2010-11-28T22:31:00.000-06:00

So I love books. When I moved to a new home a few months ago I packed my first 17 boxes with books. And I wasn't even finished. I am sure there is something to be said in the future with Kindles and Nooks and the like. But I do consider real paper books to be something I decorate my home with. Photographs and Books. The stuff my home is made from. (Besides family and friends and love of course... but right after those things are photographs and books :) Anyway, I cannot go into any bookstore and not at least glance into the photography section...so today lo and behold I spied a book I knew I had to have. "The Daily Book of Photography". Set up to be like those daily doses of inspiration books. So of course I bought it. Because we all need to read inspirational books.

More Jobs

2010-11-10T21:36:00.000-06:00

I worked at PartyCrashers Photography as a picture framer and occasional studio assistant when the photographer Tom needed help "wrangling" the live animals he was shooting the kids with. Tom is an awesome photographer and I witnessed him work some true magic with kids and animals. I also shot quite a few weddings with Deborah Sussex who is based in Ely, Minnesota. You can't ask for a nicer and more down to earth photographer. It was a pleasure to work with her and she is a great inspiration to me. I ran my own business of Hartmann Custom Framing for a few years. I was a really good picture framer. But one day I decided it was really boring and I would rather be out taking and framing my own pictures. So I pretty much stopped framing for others. I do find it funny though that even many years later people still ask me to frame their pictures. I have learned to politely say No. Let's see... how about one more for todays post... how about Little Canada Bingo Hall. Good money, crazy ladies with having fun displaying their trolls for good luck, me going to bed smelling like smoke... oh the memories....

My favorite and most unique job

2010-10-27T19:55:00.000-05:00

A balloon chaser. Not so many years ago I worked for Aamodt's Hot Air Balloon Company in Stillwater. We would be on call and work wind permitting. Anything over 9 or 10 mph winds and the balloons wouldn't go up for safety reasons. Which meant I would work on the most gorgeous and beautiful sunrise and sunset days in the spring, summer and fall. We would blow up the huge hot air balloons with the sun just rising over the horizon. Peaceful, serene. Then the balloon would go up with smiles on the customers faces. Me and the crew would get in a van with our walkie talkies and follow the balloon for an hour and try to be at the spot where they would land. The take down of the balloon was the hardest part, and the putting away of that big piece of fabric that had just been flying in the sky. But I loved every minute of it. I even loved it when I jumped on the basket to try to give it some more weight and then it crashed into a tree and I looked up and said, "trees on fire..." as me and the basket and the customers went bouncing down a steep hill. I even loved it when me and the crew were running with all our speediness early in the morning through tall wet weeds to try to catch the balloon and I tripped and fell and me and the earth became one. Ah... those were the days.... !

Lots of jobs, lots of learning, lots of fun

2010-10-26T20:44:00.000-05:00

I work too much. That is a given. One day I hope to take it easier. But for now work is an integral part of my life. I love my jobs so that helps. I also like learning new things... and one way to learn new things is by taking on a new job and getting paid for learning something new. My main bread and butter job has stayed the same for 22 years. I work at a preschool center that has changed names 3 times since I started there in 1988. Daybridge Learning Center, Children's World and now currently Kindercare. Over the next few days I will post some different jobs that I have had in the last 12 years or so that supplemented my income at the preschool and also helped fund my photography passion. Oh, and those extra jobs also helped me purchase my beautiful red canoe. Can't forget the canoe. I love that thing.

Joe Seliga - Master Canoe Builder

2010-10-16T13:14:00.000-05:00

Here is a photo of Joe Seliga the one time I got the honor to meet him. He was a Master Canoe Builder for most of his life up in Ely, Minnesota which is right on the border of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (bwcaw). I was helping to photograph a wedding up in Ely and he was attending the wedding. After talking to him for about 20 minutes or so I saw this empty rocking chair on the porch and asked him if I could take his picture with him in the chair. He chuckled and said Sure!

Joe died a few years back but you can read about him here.

My good friend and photographer Deborah Sussex also took all the photos for a book about Joe's canoe building. The book is titled, "The Art of the Canoe with Joe Seliga". Check it out if you are interested.

Praying Mantis Photo Session Outtakes

2010-08-07T11:46:00.000-05:00

Long story short...I brought a Praying Mantis home to photograph. I set up a mini-table top photo studio over by a sliding glass door for natural light. I had big green leaves and a yellow flower. I had a blast photographing him. Sometimes he ran up my arm, sometimes he stared right at me, sometimes he turned his head and watched my TV. Here are two of the out-takes that make me smile. He would run over to the edge of the white board I had set up...he didn't quite know what to do when he reached the end of his world.

He is back living in my friends flower garden now...he does miss the TV though.

Photography Show

2010-07-05T13:56:00.000-05:00

I just finished with the biggest and most fun photography project I have ever worked on.

I currently have 29 framed photographs on display at St. John's Hospital in Maplewood, MN. There are 4 artist walls in a busy hallway where they are hanging. Part of the proceeds from any sales goes to St. John's teen volunteer program.

I am honored to have my photos displayed there. Here is one of the walls. The photographs will be on display during the entire month of July.

Souris River Canoe Factory

2010-06-17T21:55:00.000-05:00

Last May I was lucky enough to be able to canoe and camp in the Quetico Wilderness in Ontario, Canada for 6 days. When my friends and I exited the Quetico and went to the nearest town, it happened to be Atikokan where my canoe was built. We stopped and a friendly worker gave us a tour of how they make the Souris River canoe from beginning to end. Here is where the finished canoes are hung until they are purchased and put on the delivery truck. Most of these canoes were sold, just waiting to be delivered to their excited customer!

The Canoe

2010-06-12T10:57:00.000-05:00

I decided it was appropriate for my first post on this blog to show you my canoe, after all... that is how the name Paddletramp came about. I love my canoe. I use it a lot and am not afraid to beat it up a bit all in the name of fun! My canoe is a red LeTigre Souris River Quetico 16. About 39 pounds of kevlar, light enough for me to carry it myself when I need to. It is made at the Souris River Company in Atikokan, Canada. You can buy them at the Red Rock Store in Ely, Minnesota. After 4 years I wanted to bring back the shine of my canoe, so I went to the Red Rock Store website where directions are posted for the process. Here are my Before, During and After results. Beautiful!